By KAYLEE BECKER-GEORGE – To call 2020 anything less than a nightmare would be a disservice to how bad the year truly was, though words like “trainwreck” and “disaster” are close runner-ups. 

Despite that, IHS students have started planning how they want to make their 2021 better than 2020. Senior Kaden Duffee plans to spend less time on his phone and get out of the house if possible. Junior Ben Steffish plans to keep his room clean and decorate it aesthetically so that he can feel happier in the space. Senior Debra Flint says, “I plan to have a better mindset. I was looking at 2020 like at any minute it would get worse, so I just accepted that fact. Now I’m hopeful that things will get better.” 

Senior Audra Moore adds, “I plan on trying to motivate myself to procrastinate less to try and make this next school semester easier for me leading up to graduation.” After all, motivation is one of the larger problems plaguing students at the moment. With so many people at home in their rooms, surrounded by activities that are certainly more entertaining than school, it can’t be shocking that they are struggling. 

Senior Andre Rubinstein said, “Social distancing is first and foremost. Without that, then nothing will get resolved and it’ll take longer for the world to go back to normal.” Junior Aidan Cessa echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “I’m going to socialize more but continue social distancing.” I’ll also make sure to always wear a mask.” 

Sometimes the small things, like making a work environment neater, getting out of bed in the morning and having a better mindset can feel like an obstacle. However, it’s those small changes in people’s attitude and the way they live that will pull them through. For any students that are struggling to find positivity and change going into this year, the students interviewed had some advice. 

“I recommend taking a day to do what you love to relax and regain the energy you need to keep moving,” senior Lexi Gibbons stated. “There will be a lot of support for you along the way.”

Steffish adds, “Do something that you enjoy. Even if you can’t do it at the moment, make plans to go hang out with friends, watch a movie, or listen to music. If you have something to look forward to, it will make what you’re feeling or going through more bearable.” 

“I’d say that they are definitely not alone,” Duffee comments. “This time is really crazy and the vast majority of people are feeling it too.” 

As the students above stated, you are not alone. While we can’t all feel each other’s pain exactly, we can understand it. Reach out to people if you’re feeling down or depressed. It can be friends, family, a teacher, a professional. We are leaving 2020 behind and making 2021 better, whether it wants to be or not. 

[Photo by Debra Flint]

Photo Caption: “Senior Debra Flint plans to go into 2021 with a better mindset.”