Mid-Hudson News has launched a “Student Journalist” section to allow elementary, middle, and high-school students to write essays or “news as they see it” for submission. The following is an essay from one of our “Student Journalists”, Andre Thurston Jr.
NEW WINDSOR – There are many ways the COVID-19 pandemic has affected me. The absolute worst thing is being stuck in this house. It gets so boring being cooped up in here all day long. I have to do so many chores now that I’m home all day, and my mom makes me read! I get enough reading from the news and on all of my schoolwork. After the school day is finished I try to go on my PS4, while in the middle of a game all of a sudden I hear “AJ! Read for a half-hour!” In the middle of a game! You could at least let me finish Mom! But no, I have to get off right then and there and start reading. While there are many effects to this pandemic these are the worst to me. My mom and stepdad still have to leave the house and go into work though, so I go to my grandparents’ house a lot. It’s nice to switch between houses.
Then there is school. Online school is just awful. It’s a lot harder to learn things because you’re not in the room with the teachers. I have been on the computer almost every day for the past month. I do like the computer, but this is probably going to get annoying after a while.
Another way the COVID-19 pandemic has affected me has to do with videogames. I’ve had more time to perfect my strategies in Brawlhalla. The best part about video games is that I have all my friends on there. I couldn’t attend my cousin’s birthday or go to his house for Easter, but I can still keep in touch with him through my PS4. I can also talk to my friends from school, whom I probably won’t see for another month or so, or more if school gets canceled for good.
One of the things I hate the most about this virus is my guitar lessons. I have to do them online now, and I find it to be much easier to learn in person. It’s tough sometimes to hear what my teacher is doing or what note he’s playing. I’m also just starting to learn about music theory, and as music theory gets more complex, it will get harder to learn over the phone.
Please wash your hands, stay healthy and have a nice day.
About the author:
My name is Andre Thurston, Jr. I am twelve years old, I attend Heritage Middle School, and I live in New Windsor, New York. During my free time which is almost all day now, I like to watch TV, play video games (obviously), and play my guitar. My mom Nina Schutzman works for a domestic violence agency called Grace Smith House and my stepdad Matt Clark is a detective lieutenant at the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department.
If you have a student that is interested in writing a submission, please send an email to Todd Bender at bender@midhudsonnews.com and include a brief bio and picture of the student along with a note from the parent giving us permission to edit and post the story and photograph.
