Staying sane while staying home
How VHHS students have coped with the Covid-19 stay-at-home order
Flowers drawn by Sladjana Todorovich.
As the stay-at-home order remains in place, students have been searching for hobbies to keep themselves occupied. Whether it’s kicking back to a new movie or learning martial arts, VHHS students have certainly been staying busy.
Fine Arts
Many students continue to develop their skills in the arts with things like practicing instruments or drawing. However, some students, like Emma Anderson (9), decided to try something they’ve never done before.
Anderson had always wanted to try painting, but said that she’d just never gotten around to it. Now that she has a lot more free time, she decided to try her hand at it.
“I never thought I could actually make something that looks good, and I’ve made a few of my favorite masterpieces,” Anderson said.
Anderson uses painting as a way to relax, and she encourages other students to get outside, put on some music, and try painting for themselves.
For any students looking to get into painting, Amazon offers beginner watercolor sets from as low as $15, and beginner painting sets are available at Walmart for around the same price.
Sladjana Todorovic (9) said that watercolor painting is something that she’s gotten into recently, and she really enjoys it.
Sports
Since most sports seasons have been postponed, students are left to do their workouts at home. Many students, like Spencer Lane (12), receive messages from their coaches that tell them what they should do. Lane’s lacrosse coach uses the app SNYPR.
SNYPR is a mobile app that allows lacrosse players to track their reps in wall ball. The only thing the player needs to do is set up that app and then find a way to keep the phone strapped onto their arm.
This app is just one thing that coaches are using to keep their athletes active. However many students like to do their own workouts, whether it’s in addition to or instead of the coaches’ suggested workouts.
Owen Ray (10) was in season for track and field as a long distance runner. His track and field coach sends workouts out to the team, but Ray says they’re tailored more towards sprinters.
“Since my sister’s home and she runs in college, I’ve been just like running with her more than I’ve been doing those workouts,” Ray said.
Like Ray, many other students have been using exercise as a way to spend time with their siblings, and with their whole family in general.
Family Time
For students whose parents are not essential workers, there’s been a lot more opportunities for family time. A lot of siblings came home from college, or they finally came out of their rooms.
Daniel Prieto (10) is among those who have been spending more time with their siblings. Prieto has been spending his days playing blocks or kicking around a ball with his little sister.
Daniel and his sister also spend time with the rest of their family by going on jogs with them.
For those who would like to take things at a slower pace, family walks are an ideal way to get outside. Ariel Shifrin (9) says that his mom often tries to get the family to go out on walks. Shifrin’s family has also begun to eat more meals together.
Outside of just eating meals together, something that allows families to spend more time together is preparing the meals together. Sofia Sanchez (10) says that her family spends a lot of their time together in the kitchen baking cookies and other goodies.
The goodies that your family makes together can easily be enjoyed during a family movie or game night. Aidan Lindley (12) says his family enjoys playing Monopoly and CandyLand.
Entertainment
According to a TSP survey taken by 116 students, about 50% of students have spent their new-found free time to catch up on tv shows and movies.
Other hobbies
