By Mandy Hui ‘23
Being intentionally small has always been a part of St. Mark’s philosophy since the day it was founded in 1865. Every year, students have sought comfort in the small community and believed it was one of the key factors in differentiating our school from others. This year, however, the pandemic has presented a great barrier to students around the globe studying in different time zones. Many of us have one question in mind: am I the only one feeling lonely?
The feeling of loneliness is ubiquitous and is probably not foreign to any of us, but it poses a number of threats to us, as humans. Loneliness can lead to a higher risk of both physical and mental problems - including anxiety and depression. Since the pandemic, victims of these mental states have surged throughout the world because of the necessity of social distancing, which ultimately forced schools to shut down in-person classes. Students adapted to the new remote environment, learning from a computer screen at home all day, away from real-life interactions.
Everyone has different takes on learning remotely. Some may be exasperated, some may be content, and others may simply be indifferent. There are a number of options to help alleviate loneliness. One may be video-chatting. We are privileged to be in a position where we are able to easily reach out to people via mobile devices. During this pandemic, facetime/skype/zoom can be a bridge for people who crave social interaction as it allows us to view our facial expressions and actions on screen. Compared to texting, video-calling a friend or family is the way to go. Allot a certain time during your day to just call someone; it’ll definitely make your day. Another solution may be exercising - take time out of your day to be active (at home or outdoors) because being active benefits both physically and mentally. Other activities may include any hobbies that are fitting for a home environment.
Ultimately, coming in terms with the fact that you are not the only one feeling lonely is the best way to combat this feeling. You might try activities other people are doing to mitigate their situation, and since we have so much time in our hands, it’s also important to reflect on yourself as a person. You can discover things you never knew about yourself before this pandemic: your habits, moods, and what you should start prioritizing in life. Reflecting on your needs and learning how to be independent are essential in life. You may enjoy reading, someone may enjoy drawing, and another may enjoy writing to help them handle these circumstances; so at the end of the day, we all cope with this pandemic differently. There is no single answer that will cure this feeling, but if you are in need of help, always talk to someone as they can support you through these difficult times because, in my opinion, that’s when you’ll slowly start to feel better again.