Growing up, my memories of being sick consisted entirely of relaxation. The quiet mornings waking up to sunlight flooding through my window, followed by calm afternoons lying on the couch beneath a mountain of blankets dissipated any physical discomfort. I appreciated these rare occasions, that is, until I got the full high-school experience of being sick this past week. I spent the majority of my first day at home glued to my bed. My attitude towards the increasing amount of unfinished assignments and the upcoming Nov. 1st college application deadline adamantly remained that “I’ll figure it out tomorrow”. The second day at home was when I truly began experiencing the stress, and through fevers and headaches I was pulled back into the reality of my coursework. Surviving off of five different types of medicine, I spent the entire day working on worksheets and essays, and even had to drive to my fourth period for a math test because I didn’t know when else I would get the time to go to Central and make it up. It felt the opposite of relaxing, and the day after I eagerly returned to school despite the fact that I still hadn’t quite recovered.
This is beginning to sound like a complaint, but drawing myself out of this displeasureful experience I think there are many things in which I, and anyone in a similar situation could consider to make it easier on themself. There are some policies that we cannot change, like the due date of college applications and the new rule where students are supposed to make up a test the day after they get back, but we could benefit by adopting a proactive mindset and in turn lessen the amount of stress that being sick as a busy high-school student entails.
- Communication
Away from the elementary school days when I could stay home and forget school existed, I think communication with those at school, both teachers and peers, makes the workload a lot more manageable. Me and many of my friends have always felt a negative association towards asking for extensions so we always try to avoid doing it, but it would be beneficial if we at least tried to ask in situations like when we’re sick. Usually in situations where you actually need extra time the request is accepted, and it is also a way to communicate to teachers that recently you are having a difficult time keeping up. Apart from giving us more time, communicating to ask for notes and resources from other people lessens the time we have to struggle on our own.
- Use other resources
This time being sick I noticed that I was actually given a lot of resources that I usually don’t use. For example, the many textbooks and the math course notes I’ve never used because usually being present for the lesson is sufficient were helpful when I was not able to be at the lesson. These other resources can also include notes your friends took, or other online platforms like Youtube.
- Try to follow along
Trying to follow along doesn’t necessarily mean turning a day at school into an e-learning day and completing all the work according to designated periods and deadlines, but rather it is more like knowing and following along with what is happening in each class. Usually, the information needed to follow along is in Canvas or a daily agenda in Google Docs or Google Slides, but for teachers that don’t keep a calendar I would recommend asking classmates or directly emailing. Following along ensures that on the day you are back you are not confused, and can quickly start communicating with teachers to set up alternate dates and times to make up the things you missed and ask questions about any assignments you are still working on.
- Still prioritize your health
I think something we all oftentimes forget is that ultimately health and well-being is still the priority, so try your best to keep up with academics on the basis that you are feeling well enough and have the extra energy.
Overall, being sick as a high-school student can be a challenging experience, but with proactive communication, effective use of resources, and maintaining a balance between academic responsibilities and personal well-being, we can navigate through this difficult period with greater ease. Additionally, it is key to remember that health should be the top priority. We should find an equilibrium between academic and physical wellness, and try not to forgo either of them. Best wishes that no one gets sick, but I also hope that helps if you ever are.