Summer was wacky this year, but let's be honest -- what hasn’t? School ended on June 17th, giving everyone around a three month break and prime time for relaxation and socialization. Unfortunately, COVID-19 put a damper on summer plans, including sleepaway and day camps, vacations to other countries and selected states, and, worst of all, get-togethers with your friends and even family. Yet, even with the struggle of COVID, our peers were still able to make the best out of a tough situation.
Of course, students at Edgemont felt immensely disappointed when their carefully detailed summer plans fell through because of coronavirus. Junior Aiden Matano, was originally planning to work at a summer camp as a junior counselor and then travel to New Mexico for a week in order to take a 75 mile trek. Instead, he spent time with his friends at home, which is unusual for him, as he usually travels. He also went skateboarding and learned new tricks. Skateboarding is hard to learn, according to Aiden, but it is a great way to pass time, especially when you have a lot of it.
Others ended up finding other uses for the free time on their hands. Sophomores Maddy Frain and Dani Scheer worked together at a backyard camp. Maddy had originally planned a very busy summer: attending sleepaway camp for 7 weeks, a family vacation the week after, and to return home in time for preseason. “COVID ruined all three of those plans and we had to make the best of our situation,” says Maddy. Both Dani and Maddy were able to form close relationships with the families they worked for. Dani Scheer made light of COVID and enjoyed being able to work: “It gave me opportunities to work that would not have happened in more normal times.” Working definitely gives people a sense of independence and a feeling of purposefulness.
Senior Ryan Ho was supposed to return to Belize to finish what he described as a “medical mission” he had started prior to coronavirus. Although this was not possible for him to do, he was able to give tennis lessons. Ryan donated all of the funds raised to the NAACP Legal Fund and Agape Belize Cure, allowing him to finish what he had started. Giving back is something that, if one is creative, isn’t hard to do. Over the summer, I myself tutored Math and Literacy through the JCC, also known as the Jewish Community Center. I was able to virtually tutor under-resourced kids, and am continuing to do so this October.
Others of us spent our summer socially distancing with our friends and just relaxing at the beach or pool. Senior Emma Seifer spent most of the summer in the Hamptons and enjoyed hanging out with her friends. Emma was able to give volleyball lessons when she was home. Many of our peers thought it was nice to clear their heads and to stay active they were able to get into the right mindset for school.
Some safe activities students enjoyed included apple picking and visiting Storm King Art Center, an outdoor museum, in Cornwall, NY. It contains a large collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures and is a great place to watch the sunset with friends and listen to music. Even though this summer was odd, Edgemont students were able to make the best of a difficult situation by packing their summers full of fun and often inventive activities.