In the dreadful and daunting times of the lockdown due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the world is currently binging on the feelings of negativity and fear. In a world where a thousand deaths are registered every day and millions of active cases being reported every hour, mankind is witnessing one of its kind situations where normalcy has been hit hard and hope is the only sigh of relief. In such times of sickness and self-isolation, the global population has been locked down within their houses and roads are the new ‘NO ENTRY’ zone. For all age groups, the virus is highly dangerous with some portion of the fatality increasing among children and senior citizens. While the whole world is trying to keep up with the completely novel arena, the student community has been dented in some ways that are unattended to or simply avoided at the present moment. Out of all age groups, the students are the ones who, in such mentally disturbing and physically challenging times, have to keep up with their studies, their ambitions, and their daily targets to be achieved in order to not let any of the precious moment be wasted. The workforce population across the world has been another age group finding it difficult to keep up with the scarcely available jobs and most of all, be able to bear all the household expenses.
The student community coexists in both age groups, maintaining grades on one hand, and striving to earn a living by looking out for internships and part-time jobs. Yet with such uncertainty of time and future, the world cannot be a sugar-coated place for every student. Moreover, the role of the students in the situation of the pandemic is quite challenging and noteworthy.
First of all, the student community is an active, alert, and adaptive community. This reflects on the way the students conduct themselves and perceive the current affairs or the world events going on around them. The current status of negativity and rising death tolls is being conjectured by the teenagers as a disturbing future that might haunt their lifestyles for the years to come. In a free and independent environment where such individuals are used to setting their souls free in the open air and under the blue sky, the world is forcing them indoors.
The students around the globe are being strictly asked or ‘pressurized’ to not let any of the mentally draining or disturbing situations affect their studies. While this is being presented by their parents and teachers, the schools are simultaneously putting in efforts to educate them virtually that might not be possible for every single student or result in effective education, given the economic and social disparity present in the society. In addition to this, there are students who had appeared for state-level or central board examinations that might be stressful for another straight 5-6 months before they reap what they had grown! Another lot of these students are the ones who will be appearing for such exams, and will thus be required to keep up with the pressure, anxiety, hard work, and most of all positive energy.
Another remarkable role for the student community to embark upon is that of extending a helping hand at their houses and helping their parents and family members to finish off the household chores. Having said this, the students are the most highly targeted group for not performing household chores and defamed for being lethargic and adapting a laid back attitude. Perhaps the students become kids at home who have to be highly responsible and responsive to the help being asked for, without having any playtime breaks or chitchat sessions with friends living nearby. It is an unfair phenomenon for teenagers and kids to be locked down in their own homes and struggle with daily schedules.
A fourth of all challenges refer to being able to live in homes that reflect disturbed relationships, or broken family bonds. This means that a major stratum of the society consist of homes that might be dealing with broken marriages, domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assaults, mental breakdown, unhealthy lifestyles of either of the parents or simply degraded atmosphere of peace where a student cannot flourish at his/her best and is thus left to deal with problems beyond his/her control. The coming together of all this can lead to a disturbed lifestyle, unhealthy mental state, negative ambiance to progress, or an individual that is likely to face major problems in the coming future.
The topic of distraction is being actively and loudly addressed with all neighbors, relatives, siblings, parents, friends, etc. warning the students to maintain a routine lifestyle and not indulge in any of the distractive exercises. This refers to remaining active on social media for long durations, binging on web media platforms till late nights, playing online games and consoles for large spans of time, and chatting with friends all day long. All of this can be practiced in moderation and considered to be healthy and mind-relaxing. However, an excess of such activities can lead to conflicts and disturbed concentration levels. Apart from these ordeals, the conflict of not being able to release their stress by playing, working out, exercising, or walking can affect their mental well-being.
The ongoing crisis of contentment and happiness within these individuals is even more challenging. With uncertainty on its peak and the escalation of disheartening events occurring all over the world, the student community is the only community that is struggling to visualize the distant future with hazy eyes and blurred mindset. They are uncertain of their health, happiness, and healing of the world. The future will be owned by them, governed by them, and built by them, but does the present pandemic really set an example for them to look forward to the golden years to come or just accept the brutal truth that the world has deteriorated in its own eyes and that they have the burden of negating such evils of society. As young adults, they have the power and passion, yet they are missing out on perception.
Perception for a better, happier, and a brighter future!
Name- Soumyaa Rawat
Roll No.-920
Batch- 2019-22
One response
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