Recent surges in COVID-19 have caused restrictions at our school, specifically in the dorms. Students are incredibly anxious and concerned that these restrictions will become a full shutdown, causing them to be isolated from their friends and support systems. This is not to be taken lightly and is a serious stressor for residential students. This stress combined with the anticipation of midterms is creating a negative environment for all students, especially boarders.

As a residential student, our friends are our family. We support each other when things are difficult. Those who boarded at CK last year know how scary things can feel alone in a dorm room, communicating with your friends through a screen. The fear of that same situation occurring this year is pure dread for us. We are all afraid, partly for our physical health but mostly for our mental wellbeing. As we hear about more students getting COVID and more restrictions, it feels more and more reminiscent of last year, and that is saddening and terrifying. It is important to understand the weight of this situation on boarding students. 

However, this mental strain is not only affecting boarding students. It is all students. Multiple teachers, vaccinated students, and day-students have been affected with COVID. 

As such, it is unreasonable to expect us to perform as usual on our midterms. We are all undergoing an immense amount of stress right now. We have seen our friends buckle under this weight. We are scared and dreading having to study for  midterms during a global pandemic while potentially being isolated from our dorm family. Please remember that this is not out of laziness, it is out of our genuine concern for the effect this stress will have on our peers and ourselves.