Class of 2025
Senior Ellie Addison was in 7th grade when the pandemic began. “I had been at a sleepover with my friends, and my mom told us about [quarantine] when she came to pick me up,” Addison shares. “I didn’t really feel much about it—it was only supposed to be two weeks, so I thought, ‘Oh, free vacation!’ and moved on. [The] only thing is, that ‘vacation’ never ended.”
Addison’s transition to virtual learning was difficult.
“The adjustment to remote learning was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done. I still prefer physical copies to this day,” she shares.
Addison was in middle school band when quarantine began.
“I played Alto Sax, and I really loved it. Unfortunately, without classes, I lost my motivation to practice at all. I remember we had to record videos of us playing for a test, and I hadn’t played in nearly a month. It took me a long time to even get a single note out,” she shares.
Unfortunately, Addison wasn’t able to continue with music. “Without COVID, I would probably still be in band, to be completely honest. I do miss it sometimes.”
Like many students during quarantine, Addison’s mental health took a hit.
“I had been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (a diagnosis that would later be replaced by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) around the fall of 2019,” she says. “Of course, pre-pandemic, I was already struggling, but with the pandemic, it got a lot worse. I went days at a time without really eating because I just didn’t feel hungry.”
Despite these challenges, Addison also acknowledges the positive personal growth she experienced as a result of the pandemic. “I gained a lot of understanding of myself,” Addison reflects. “Being mostly alone for 2-ish years straight gives you a lot of time to reflect.”
Looking back on the last few years, Addison says, “The pandemic definitely changed me. If it was ultimately for the better, I can’t be sure. But I’d like to think it was. In the past 5 years—crazy to think it’s been that long—I really learned how to be who I am without reservations.”