Ask Penny: Edition #1
Sophomore Penny Shapiro has been at Trevor for two years. She has experienced the ups and downs of coming into high school as a new student, learned how to adapt to a fresh set of teachers, make brand new friends, and keep up with the old. She has experienced a lot and carries a lot of Trevor knowledge. In her advice column, she will not only answer students’ burning questions relating to any day-to-day struggle, but she will bestow some great advice in hopes of making life a little less daunting.
Q: How can I keep busy during Quarantine?
A: There are so many things you can do while in Quarantine when you're tired of doing homework and scrolling through Tik Tok for hours on end. For example, you could pick up a book you're interested in! This is a great way to get in the habit of taking a break from looking at your computer screen. Personally, I have really enjoyed delving deep into some mystery books in my free time. Some recommendations I have are The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. The endings of these two will blow your mind. And if reading is not for you, maybe start a fun art project! You could always check out YouTube for some cool DIY project inspiration. I have learned how to make a zine (a mini-magazine) and a repeated pattern drawing, all just with some paper, pencils, and a printer! You could also dedicate some time to working out! Staying active is really important, and there are so many fun workouts you can try during your free time. Who wouldn’t want to emerge out of Quarantine, with a brand new glow-up?
Q: What are the best tips for staying in touch with your friends while social distancing?
A: Staying in touch with friends during this time can be challenging. But thankfully, we are also living in a time when technology is widespread. I bet your phone is sitting next to you right now! How about picking it up and texting a friend how they are doing, and possibly even offer to Facetime them to catch up! Maybe on your next Friday night, you can also set up group Facetime with some of your friends to spice up your evening!
Q: How do I cope with the anxieties of being in Quarantine?
A: This is a hard question to answer, as everyone copes with times like these in different ways. I have found a few quotes that have helped me stay hopeful during these stressful times:
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." -Marie Curie
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."- John Lennon
Hopefully these two mantras allow you to look at this situation in a more optimistic light. You got this!