Students react to coronavirus shutdown

The past few weeks have been tiring for some due to how sudden everyone has reacted to the spread of the coronavirus. Governor Tate Reeves put out a statement declaring all Mississippi public schools stay closed until April 17th.  Some schools are still on spring break, but Prep hasn’t skipped a beat and started teaching online on March 18th. This huge change has left Prep students in a state of shock as they try to adapt to this new normal. 

Freshman Gracie Atkinson said this of the changes: “The Chris Stapleton concert I looked forward to was canceled. It also frustrates me after 3 months of training for track season, and we may not even get to run at all.”

Some students are focused on their grades and what will happen to exams. Senior Brittany Wilson expresses, “I’m partially concerned with how the AP Exams will be set up for English Lit, Government, and Calculus AB; but I hope the new structure will be beneficial, and I can still make high scores on my exams.”

Eighth-grader Hannah Polk sheds light on what it’s like staying with people who are quarantined. “My sister and mom are quarantined at our house for two weeks, so the rest of us have been staying away and eating boxes of Kraft mac and cheese.”

The coronavirus has impacted the class of 2020, as they were supposed to have some of their last high school memories this term. At the moment they are left with uncertainty. 

Senior Annie Watkins says “I feel like the most fun part of high school has been taken away from us.”

Alex Stradinger, a senior and Prep’s student body president, said, “It’s been weird realizing we might not get back before graduation. Keeping a positive attitude is key, and I look forward to making the most of it.”

Senior Miriam Cochran, though, said, “What’s the most upsetting is that we didn’t realize all our ‘lasts’ had already happened, and we didn’t get to make the most out of it.”

Graduation plans are unknown at the moment, but seniors hope they will be back in school before any changes are necessary. If everyone continues to do their part in social distancing, Prep could soon open its doors again.

What’s your coronavirus/quarantine/social distancing story? Let us know at [email protected]