When Time Stopped All we need is to remain strong and take this time to By: Erica Brown live in the moment and better ourselves. The last time we met, everyone was preparing for the excitement that comes with spring. Now, we are all Learning to Live Through A Pandemic sitting home, spending time with our family, or By: Madilyn Cianci enjoying the great outdoors. What happened? How As much as this is a horrible thing that has deeply could our lives change in just a blink of an eye? As I affected my friends and family members, I have look back at our previous issue, it as if time has always been the kind of person to find a silver frozen. All those upcoming events just disappeared, lining. When I learned that I would have to stay but this is not the time to dwell on what might have inside with my family for a long time, with AP been. The world may be a mess right now, but we exams coming up, I did not panic about how I was need to take definitely going to lose my mind. Instead, I focused care of on protecting my mental health at a time where it ourselves and would be especially fragile. Meditation and exercise each other at helped clear my head so I was able to put all of my this time. We energy into my work. Also, talking and being open must unite with my friends nearly every day helped (six feet apart, of course) to fight this together. Although the world immensely. It broke my heart to hear how upset may have changed, many places have adapted to the they were, and I tried to give them as much change and offered some great opportunities, even if reassurance as possible. But, to be completely we cannot leave our homes. For example, many art honest, I was not doing much better than them. museums have created virtual tours, sports channels Recently, I was talking with a friend's mother and are streaming old games, and local restaurants have she could sense how desperate I was to hear mobile ordering. Additionally, this quarantine has anything that would lift my spirits. She proceeded ​ given me the opportunity to discover things about to tell me that although what we are going through myself I have never known before, and I have learned is horrible, we were meant to change the world. She to take care of myself as well. I have discovered could tell that I was confused and continued by passions I have not thought about in a long time, such stating that we were born during 9/11, which was a as writing and drawing. Therefore, this time to myself dramatic shift in everyone's lives. Now, here we are, has not been bad. Yes, there have been many days going through this pandemic during one of the most where I have sat and done nothing, and that is okay. important times of our lives. We were meant to This is new to everyone, and it is okay to take a grow from this so we can shape the future. To all mental health day to cope with everything that is my fellow seniors, I know that it is hard to think happening. Even though it seems impossible that one positively right now, but know that we are meant day everything will return to normal, that day will for more, and I cannot wait to see how we all grow. come soon, and we will come out stronger than ever. News Editor: Benjamin Amaya Staff Writers: Raj Gandhi The One Where They Lived Through A advantages, I don’t know what they are yet, Pandemic but being someone who believes in karma, By: Raj Gandhi your work is selfless, filled with sacrifices, but Well, Class of 2020, you’ve made it! most importantly -- it’s filled with humanity, Congratulations and best of luck on your which is something that’s keeping us together. future endeavors. I know this year started off Thank you, Class of 2020, for your hard, normal and then everything went south, but dedicated rest assured I can tell all of you that this is one work. Thank heck of a story to tell your loved ones, and one you to senior story that will truly unite the graduating Class parents as of 2020. Wherever you go, whatever you well, for decide to do, this moment in global history believing in will be defined by you. So don’t get upset that them and supporting them during this tough your last goodbyes were unprepared for, the time. Congratulations to all the seniors, fact that COVID-19 occurred in 2020 has its whether it be college or high school. One day advantages. For one-almost all social media they will be called “The One Where They Lived platforms have direct messaging capabilities, Through A Pandemic.” so you definitely won’t be alone. Additionally, scientific breakthroughs are being produced every day in a short span of time, enabling advances that can soon cure and treat COVID- 19, and other medical ailments. Honestly, on a personal level, as a junior who already has his Donate Blood, Covid-19 Edition stresses being played out against him, you, the By: Benjamin Amaya senior class of 2020, are the ones I look up to. In times like these, we must stand together. Every day you’re battling online AP exams What will help most of us will be donating while some of your loved ones are getting blood? With hospitals understaffed and sick, treating the sick on the frontlines, overworked, one of the ways we can help is by stocking the shelves of Riccardo’s, or handling creating a steady stream of blood to keep the enormous waste being produced during people healthy and alive. In the month of this time even though the work of sanitation writing this, it is trauma awareness month and engineers are dangerous as is. You, as the that means the red cross needs you, yes, you, student, are also taking care of younger to donate blood. They need every pint siblings or older elders. Know that you are not possible to help many lives on the long road forgotten in this time, your small contribution ahead. to our small-town community has its Boys And Girls Track Girls Basketball By: Rebecca Lucas By: Katherine Hopkins Unfortunately, this year's boys’ and girls’ track In this time of uncertainty, I feel selfish about being season was cut short, only allowing for a few angry about the short ending of an amazing season. practices and one scrimmage meets. Captains and This time is flooded with a whirlwind of emotions girl seniors, Mia Chiaro, Jillian DeSando, Rebecca but sadness is at the top of my list. As a high school Lucas, Grace Amico, and Katie Hilson, along with senior, you look forward to many events throughout boy seniors, Charlie Valvano, Shane Murphy, Haris the year. This year one of the biggest things I Imran, Paris Alunni, Suleiman Qarmout, and Jake looked forward to was my basketball season. McNeff, had to say goodbye to their final senior Although I’m not a starter or a star player, I still sports season. Despite this, these track athletes were wanted to finish what our team started in Hershey honored through various posts and the news. Along last year, and leave a mark as my career came to an with this, both Mia Chiaro and Jillian DeSando end. received accolades for their hard work in the sport. When a team becomes so close, you want nothing Mia Chiaro received Female Scholar-Athlete of the more than for everyone to succeed. During our Year Honor, and Jillian DeSando received a senior journey, our team became more like sisters rather athlete shoutout from WNEP and had an article than just players on the same court. When people written on her track career in the Times-Tribune. It come to see us play, they can tell that Coach is unfortunate this season ended so soon, but O’Brien has us work on our chemistry. Chemistry congratulations on a great high school career and and comradery are major factors that play into our good luck in the future! team’s performance. During the beginning of March, COVID-19 spread like wildfire around the United States, but our team never thought it would affect our season as much as it turned out to. After a huge win over Neumann Goretti on Tuesday, March 10th, we began to prepare for our next game that should have been that Friday. Little did we know, our season would end that night and we would never get the chance to play that next game. Coach O’Brien told us to stay optimistic and he tried to stay open-minded about the end of our season. Soon after our last practice, the PIAA released a statement explaining the following steps they would take to help keep all athletes and their families safe during the pandemic. This included the cancellation of all remaining playoff games in the state terrible news. “It’s pretty sad being my last season tournament. We were all crushed. All of Dunmore and all and I really thought we were going to be believed this could have been the year we won the good this year,” Thomas said. “What are you going title, and that chance was stripped away from us. to do, nothing is stopping Corona,” Spencer said. Although I know it was for good reason, the Congrats to these seniors and to the rest of the cancellation devastated the entire team, Nora graduating class of 2020.