Hanging out by a thread — how students socialize during a pandemic
GBHS students reflect on hangout spots their friends have used to interact while staying safe.
Dutch Bros. Coffee is a popular location where people can purchase drinks and spend time in the parking lot with one another.
Although the world is in the midst of a pandemic, some students have chosen a small group of people to interact with throughout these tough times. Due to the closure of indoor businesses, some students have started to visit more outdoor places, such as the popular location of Folsom Lake.
“I started going there more often because of how open it is,” junior Alyssa Lee said, “and it’s nice to just drive around, take some photos with your friends and have some snacks.”
Hanging out with friends outdoors is a much safer solution to spending time with each other while remaining precautious.
“We try to spend more time in the car and go to places like the drive-ins or Dutch Bros or even just parking lots to just chill and talk rather than go to places with lots of people,” sophomore Kaleigh Oliveri said.
Wearing masks is still a crucial guideline people must follow when socially interacting no matter the location, however.
“We wear masks whenever we go to the Galleria or to the shopping plaza near the school,” junior Ben Valerio said.
As winter break has begun, some students are taking snow trips, and nothing is better than a road trip to distract from the stresses of a pandemic.
Students are also going on hikes and trails and even biking more often now rather than shopping. Even for students who do decide to go shopping with friends, it has become more trendy to go to small thrift stores rather than stores that attract large crowds.
“I honestly have been thrifting so much that half of my closet is filled with thrifted clothing,” junior Damarian Dennis said, “and I’ve actually started to learn how to sew to fix up older clothing into a new modern style.”
Hanging out with friends no longer has to be in very crowded places; they can be in the car at the lake, at the drive-in movies or even trips to the snow.
As long as masks are worn and COVID-19 guidelines are met, having fun in a safe manner is more than possible.
Heba, a senior, is one of the editors-in-chief, and this is her third year on the Gazette staff.
Diana • Mar 19, 2021 at 10:33 am
This is a good awareness for a lot of people. I enjoyed how well the example are written. I think that by posting this article is a good idea because we need a reminder that staying healthy is a privilege and we need to use it wisely.
ria • Feb 12, 2021 at 10:30 am
I enjoyed this article a lot because I think it’s very relatable to a lot of people and a really important topic to discuss during this time. The examples they give are also helpful and a good way to spend time with friends safely.
Ciana • Feb 12, 2021 at 7:49 am
Thank you for posting this because keeping in touch and being social with friends is really an important thing during the pandemic and some need to remember that keeping yourself healthy physically and mentally is always a priority.
Natalie Okon • Feb 5, 2021 at 7:59 am
I really liked this article because I can really resonate with it. I agree especially with the point made about socializing in open, outdoor places. The examples given in this article have left me with some ideas of ways to be able to have fun with my friends in-person even mid-pandemic. This is really good!