Given the events of the past couple of months, it would be an understatement to say that life is different. We’re all hunkered down in our homes as we wait for the coronavirus saga to come to a conclusion. 

A stay-at-home order has been put in place, which essentially keeps people from meeting in large groups.

Let’s be honest here: teenagers don’t generally spend a lot of time sitting at home and doing nothing. Most like to go out with friends and spend time at favorite hangouts. The stay-at-home order, of course, curbs this. Thus a major lifestyle change has been put in effect for Nixa’s students. Prom, spring sports, and senior celebrations are now all out of the question.

Sophomore Matthew Mays, a student previously in band and track, says that seniors are the most affected out of the high school’s students.

“I know seniors who have been particularly affected by this,” Mays said. “They still get to go to prom and graduation eventually, but there are a lot of other things they were going to do too. Not only senior trips, but the seniors were looking forward to seeing people—their friends in classes and the halls for the last time in their lives. Now that’s been stripped away from them in the blink of an eye.”

The stay-at-home order extends beyond mere cancellations for events, though; it also impacts how time at home is spent.

Sophomore Mya Bartels, who is objectively the most extroverted person this side of the Mississippi, has had to make changes to her social life as well as her academic life.

“The stay-at-home order has affected me personally because I’m an extrovert, and not being able to see people and talk to anyone besides my family has been really hard,” Bartels said.

On the other hand, some people, like sophomore Corban Fouse, are a little less socially frustrated by the stay-at-home order.

“I don’t really care, honestly,” Fouse said. “It’s just gaming season, man.”

While everybody is impacted by the current orders, isolation looks different for everyone. For instance, Mays tends to spend a good deal of time outside.

“I’ll take my dog for a walk, maybe shoot the bow… things like that,” Mays said. “I’ll play the guitar now and then as well. Anything beats playing Monopoly for the eight thousandth time.”

Others, like Fouse, prefer to stay inside and utilize isolation for much-needed video game time. 

“I’m pretty sure I’ve beaten every Mario Kart’= world record at this point,” Fouse said. “I’m not sure whether to be proud or ashamed, honestly.”

All in all, no matter what you do or how you spend your time, make the best of this “new normal” and spend this free time doing things you enjoy. Through it all, just keep in mind that, while this is our current normal, life will soon return to its former state. We’ll all get back out there with our friends eventually.