Young people share their lockdowns stories
Lara, 17, Fife
Why do I feel cheated by 2020 exam results? Well, to answer that, we've got to start from when lockdown was established. I remember sitting in my least favourite subject, maths, watching Swinney's announcement on the board.
When he said that exams weren't going ahead, I could hear some of my classmates crying while others were cheering. I just felt heavy anxiety for what was to become of my Highers, my worry prominent as I text my mum something along the lines of "My exams are cancelled. It's over, I'm never going to get into University."
It really felt like the end for me as my prelims went terribly due to them taking place straight after the Christmas holidays, like what was I supposed to do? Study through Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year? I needed a break from the constant stress of having 5 Highers and 1 Nat 5.
It just seemed unlikely I'd get the results I worked tirelessly for and that depressed me. During lockdown, all I could do was think about my results. I'd check the SQA news updates constantly, contact my teachers through email and send coursework evidence in the fear they didn't have enough proof for a good grade. When results day came, I was massively relieved of that stress I had been enduring. I had done better than I thought, my parents and sister were very proud, encasing me in hugs of excitement. However, I was slightly disappointed over one result.
In Higher English, I had gotten all A's in the coursework until my prelim where I got a B. After that, I suppose my teacher had in her head that she was putting me down for a B. I had hoped she'd put me forward for an A as the SQA were changing grades to estimates, but no, I was stuck with my B. I'm not complaining as I'm quite happy with my B; it's a good grade! But I still feel cheated by 2020 exam results because I think if I had been allowed to sit the exam, I would have gotten an A. Or if my teacher had more faith in me and my previous A's, then things would have panned out differently. All in all, I'm glad things turned out like they did, however, I feel that people in my position should be allowed to have more control over their fate, to make their own path.
Rachael, 17, Dundee
Enduring lockdown at first was challenging, being unable to meet friends and family and taking part in things that I relish was absent, I felt misplaced and bored senseless, lockdown felt tedious, the normality was gone which felt very offbeat.
I finished my final year of high school that has been very daunting because of the sudden leave due to lockdown. It was tough to process. I didn't get the closure that I was expecting on this chapter in my life. I was devastated that my School dance and yearbook were at risk of getting cancelled as I had been anticipating it since 1st year.
I felt apprehensive about exam results day as I was unsure what my grades would look like due to the cancellation of exams. Exam results day caused outrage among students who felt like they were issued grades unfairly along with myself. I will be starting college in September that has been intimidating due to being unsure of what's to come.
I had to seek support from school at home that has been very cumbersome. I feel uneasy starting this new chapter in my life while COVID-19 is going on.
Despite all the negatives I have found that COVID-19 has its positive moments, I feel that COVID-19 has brought my family together. I have accessed many opportunities during lockdown like joining online groups with young carers trust, I have gained many skills during lockdown from taking online courses, being part of online groups and doing volunteering. I hope for a brighter future when we tackle this pandemic and come out better because of it
Andi, 16 East Lothian
For a few years now, I have suffered from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It has always been tough to live with, but as the pandemic worsened and hygiene was made a priority, my O.C.D began to worsen. Now I was going from scrubbing my hands quickly over the sink more than 100 times a day to scrubbing them for 20 seconds every time I did! I’m sure that many people who suffer with O.C.D or any other mental health problem understand this - the fear and unsureness of the pandemic has caused my anxiety to heighten considerably. It feels like everything is completely out of my control which terrifies me.
However, to all the people who suffer with some sort of mental health problem, I’m here to say that you do have some control! You can wear a mask, you can wash your hands for 20 seconds, you can sanitise regularly. All of these things give you some level of control over yours and other people’s health.
Distraction is also incredibly important. Throughout lockdown, most of us were completely unable to see our family and friends. Even though lockdown has eased slightly, we still cannot really see our family (and definitely can’t see them as much as we used to be able to/in the same way we used to). This isolation causes our mental health to be impacted negatively as we aren’t socialising nearly as much as we used to.
As a result of this, we need to learn to distract ourselves. As someone who went from drawing, to scrapbooking, to trying to get fit (albeit for the 5th time this year) I can say that even if you’re hopping from activity to activity, distraction is good! It occupies you so that you don’t have time to wallow in your thoughts and worries. It is also productive, so it’s a win-win. You’ll leave this pandemic with new skills and hobbies, which could improve your mental health in the long run.
Fraser, 12, Glasgow
Lockdown has been slightly different for me than it has been for others. My sister Ellie has autism, meaning she behaves differently than others might, and this has made the experience, interesting, to say the least.
Our lives have a lot of routine, and for that to suddenly dissipate, has really affected her, which in turn affects me. Even small things that we usually do have really changed our days, but it looks like everything is returning to normal, hopefully.
Source Magazine
The latest issue of Source Magazine contained these insightful interviews with volunteers from Young Scot who shared their stories of summer 2020’s lockdown. In their latest issue, they focused on student mental health, and included contributions from stars like Stormzy and Lewis Capaldi. Source Magazine is Scotland's number one student title. It includes revision tips, music news, celebrity interviews and entertainment news.