Were you looking forward to an Oak Ridge club or sport all summer? And when you went online to join, you found that it was shut down by COVID-19 regulations? Well, you certainly aren’t the only one! There are plenty of students out there, but how did they cope with it? Did they compensate by trying out new clubs or activities? Where did this lead them?
Estella Roseveare wanted to join FOROAK, a church charity service, and tennis. But tennis was postponed, and the church service, canceled.
“Oh, I was just really sad and it was a good chance to hang out with my friends… And with tennis, like… We usually would be over with our season already, but we haven’t even started ours yet.”
Another anonymous is in the same boat. They eagerly wanted to pursue their interest in softball, and travel ball. But it was sadly shut down. Tournaments were rare.
“The only ones [tournaments] we did participate in, were out of state.” They said. Those who haven’t been able to play with their team, understand the hardship.
“COVID made a lot of my travel ball things get turned off and shut down, so we couldn’t participate in Nationals, and we couldn’t participate in the majority of tournaments.”
But everyone has the chance to look on the bright side, and learn. What did everyone learn from these setbacks? How to better manage their work, work around the setbacks, and look into other opportunities.
“It’s not going to be the year anyone really wanted to have. And there’s going to be a lot of things that you’re not going to be able to do. And we’re just going to have to deal with it and get through it.” Ian Hunt says, who wanted to join The Makers Club, but it was postponed. He decided to pursue new opportunities, in spite of his disappointment.
“Right now I’m doing TPSM for finance… and Hands For Hope, and ORHS Mountain biking club.”
Anonymous shares the same gratitude for the opportunities they are given as well, and what their sport being canceled, led to. “I decided I’d run track for the school team which, normally, I wouldn’t get to do.”
And Yasmeen Rodriguez, whose theatre was shut down due to COVID restrictions,
“I learned how to just… have fun by myself! Learned how not to be dependent on people.”
All of these students of Oak Ridge have experienced different things, different setbacks, and different hardships. However, shifting your focus to the positives always helps. No matter how different everyone’s circumstances are, there is tremendous value in learning from hard times, which makes the work all the easier. Remember, these times are temporary, but optimism carries on.
About the Contributor
Staff Writer, Jena Woodmansee
