Generation Covid: Geelong teens reveal toll of disruption

Facing almost two years of disruption due to an unprecedented global crisis has made being a teenager even harder than it ought to be. The Addy delves into the impact of Covid on our youth.

Being a teenager is tough at the best of times.

But Geelong teens have faced almost two years of disruption due to an unprecedented global crisis.

The Geelong Advertiser questioned four Geelong High School year nine students about how the Covid pandemic has affected them.

Ash Lilley 14, Connor Blyth 15, Andie Mackenzie 14 and Shylah Morrin 14. Picture: Mark Wilson

While each had their own unique experiences, common themes included missing out on milestones and the challenges posed by home learning.

Over three days, the Geelong Advertiser will delve into the impacts of the Covid pandemic on young people, speaking with experts on how to guide adolescents out of this tough time.

The students will share how they’ve been impacted on various fronts by the pandemic.

Shylah Morrin says the Covid pandemic has affected her “a lot”.

Shylah Morrin, 14. Picture: Mark Wilson

The St Albans Park 14-year-old said she had appreciated having a good home life, and the pandemic has made her more resilient.

“It’s a bit nerve racking (coming out of lockdown) because you’re going to be in the school and seeing people everyday.

“It’s scary that we are going to have to learn to live with (Covid) around.”

She said during remote learning, she had found it hard to be motivated and it was “quite boring”.

Tough aspects of facing the pandemic as a teen have been missing events young people experience in normal times – like socialising with friends, celebrating birthdays and going on school camps.

She said exercising, calling friends and social media had helped her wellbeing throughout the pandemic.

Andie MacKenzie says she feels super happy coming out of lockdown and being able to see everyone again.

Andie Mackenzie, 14. Picture: Mark Wilson

But the Lara 15-year-old says she has “some fears”, worrying about relatives if they contract Covid.

As a teenager, enduring the pandemic was a “big change” and “very difficult to accept.”

“I feel that is had made being a teen harder,” she said.

“This has had multiple effects on my mental health.”

Andie says the pandemic has changed her outlook on life a little.

“Some of the opportunities you get in life can be on lockdown for a while,” she said.

But she said she thought the experience would make her more resilient in the future, after she had faced cancelled opportunities due to Covid.

Connor Blyth says he has been “really bored” and annoyed to be away from friends during the pandemic.

“The most difficult part is being away from friends and just being home all the time, there’s only so much you can do and it becomes boring really quick,” the 15-year-old Leopold resident said.

“I have become more active running and lifting weights.”

“Going for walks, jogs and exercising in general has been helpful during the pandemic for mental health and wellbeing.”

Connor Blyth, 15. Picture: Mark Wilson

Connor said home learning had been “pretty easy” as you could do your work at your own pace.

“But it’s a lot harder to learn new things without face-to-face learning and harder to get help individually,” he said.

Connor said he did not have fears as society adapts to living with the virus.

“I think of it like the flu, after everyone gets vaccinated we just have to learn to live with it,” he said.

“I’ve become a lot more aware of hygiene and being cleaner.

“I do feel I’ll be more resilient in the future to overcome challenges.”

Ashleigh Lilley hopes to explore the globe, but holds concerns about how the Covid pandemic will impact that dream.

“Outside of school, the main thing I would like to achieve is travelling the world,” the Leopold 15-year-old said.

Ash Lilley, 14. Picture: Mark Wilson

“So that’s probably my biggest fear, the ability, or the longing wait of being able to travel again.

“I think I am still learning more and more everyday about the pandemic as a whole, still processing where the last two years have gone for all of us.

“I think some of the main fears circling around my peers is, the statement of ‘no more lockdowns,’ is it really going to be true?”

Ashleigh said constant lockdowns had been a “real challenge”.

“One minute you’re enjoying the solitude and being in surroundings you feel comfortable in at home, then the next thing you know you’re back to school, back at home, back and forth,” she said.

“It’s all really confusing.

“Which I’m sure a lot of students would agree with me was extremely difficult to deal with all the sudden changes 24/7.”

She said a lack of understanding due to online instructions during remote leaning, in comparison to face-to-face learning, was really hard.

“I did feel grateful for the understanding and some of the opportunities teachers gave people like myself who stood up to say they were struggling with the work,” she said.

“As someone who struggles with insomnia, getting the workload submitted on time absolutely messed with getting a good night’s rest before doing it all over again the following week.”

She plans to be more cautious of work/life balance.

“I’ve taken a moment to realise the short length of lives and the sudden changing issues around the world that cause death everyday,” she said.

“I also think the whole remote learning experience has challenged me in a way that I’ll be way more wise with my time and effort into the things I would like to accomplish in future.

“I’m really glad positive action, like vaccines, are taking place for our community.

“Coming out of lockdown is always a really exciting but also nerve racking experience.”

EXPERTS Q&A LIVE: We’ll ask Geelong psychologists your questions about teen mental health issues in a video chat presented on our socials this Thursday. Got a question? Send it to [e-mail] ASAP!

Originally published as Generation Covid: Geelong teens reveal toll of disruption