High school can be an exciting time in one’s life, from rallies to dances to being able to learn more about yourself by trying new things. High school is a time to make friends and have as much fun as possible before adulthood starts.

However, this year is much different than past years. Schools have cancelled or postponed many events that students look forward to, including Homecoming and sports, in order to follow guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, many students are continuing distance learning, while others are back on campus, following the CDC guidelines for social distancing. Among those students on campus, they are split into two groups, often causing students to not be able to see their friends on campus still.

Within the Oakmont student body, as well as high school students across the nation, many have thrown parties or get-togethers in order to see their friends more often and have a sense of what years past have felt like. However, the majority of the students don’t even follow the social distancing guidelines or wear a mask.

Scroll through Instagram or tap through Snapchat stories and you’ll notice just how prevalent these events are. During holidays, long weekends, or days off from school, these gatherings increase.

Schools cannot actually prohibit parties or punish students for not following the CDC guidelines, but they can educate students more on the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences that can occur from their actions.

Each year, students watch presentations about peer pressure, drug abuse, alcohol, and vaping to educate them about the dangers of these activities and the consequences that can occur from doing these actually. With the pandemic’s continuance, educators should do presentations that include proper following of guidelines to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With such harmful consequences that can occur from the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, students need to be taught what to do during this time. With the pandemic turning into a political issue and some groups believing that the pandemic is just a hoax, students need factual information from their educators.

Until students and adults alike start to follow the CDC guidelines by not gathering in large groups and properly social distancing, the COVID-19 pandemic will not end. We all need to do our part to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic soon.