When COVID-19 first forced Americans to work and learn from home in 2020, parents had a unique opportunity to spend more time with their children. Over time, however, kids clashed with their parents, putting distance between them. Winston Churchill High School returned to “normal” school in September, prompting students to consider what they wish their parents knew about a variety of topics.
COVID-19
Everyone has a different approach to the pandemic, which has led to disagreements between family members. “Everyone processes it in their own way,” senior Sudenur Yavuz said. “There's no point in forcing beliefs on your children, or anyone else for that matter, because it's everyone's own individual health that's affected.”
Mental Health
The pandemic brought mental health to the forefront for many families, as rates of depression, anxiety and suicide increased. “It’s real, and especially nowadays, affects high schoolers a lot more than before due to competition,” senior Aryaan Duggal said.
Academics
Senior year is the culmination of high school and for many Churchill students, college is ahead. The process of applying for colleges is very different than when parents applied. “At the end of the day, we are the students and we are the ones that are experiencing school now,” Yavuz said. “It's definitely not the same as it was…when they were in high school.”
Growing Up
Some parts of growing up are the same, regardless of the time: learning to drive, making new friends, finding oneself. “Driving is a fundamental part of a high schooler’s life. Let us drive anywhere we can,” Duggal said. But things are different, like social media. “I feel like our generation specifically is a lot more mature and aware of ourselves,” Yavuz said.
Adult or Child?
Age 18 is a gray-area age: adult or child? “Just because I'm not an adult, that doesn't mean I should be treated like a child on behalf of my parents,” Yavuz said. Yavuz says children do not understand their action’s consequences, unlike teenagers whose “minds function the way that an adult’s does.”