Suds Richardson
Staff Reporter
Everyone has their own views on masks and the pandemic itself. While much of the country has been divided on it, no one talks about how those younger than them feel about it. With that, here are some of the takeaways in student interviews on the subject.
The biggest takeaway is that everyone I talked to thought it was the person’s choice to wear one and that it was not their choice to say whether or not someone should. Many adults will speak on this as if they have the right answer for everyone but high school students seem to be able to see nuance much clearer. One student said, “I don’t really think it’s my business but it’s a good idea.” In this, one can see they have their own thoughts on it but they do not feel pressure or need to project that onto others. Later they added, “I think it’s definitely their choice; I’m not going to judge people based on what you [said person or people] do.” This understood nuance was the biggest takeaway in all of the interviews. The way everyone seemed so accepting of others and what others choose was a surprise in the best way possible.
Another theme in each interview was how everyone had their own distinct ideas and thoughts on it. Even if they had similar beliefs nothing felt ‘up for debate’ in their minds. In response to being questioned on if one should still wear a mask even after vaccination, one person said that they think it would be best to still wear them. Though what would normally feel like a divisive opinion, they were not hesitant or second-guessing themselves on it. Their answer was confident and they had made up their mind after educating themselves on the world around them, opposing the teenage stereotype that many adults around us seek.
A final point is that no one felt defensive or on edge in the interviews. While many can be up in arms on these subjects and feel the need to defend themselves or attack others as if their entire image rides on it, these kids just said how they feel. In almost every interview everyone agreed that masks are just here to protect one another. No mention of the government or bigger political ideas behind the mask but that they are here for our safety. They also agreed it would be best to keep wearing them post-pandemic when one is sick, similar to how Japan will wear masks when one feels under the weather.
All in all, most said that masks are a good idea to keep wearing just to keep others safe. Some larger themes in these interviews however are that these high schoolers feel so much smarter, kinder, and nuanced than most adults who engage in this discourse. Many would like to believe that teenagers are just uneducated and are incapable of making up their minds but that simply is not true. Giving younger generations space for discourse like this is important and hopefully, this space has helped some to see that.
Image Credit: Wix Images
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