The coronavirus has had a major impact on every aspect of life and the Potomac community. However, each grade is experiencing the outbreak differently. 

“We just met some of our classmates, and it’s way easier to lose contact because we haven’t been as close for such a long time. We’ve also never seen what high school is like at Potomac in the spring or been able to play our spring sports,” said freshman Annabel Cronic. 

Coronavirus has also uniquely impacted the sophomores. 

“It’s really sad because sophomore year is cancelled and it’s supposed to be the most fun, chill year. My friends and I are going crazy and hate the isolation, and it’s also disappointing to see some of my friends who aren’t following social-distancing rules,” said sophomore Hazel Klitenic. . 

Members of the junior class are especially disappointed, feeling like the halt in grade-wide meetings has diminished their sense of community togetherness. 

“We felt like we were finally starting to make some progress and having more open conversations, and we are worried that we are going to lose some of that much needed progress,” said junior Zhané Moledina. 

However, “there has also been more time to spend with family and relax in general,” she explained, something uncommon during junior year. 

Some students have been able to focus on some positive aspects of the quarantine. 

“Overall, quarantine serves as a break from mainstream expectations, taking some of the pressure off,” said senior Windsor Smith. 

Yet, the disappointment remains all the same. 

“It’s extremely disappointing to have the best few months of high school taken away, but I realize that this is not an individual issue, it’s a global pandemic,” said Windsor. 

Coronavirus has also impacted college decisions for juniors and seniors. 

“Lots of my friends are considering gap years because there is so little stability and so much unknown. Instead of making our summer plans we’re trying to figure out the rest of our lives,” Windsor explained. 

For juniors especially, the current instability is making an already stressful college application process even more challenging.

 “Lots of schools are going to have test-optional applications, which puts more pressure on essays and grades,” said junior Ryan Selig. 

“Especially at a school like Potomac, students are still going to submit their test scores, and it’s more difficult because there is less time to get the scores you want,” said Ryan. 

Overall, there is an overwhelming sense of disappointment and loss for the invaluable time spent on campus, and the community formed in Potomac’s hallways and classrooms. While each grade is experiencing this pandemic differently, there is an opportunity for growth. 

“Being put in negative situations forces you to grow even if you are reluctant to,” said Windsor.