Welcome
Each month one or more of our youth writes a column observing what is going on in the lives of modern teenagers, the Church and the world, and offering reflections on the Christian life and faith. Through this series of columns, we hope to connect you with the lives and brilliance of our young people; to offer reflections on our ongoing congregational life and mission; and to invite further reflection and deeper discipleship. We welcome comments and suggestions. The words of our young people here are an invitation to continue the conversation!
These two articles written by BMPC youth and alumni highlight their experiences as they begin their freshman year in both high school and college amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read both to better understand the recent experiences of teenagers in transition, particularly during the pandemic.
For a lot of students, Online School has been problematic. It’s hard for a lot of people to live, work and learn in their own bubble, seemingly separate from everyone else. For me this spring, my procrastination grew from a problem that I could deal with to an all-consuming void that stopped me from doing any work for hours as I just sat around with my laptop nearby. I managed to get through the year, but it was an uphill battle against my own apathy. I had a harder time doing work because anything I did felt so separate from any other humans.
Over the past few months, I have been isolated at home with my immediate family. We have, for the most part, stayed at home and been with each other. COVID-19 has changed the way we live as a family. We have had our fair share of fights and arguments, as does every family. Still, we also have begun new traditions and have grown together. We began to walk both our family dog and my sister's dog every night after dinner. It is refreshing to get outside and be with the people you love. I look forward to this every day because it allows me to forget about schoolwork or my internship and focus my energy on my family.
2020 has certainly been a wild ride. We've faced threats of a second Cold War with Iran, coronavirus, quarantine, and now protests and riots about racial inequality are happening around the world. It feels as though we are living through a chapter in one of my high school history textbooks.
Hi, I’m Jill Getty. I am a senior at Radnor High School, and I think it’s fair to say that this school year has not gone as my classmates and I expected. When the school year began in September, I was thrilled about what was supposed to be one of the best years of my life. I looked forward to senior classes, my final sports seasons, and college decisions. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, my life as a senior has been flipped upside down.
In this week's issue, high school senior Jack Odiorne reflects on the troubles of online high school classes and his views on the future in an open letter to his advanced placement psychology teacher. Jack, like many of us, expresses distress and resignation toward the sudden changes that we've all had to face, giving a senior's point of view on the current state of our online school systems.
Growing up, Easter was one of those holidays that I looked forward to. Every year, a church, a playground, or even Villanova University, would host an Easter Egg Hunt open to the public, something I can guarantee almost every child looks forward to. The promise of candy and searching through flowers and fresh grass on a beautiful spring day was always something that made Easter special. Not to mention the stunning Easter Sunday services, the happy, uplifting hymns, and the fun Easter clothes. Easter has always been a holiday that was especially joyful. It was a breath of fresh air (both literally and metaphorically), after emerging from the dark Lenten season and the end of winter. It signified not only the rebirth of Jesus but also the rebirth of nature, as all the flowers, plants, animals and insects rebounded after a cold winter. But this year will be different.
