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Ben Sanderson, a senior at Heide Trask High School, has been reflecting on the changes 2020 has brought to his life. Sanderson's usual extracurricular activities include cheerleading, co-drum major for marching band, Student Government, National Honors Society, and working part time at JCPenney.

“With no football games for marching band this semester, it's difficult going to school knowing that there will be no band practice or football games after school to look forward to," Sanderson said.

Students across the country are having similar challenges and concerns. HTHS students have been give some hope of having sports during the second semester, but that will also mean Sanderson will have a lot going on during his final semester of high school.

“It worries me for next semester because I will not only have a full course load but also two cheers, marching band, trying to hold a job, and preparing for college.”

Planning for college is a heavy weight resting on the shoulders of many seniors. Students have watched their fellow classmates and friends go off to college in August of 2020 just to be sent back home after outbreaks of COVID-19 hit campus.

The college application process is already being affected by the pandemic.

“Colleges are waving SAT scores and [there are] not as many campus tours,” said Sanderson.

Students who have looked forward to visiting different colleges their whole lives are now having to settle for virtual tours through a computer screen .

Despite the changes 2020 has brought to HTHS, many students are coming up with their own ways to have a positive outlook during these hard times. Sanderson is no exception.

“With school only being once every three weeks it helps to be able to have the free time to work on my college classes, go to work, go to travel cheer practice, and be able to go home and not have to worry about being able to get to class the next day. I think we should use this time to better ourselves as we go into our lives outside of high school.”