Grace Elkhal

For senior Grace Elkhal, quarantine has left her at a loss, feeling like she was ripped away from her last few months of high school. “You spend four years with your friends and with your teachers, and moving onto that next step in your life without having that goodbye [is] a major lack of closure,” she said. “It’s a hole that just remains empty until you can really say goodbye.”

As Elkhal continues to work through digital learning days, at times, she finds herself still hung up on the past and thinking about what from her senior year she is missing out on.

Right now, while navigating through this unprecedented time, Elkahl finds it hardest to find the motivation to keep up with DLDs. “I consider myself a motivated individual, and I realized that I get my motivation from other people and their energy,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting my motivation [now] to really be drained.”

While she struggles with finding motivation to keep up with her schoolwork, Elkhal makes sure that she keeps in communication with her teachers during this time. ”I’ve emailed teachers [and] I’ve reached out for emotional and mental health [support],” she said. “[I’m] venting, getting my frustrations out there and teachers really [have come] to my aid.”

When times get mentally draining for Elkhal, she can be found doing a countless number of activities to help restore a healthier state of mind. Music has played a major role in improving mental health for Elkhal during this time. She either listens to music while she completes schoolwork, or takes some time to play the piano during breaks. It is also important for Elkhal that she is able to find time to go outside for walks throughout the day. “It really makes me feel like I’m accomplishing [something],” she said. 

To make sure that she feels productive throughout the day, Elkhal makes a to-do list of things that she wants to accomplish. “In making a to-do list, I can look forward to certain things in my day, whether they be big or small,” she said. “I think it’s a way to [stay] motivated and keep perspective because we are stuck at home.” 

In addition to her to-do list, Elkhal also makes sure to do some sort of reflection during this time, including journaling, poetry, and prayer. “It [is] really important for me to turn to my faith, which is something that has wavered during this time,” she said. 

Compared to the normal school year, Elkhal has found that her mental health overall seems better than the past few months because she is able to find more time to focus on herself while in quarantine. She always found herself worried about what tomorrow would bring during the school year, and now she doesn’t feel that same pressure. “[I] don’t need to plan or worry about tomorrow because I can really be more present,” she said. “You have the time to prioritize [yourself].”

For others who are struggling mentally during this time, Elkhal advises to look to others for support. “Find friends you trust, find a teacher who you really feel connected to, [or] if you have a close relationship with your parents, turn to them,” she said.