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Coming Together While Apart

The coronavirus shut down schools. It closed restaurants. It locked us up in our homes. But teens across the country found ways to help others—and themselves.

September 2020

by Tod Olson

It’s been the year of the coronavirus. In early 2020, a tiny germ took over our lives. Schools closed for a couple of weeks, then the rest of the year. Sports disappeared—except for video games like FIFA and NBA 2K.

We stopped shaking hands and hugging. Instead we wore masks and stayed 6 feet apart. People got to know their family members way too well.

How did people react to the changes? To find out, Action talked to some teens around the country. Here’s what they did to make the best of a bad situation.

The year 2020 will be remembered as the year of the coronavirus. In just a few months, a tiny germ took over. Schools closed. Sporting events shut down. We stopped shaking hands. We stopped hugging. Instead we wore masks. We stayed 6 feet apart. People got to know their family members very well.

How did people make the best of a bad situation? Action talked to a few teens to find out. Here’s what they said.

The year 2020 will probably be remembered as the year of the coronavirus. In a matter of months, a tiny germ took control of our lives. Schools closed—at first just for a couple of weeks, but then for the rest of the year. Other than video games like FIFA and NBA 2K, sports disappeared. We stopped shaking hands and hugging and instead wore masks and stayed 6 feet apart. People got to know their family members way too well.

To find out how people reacted to this new way of life, Action reached out to several teens around the country. Here’s what they did to make the best of a bad situation.

PAUSE AND THINK: What happened in early 2020?

Supplying People in Need

The coronavirus created shortages. Stores ran out of toilet paper. Health-care workers ran low on masks that protect them from the virus.

But with most activities canceled, there was one thing some teens had more of: time. Many of them put it to use making sure other people had the supplies they needed.

Teens in Concord, Massachusetts, brought snacks to busy health-care workers. In California, 16-year-old Shaivi Shaw put together first-aid kits for homeless people. In Washington State, a robotics team made nearly 10,000 face shields for nurses and doctors.

Gabriel Guo, 17, is president of the team. “We had all these great skills we’ve learned,” he says. “We put them to work and made a difference. That’s really rewarding.”

The coronavirus created shortages. Stores ran out of toilet paper. Health-care workers ran low on masks that protect them from the virus.

But many teens had more of one thing—time. Their activities were canceled. So they used that time to help other people.

In Concord, Massachusetts, teens brought snacks to health-care workers. In California, 16-year-old Shaivi Shaw put together first-aid kits. She gave them to homeless people. In Washington State, a robotics team made nearly 10,000 face shields. They gave them to health-care workers.

Gabriel Guo, 17, is president of the team. “We had all these great skills,” he says. “We put them to work and made a difference. That’s really rewarding.”

The coronavirus created shortages. Stores ran out of toilet paper, and health-care workers ran low on masks that protect them from the virus.

With most activities canceled, teens found that they had plenty of one thing: time. Many of them put it to use making sure other people had the supplies they needed.

Teens in Concord, Massachusetts, delivered snacks to busy health-care workers. In California, 16-year-old Shaivi Shaw put together first-aid kits for homeless people. In Washington State, a robotics team built nearly 10,000 face shields for health-care workers.

“We had all these great skills we’ve learned,” explains Gabriel Guo, 17, president of the team. “We put them to work and made a difference. That’s really rewarding.”

PAUSE AND THINK: What are two ways teens got supplies to those in need?

Reaching Out

Courtesy Mittler Senior Tech

Jordan taught seniors to use smartphones and computers. (Then he quizzed them with a fun online game!)

As the quarantine continued, a new problem arose. Friends were cut off from each other. Grandparents couldn’t see their grandkids. People were still afraid of getting sick. But loneliness became a big danger too.

Jordan Mittler, 16, was there to help. He had already been giving computer lessons to seniors in New York City. In March, he moved his classes online.

To help his students, Jordan showed them how to use FaceTime to call their grandkids. He taught them how to shop for groceries from their homes. “It’s something they never thought they’d be able to do,” he says.

Rem Johannknecht, 16, saw a similar problem in Chicago. His grandmother lives in senior housing. Rem knew she was going to be cut off from visitors. So he started a service called Connect Chicago. By the end of April, he had trained 150 volunteers. The volunteers call people who just want someone to talk to.

The quarantine continued. And there was a new problem. Friends could not get together. Grandparents could not see their grandkids. People were afraid of getting sick. But loneliness became a danger too.

Jordan Mittler, 16, wanted to help. He lives in New York City. Before the coronavirus, he gave computer lessons to seniors. In March, he moved his classes online.

Jordan showed his students how to use FaceTime. Then they could call their grandkids. He taught them how to buy food online too. That way, they could stay home.

Rem Johannknecht, 16, saw the same problem in Chicago. His grandmother lives in senior housing. Rem knew visitors would not be allowed. So he started a service called Connect Chicago. He trained 150 volunteers. They call people who just want to talk.

As the quarantine continued, however, a new problem arose. Friends couldn’t meet up. Grandparents couldn’t spend time with their grandchildren. People were still fearful of getting sick—but loneliness became a big concern as well.

Jordan Mittler, 16, knew he could help. Prior to the coronavirus, he had been giving in-person computer lessons to seniors in New York City. In March, he moved his classes online.

Jordan showed his students how to call their grandkids using FaceTime and how to shop for groceries without leaving their homes. “It’s something they never thought they’d be able to do,” he says.

Rem Johannknecht, 16, saw a similar problem in Chicago. His grandmother lives in senior housing, and Rem knew she was going to be cut off from visitors. So he started a service called Connect Chicago, and by the end of April, he had trained 150 volunteers. They call people who just want someone to talk to while they’re stuck at home.

PAUSE AND THINK: How did Jordan and Rem help older people?

Finding Ways to Celebrate

Then there were all the things that didn’t happen. Birthday parties and proms were called off. Graduation ceremonies were canceled. But all across the country, teens refused to miss the most important events of their lives.

Beverly Us-Zapata had a drive-by quinceañera. That’s a big 15th birthday celebration for Latinas—girls whose families are originally from Mexico, Central America, South America, or parts of the Caribbean. She put on a fancy dress and makeup. Her family helped her set up outside her house in Oregon. They had cupcakes and candy ready for guests who drove by.

In New York City, Ruby Allison had her senior year at Hunter College High cut short. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye. So she and her friends made an exact model of the school in the video game Minecraft. Then they held a prom and a graduation in the game.

Ruby says the project helped her turn a lost senior year into one she would remember forever. “Everyone had this shared moment,” she says. “We took this situation and made something we could be proud of.”

Because of the virus, many things didn’t happen. Birthday parties and proms were canceled. Graduation ceremonies were too. Still, teens found ways to celebrate.

Beverly Us-Zapata lives in Oregon. She had a drive-by quinceañera. That’s a big 15th birthday celebration for Latinas (girls whose families are originally from Mexico, Central America, South America, or parts of the Caribbean). Beverly wore a fancy dress and makeup. Her family helped her set up outside her house. Guests who drove by got cupcakes and candy.

Ruby Allison lives in New York City. She went to Hunter College High School. Her senior year was cut short because of the virus. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye. So she and her friends made a model of the school in the video game Minecraft. Then they held a prom in the game. They had a graduation in the game too.

Ruby says she will remember her senior year forever. “Everyone had this shared moment,” she says. “We took this situation and made something we could be proud of.” •

Social distancing rules led to birthday parties, proms, and graduation ceremonies being called off. But all across the country, teens were determined to still celebrate the most important events of their lives—so they got creative.

Beverly Us-Zapata had a drive-by quinceañera. A quinceañera is a special 15th birthday celebration for Latinas—girls whose families are originally from Mexico, Central America, South America, or parts of the Caribbean. Beverly wore a fancy dress and makeup, and her family helped her set up outside her house in Oregon. As guests drove by, they were given cupcakes and candy.

In New York City, Ruby Allison’s senior year at Hunter College High School was cut short. But Ruby wasn’t ready to say goodbye, so she and her friends created an exact model of their school in the world of a video game called Minecraft. Then they hosted a prom and a graduation online—in the game.

A lost senior year turned into one Ruby says she’ll remember forever—thanks to her school model project. “Everyone had this shared moment,” she explains. “We took this situation and made something we could be proud of.” •