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Monday, March 23rd, 2020
-Yohely

I read somewhere off Instagram that Shakespeare began writing poetry in quarantine due to the Great Plague of London of 1593. Because of his start, in1606 he wrote plays such as Macbeth.   The post then asked “What will you create?”

Well, quarantine has given me time to create art to get rid of the anxiety that comes with everything we are facing today. For the past three days, I have been creating a piece using colored pencils that has helped heal my anxiety and worries.

Here is a piece I just named “Quarantine Things”

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Tuesday, April 21st, 2020
-Angelica

I forgive you WHEELS.  I forgive you now and forever. I forgive you your routine, your useless gym classes, your boring class periods we had to sit through, your awkward crew periods where no one participated, and your uniform.

All is forgiven if only you return: having to wake up at 7 am, having to wait for the bus to not get a seat half the time, being catcalled on the streets every time I looked nice, the crackheads around 181st street, and club meetings during lunch.

Only come back and all is pardoned: the Socratic seminars, oral presentations, endless projects, annoying kids, and even Mr Lenzner’s speeches.

Please, do not be proud. I know, we cursed you relentlessly. Forgive us, as I forgive you. We did not anticipate the silence, the loneliness that fell upon all of us being locked at home, our community members getting sick, losing loved ones, being unable to see friends and family, not having prom, being overwhelmed with remote learning, virtual crew and community meeting. We took you too much for granted. Yes, forgive us for not giving daily praise for the blessing that is WHEELS.

I know I did not thank you enough for those student government parties, the gatherings by Rocco’s desk between each period, the lunches with the board, tea sessions with Carl, playing games in Mr Lau’s room after school, the conversations with Mr. Espin, Dr Fox’s bars, the various trips and memorable bus rides that we spent singing at the top of our lungs to bad songs, the college march, the jokes about dropping out and not going to college to annoy Rocco, and seeing you and thinking this is family, for welcoming me and allowing me be myself.

Being a WHEELS student I was in a hurry, I wanted to graduate and go off to college. You get that. Please forgive me. Please forgive us all. I'll throw in the gym classes. Forgive you for everyone of those useless classes. Just come back, just return, please. I know we can make a deal.

(An Emulation of Roger Cohen's "Come Back, New York, All is Forgiven)

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-Ashby
There is a lion trapped in a cage

The world's harshness and torment

Fills him with rage

The mere thought of being in isolation

Makes him burst into hyperventilation

A panic that can only be described

As frantic and tragic

The lion feels confused

For he was told that being separated

From his normal life and put

In this cage would improve

The dark and cold world surrounding his way

But he sees this was a lie

And from the inside he can

See all of them get hit and die

Bodies dropping like flies

He has lost all courage and desire

To see the outside of his cage

Again

So he stays inside wondering when the world

Around him will reside

Living his normal hectic life, expressing his gripes

And happy during times of hype

Oh man this lion sure misses his life

His real life

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Monday, March 30th, 2020
-Emely

I aspire to be as free spirited and care free,

To let my worries go and my problems be,

To dance around the flames at night

To have no restrictions, no limits, no boundaries

To have no fear, no doubt, and still be a masterpiece

I aspire to have transformations and self growth,

To live like a butterfly - that is my oath.

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Art piece name: The Man in a mask
-Allan

It has been almost a month and a half and yet we're still in lockdown. I think to myself “Will things ever go back to normal, will there be a thing as normal nothing will ever be the same after all this ends.”

I’ve been home this whole time but i feel stuck in prison in my own mind and house not able to go out so I ask my parents if I can go out they tell me not to go but it is one thing that I just need to do if not I won't be able to stay stuck at home.

I go to the store to get some food that my parents need, but I wait in line to prevent overflow in the store.  I was there to get some bread that I needed for my family when I encountered a  man there holding the last pack.  He looked around and we both saw each other -  him packed up with food in his basket, he looked and put it back and walked but not without giving me a stare that I won't forget.

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Monday April 20, 2020
-Reyshell
“Once again, congratulations on getting chosen to be a part of Boston College’s Class of 2024,” says every staff member/current BC student in the, what feels like, thousands of zoom webinars I have attended.

Quarantine has given me a lot of time to think about the things that have occurred throughout the last couple of months. I sometimes sit in bed at 3 in the morning and think wow, I really did that. “That” being getting accepted into my top choice school, which had its most selective admissions process to date. Not only that, but I also found out that only 110 students were accepted into the nursing program, which is #27 in the country, and I was one of those 110 students. Although it may sound like I’m bragging, I am not. College never seemed like a reality for me, even as we had been visiting different colleges and universities throughout our years at WHEELS. I say this because no one I had ever known had a secondary education, which led to me not thinking much about it being a possibility for me. So knowing that all of my hard work has landed me in the spot that I am in today, feels really good.

However, our current situation has put the hard work I have put in all these years in jeopardy. No one knows what will happen in these upcoming months, and so typically, with uncertainty comes fear. I have been attending webinars to get as much information on BC as possible since I cannot go on campus anytime soon, but it just doesn't feel the same. The hype that comes with the following months after getting accepted into college is not there. I can’t hug my friends after getting told where they are going to be spending the next four years. I can’t personally meet those that will be my peers and mentors over the next four years. Most of all, I can’t be sure that I can show up on campus in August and make the best out of my first year in the next chapter of my life. All the traditions that come with being a freshman at BC, like going to football games, freshman convocation, etc. are in danger of not happening. I have begun thinking of the possibility that my first semester, even my second, will be online, or what we like to call Zoom University. All of these webinars that have taken place on Zoom feel like they are getting me used to using an app that very well can be my mode of communication with those I would have been able to meet in person.

Traditions at BC: A panel of students discuss important campus traditions on the Boston College calendar

“Let's talk about traditions at Boston College. There is a possibility that we won't be able to do these traditions this year considering the current climate, but it doesn't hurt to talk about them”

But it does. In all honesty, I don't know how I am going to be able to adjust to college if our first semester is going to be online. I have even been getting to know a girl who could possibly be my college roommate, but I get discouraged every time by the thoughts in my head. Why am I forming relationships if I probably won’t get to meet people until 2021? How is it possible that I may feel like a freshman as a sophomore? Either way, the only thing we can do now is wait….

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Monday, April 27th, 2020
-Madeline

“Madeline ponte a fregar cuando termines de comer,” that has been my routine for the past month since being quarantined. Chores, Chores, Chores. That’s the only word I hear going around the house, that’s the only word I will know until I’m able to go outside. Cleaning has always been a way for me to relax and not pay mind to the things surrounding me which seem to affect me. I have always been what people seem to call a “homebody,” I don’t do much except stay at home and look after my sister. I’ve become accustomed to staying at home and not going outside for a period of time but this is something new to me.

Staying at home without being able to relax outside. That’s like a new language to me, I’m used to staying at home but never like this. I haven’t gone outside for a month with how anxious I get, I’ve become scared of what the world outside of my own household can do to me. The only human contact I get is inside my house, the only fresh air I ever get is the one that comes through my bedroom window--I’m not allowed to leave my house under any circumstances according to my grandmother. I’m not someone that goes against anything that’s said in the house but I’m the only one that’s not allowed to step out and at least get some air.

I’ve been feeling left out, but I can’t judge the judgement of those who are trying to look out for me even if I do feel like I need to go out. The furthest I’ve gotten to the outside door is looking out from the other side of the building door, I can’t do much except wait until this is all over which is hopefully soon. Chores, Chores, Chores. That will be my only choice until this pandemic comes to an end.

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-Isabella

Little by little the class of 2020 is coming to an end, no more school work to worry about, no more having to stress work, of course only having to worry about passages. I don’t know about other kids but I am happy to be finishing school and getting my diploma. The other half of me is going to miss high school very much. It was a long and fast 4 years. I can’t wait to start a new adventure in college and open a new chapter in my life.

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-Elias Díaz

You’re worried about getting your hair and nails done

I’m worried about my loved one

You're protesting against the government to let you back outside

But you refuse to realize how many people have died

Your selfishness shows your lack of concern,

But you wouldn't care unless it becomes your turn

You want them to work to cater to your specified needs

But you won’t dare to do their good deeds

You blame others and put a blind eye towards the disease

But take a look at what you’re doing, cause it's more than just the Chinese

Nobody was prepared for this, but that means nothing to you

You still demand things to go back to normal, but refuse to pull through

You still demand things to go back to normal, but refuse to see it with a clear eye view

So go back home and make yourself some beef stew

Cause this might take a while for a new dawn to debut

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-Denisse
Meow! Meeoooow!! ~ my cat Ari yodels. Gosh is this what I will be hearing for 5 weeks?!

I am living the Rapunzel life right now.

Trapped inside. Without going outside once.

What already feels like months has only been one week in quarantine.

My cat Ari has been a company to me. I enjoy spending time with him a lot. The scratches all over my arms prove it.

My cat is used to being all alone in my house, while I’m at school and my family at work. I always wondered what it must feel like to be alone for half of the day, everyday, does he not feel isolated, lonely, tired? Well now I understand exactly how it feels. This coronavirus epidemic seems like a big deal to me. If it wasn’t so serious, why does it keep spreading and the death rates increase more and more??

All there is on the TV are the news. From Trump making a speech, to the Governor Cuomo telling us to stay calm. Ive felt sluggish and crappy staying at home 24/7. Now imagine that plus having to sit all day doing online work!

Ari, come and distract me and take me away from all of this stress!

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-Vanessa

We’ve missed important meetings, postponed celebrations, and canceled gatherings.

We’ve stopped trips, dropped weddings, delayed proms, cut graduations.

We’ve missed opportunities and chances; second ones too.

We’ve lost jobs, stability, and hope.

We’ve been discouraged, struggled, and starved.

We’ve separated from our loved ones,

felt anxious, scared and alone.

We’ve lost people, too.

Hopefully, years from now, when we’re old and gray, we will be able to look back and think of this time as a little blip on an otherwise happy life.

Right now, we have every reason to be sad.

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Things I have been doing for self-care during my quarantine:

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Things I have been doing for self-care during my quarantine:

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-Chasity
- Watching shows/movies on Netflix (It benefits has a great distraction and relaxation)
- Face Masks (Definitely helps your skin feel great with a hint of feeling fancy and rich)
- Listening to music and singing along (Great way to express and let out your emotions)
- Reading books (Another great distraction and helps for a stronger mind)
- Showers and baths (Helps with relaxation, stress, muscle tension, and overall helps you be and feel clean)
- Cleaning out my room (Helps clear our mind and clean space helps you have positive emotions and motivates inspiration to do things)
- Watching YouTube videos (Helps if you are looking for a laugh)
- Writing (Helps clear out your mind and expressing emotions)
-Locking myself in my room (When you are home all day with family, it can get socially exhausting where you need some time alone. This allows alone time and time to recharge)
- Meditation (Helps with relaxation, stress, and connecting with your surroundings)
- Sleeping a lot (Just a great time to dream and reenergize)
- Eating a lot (Food makes anyone happy and it’s a great emotional booster)
- Going on social media (Although people consider doing this a bad thing, I think at a time like this it gives me some connection to the outside world)
- Facetiming (Great way to connect with my friends, my boyfriend, and my family)
- Petting my animals (I have 5 kittens, one cat, 3 dogs, and one bearded dragon. Spending  time with them relieves a lot of stress and causes a happy emotion when you are not feeling your best. Especially the kittens!)

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-Andy
Flight is freedom in its purest form,

To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;

To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,

To feel the joy that swells within;

To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,

And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;

Then back to earth at the end of a day,

Released from the tensions which melted away.

Should my end come while I am in flight,

Whether brightest day or darkest night;

Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain,

Secure in the knowledge thta I’d do it again;

For each of us is created to die,

And within me I know,

I was born to fly.

-Gary Claud Stokar

This poem captures everything I love about aviation. From a 4 year old kid until now I have always known this was my calling. I can't see myself doing anything else in this life than flying planes. My biggest fear in life has always been looking back on my life 50 or 60 years from now and having any regrets. My one piece of advice to the Class Of 2020 is DON'T SPEND YOUR LIFE LIVING ON SOMEDAY ISLE. I live by this because I see many people in my life who have goals and aspirations but never take the time to make those dreams a reality. It's sad to see the older generation talk about things they wanted to accomplish in their life but never did, If I were to not pursue this career path I'd never be able to be at peace with myself once my time comes to exit this Earth. Many people ask me if I'm not scared of the thought that I could potentially lose my life flying, but my answer's always the same. I have faith in the knowledge I possess about my craft and if I were to die, at least I would be doing the one thing that I've dreamed of my entire life.

I've seen this exact situation  happen all too often to the industry I love over the past 20 years. As a new global disaster strikes the world, the airlines take a massive hit. The coronavirus has me thinking about the effects this will have on my career in the future. Tomorrow is not promised for many pilots just like it hasn't been in the past. We have a massive pilot shortage and this pandemic is making it worse due to the amount of pilots sitting on the sidelines. I pray better days are ahead specially for young kids like me who grew up in awe at what they saw every time they went to the airport and saw planes landing and taking off. I will keep fighting for my dreams even with this pandemic because I won't allow myself to LIVE ON SOMEDAY ISLE.
4/20/2020

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Monday, May 4th, 2020
-Yara

Mask on “check”

Gloves on “check”

Hand Sanitizer in bag “check”

I said to myself Saturday 4/2, it was the first day in a long time I was finally stepping outside my house. I was nervous, you can tell. “Mami esta caliente?” (Mom is it hot?) “Si demasiado” (Yes too hot). I walked back and forth looking in the closet, I knew I should take a sweater but didn’t know which one.

Nike shirt, black leggings, black Nikes, and a jacket. I looked at myself in the mirror, I was ready, excited, and nervous all in one. All I could think was how nice it would feel outside once I saw people for the first time in a long time and once I got sun.

I finally walked outside all protected and ready. I felt like the whole world was staring at me, and as if they knew it had been this long.  I started walking, keeping my distance from people and I had never felt so anxious and excited all at the same time.

That was supposed to be me when I graduated, anxious and excited all in one. Wow, this was really the only year I had been waiting for because it was the only year I was really excited about. Oh well, what can I do? They announced school closing for the rest of the school year, well “I saw that coming” I said to myself when I heard it in the news.

There was no way we were going to have to practice social distancing and go to school at the same time. The last time I heard my 7:15 am alarm was 3/12 and if I knew it would’ve been the last time I would’ve been a little bit more excited about actually going out.

I’ve been looking at my calendar and weather app constantly these past few days. I like going outside, and as long as I know what I am doing, and as long as I am protected, keeping my distance everything will be good.

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April 27th, 2020
-Ricardo

Within every soul resides, faith, love, happiness, and good luck. However, behind the true meaning of a soul, uncovers more than just a positive side. A side where people would not show and keep hidden- hate. Many people do not show their true colors as they don’t feel comfortable exposing themselves. During this pandemic, many people are protesting against the stay at home order because they believe that their freedom is being violated. However, one thing they don’t recognize is, hundreds of people are dying due to the coronavirus because it’s lethal. With this in mind, people are feeling resentment towards the protesters because they don’t realize why we have certain regulations.

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-Marlene
I was scrolling through my instagram earlier today and I saw this meme. It said " 2020 every second and then it said wait there's more" and it included a guy from a commercial. It definitely made me laugh but then I started thinking. There's truly something happening every other week: a new virus for kids, killer hornets, and the death of many important people that many people look up to. There have been too many negative things that have gone on this year and it is far from over. “ We need a new year” I told my sister when all this started.  I just wonder when is this all going to end. It has been too long since I have seen people that are very dear to my heart and it hurts knowing that I may not see them for a very long time. This quarantine has taught me many things about appreciating those around you because in any second anything can happen and you will not be able to see them again. Every time there's a bit of hope that everything will go back to normal something has to occur and it is very aggravating. There was so much hope that this year will be the best year especially for seniors because we are graduating and starting a new chapter in our lives, but I feel like it has definitely lost the value. Having a virtual graduation and virtual classes for the last couple months of our high school years is not the same as having a regular graduation and regular classes, but we have to make the best out of this situation. Life has taken a drastic change, but together it will get better and we will see our grandparents, and parents again. Even with all the new things happening we will get through this. I thank god that we get to wake up each and every single day, that is the light at the end of the tunnel, at least we get to wake up and see another day.

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-Yohely

Today mom didn’t wake up feeling so good. I haven’t touched her warm skin since Friday and I haven’t been able to cuddle her in the mornings either. In order to see her I have to FaceTime her or open the bedroom door just enough so I can peek. I got yelled at by my aunt for opening the door without a mask, I just wanted to say that I was awake. We’re now waiting for the test results and it’s haunting me thinking about it. Tía tested positive last week. I hope mom doesn’t.

Sleeping in the living room isn’t so bad. All of grandma’s pictures hang on the wall opposite of the bed. I see them at night and remember when I used to panic when sleeping here. I guess I’m not scared of her anymore or maybe I am actually growing up, or is it the music that’s keeping my mind off my fears? She would’ve been panicking right now if she were alive, instead grandpa remains in his room with his candle lit up for her. He uses the house phone to call my mom’s cell phone even though they are in the same apartment so they can speak. He checks in on her, I hope he continues to do that after she recovers from this.

I started another drawing. The music, the drawing, The Sims 4 and rewatching Grey’s is keeping me sane. I can’t wait for everything to come back to normal.

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-Liz

1. Sleep

2. Watch Netflix all day

3. Eat a whole lot

4. Try to become Tik Tok famous

5. Scrolled endlessly through Instagram

6. Scrolled endlessly through Snapchat

7. Go to sleep at 3am or later

8. Wake up at 12pm or later

9. Started playing Sims

10. Scroll Endlessly through Tik Tok

11. Gone from my room to the bathroom back to my room, then the kitchen back to the room and back to the kitchen.

12. Catch up on HW

13. Get mad for no reason

14. Be in bed all day

15. Attempt to cook

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-Zane
Ever since the coronavirus has started I’ve been able to take this time to dedicate myself to prepare for college and playing on the basketball team. I’ve been working out constantly on my body to become stronger. The Coronavirus is really affecting me because, I cannot see all of my friends and especially play basketball against them. This has affected my family a lot also because, everyone in my family has been down lately and they also feel as if the virus won’t go away anytime soon. During this Quarantine I’ve been hanging out with one of my friend’s name Lexi, who has been motivating me everyday. She has also been working out with me, because she plays volleyball. Anyways, quarantine has been good for me and as much as I want this quarantine to be over I’ve really began to spend time and bond with my family, which I barely do.

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-Angel

I know it feels like you can’t find a place in your own shoes

Being trapped everyday in your own room

Not being able to go out feeling fragile like a glass case with one truth

Once it breaks there’s no more use

Almost feeling laced just a little bit more confused

But yet although this feel like the day is being put on repeat

we can handle this in a heart beat

And that’s because we are surviving the world being set ablaze

We are surviving the fear of recession with an economy that’s ready to shake

Realistically

We can survive anything that’s put on our plate

And I’m sorry if any body gets offended

but son we’ve survived our highschool career with an ignorant 🤬 president

And if we survived him god knows that represents our own strength

So yes it’s a confusing and a difficult time

People are losing brother and sisters mothers and father sons and daughters

Lives are being lost, man bless them and the people still fighting

Bless the people still crying

Bless the people living their life or at least  still trying

But although so much is happening that we’re getting taken by storm this will past

we know we’re strong enough to survive this time of uncertainty

We know we going back to our regular lives or as close as we can be

And if we’re lucky we’ll get out of this sooner then we know or at least hopefully

But regardless

even  without school we still out here and we need eachother so although we’re spread apart realize we need the unity

that comes from being Washington heights #1 community

The wolf pack

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Monday, March 30th, 2020
-Cindy R.

It’s like a cage, or something is blocking my mind from being free, there’s a peaceful mental state in the middle, and the outer is where I am right now, I’m trying to get into my calm state but I can't. This quarantine has gone on for too long, and I'm already tired of being home. Family issues bring me down a lot because they keep me under stress like ball & chains.

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-Vanessa

-I wonder how the world will be different when we come out of this - when the pandemic is over.

Will we start being cleaner?

Washing our hands every few minutes?

Will the buses and trains be cleaned frequently?

Will there be fewer handshakes?

And fewer hugs?

Will we wipe everything down before using them?

Every chair?

Every table?

And every doorknob?

Will people be cautious of other people being too close to them?

Will people stop to say hi to their neighbors?

Check up on them?

Sing with them from their windows?

Will people continue to wear face masks?

Will factories go back to burning and releasing fossil fuel into the air?

Or oil into the oceans, rivers, and seas?

Will people be aware of being in crowded places?

Will we be more cautious when we cough?

Or sneeze?

Will people be more appreciative of doctors, and nurses, and scientists, and medical personnel?

Will people be more appreciative of first responders?

Pharmacy workers?

Grocery workers?

Journalists?

Mail carriers?

Will there be less soil pollution?

Light pollution?

Noise pollution?

Will we be more appreciative of our friends and families, and of quality time and how we choose to spend it?

Or will we go back to the way things were

because...

The virus is gone.

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Monday, March 30th, 2020
-Sheyla

“En Ecuador, el coronavirus…”

Just hearing how the situation is affecting my parents home country is devastating. It is being said that many people are unable to have their loved ones buried in the cemetery due to this virus. They will have to be cremated to avoid the spread of it.

This didn’t make sense to me. I felt angry at the fact that they weren’t able to properly say goodbye to them with a funeral. I then thought of my grandfather, although he was able to get buried I thought of how hard it must have been for my dad to not go and say his last goodbye. Instead we all had to witness it through a video call. He did not pass away due to the virus but because he was very delicate and couldn’t deal with it anymore.

I understood the pain that people felt of losing a loved one.

Not due to the virus but it still hurt.

“Pasame el control.” My sister passes it to me and I immediately turn off the tv.

I get up and begin to do what I do best.

Make my family smile.

I begin to talk in Spanish about all the funny moments that have happened to me and one by one we go around and begin to laugh.

Laughing, light, joy.

This is what my family was missing a smile on their face, I never really noticed how much I missed spending time with them together.

This...this reminds me of what I'm working towards and my inspiration.

My family of 5.

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-Emely

I can’t help but ponder

Over the lives of women in the 1920s

My time today

I think of endless possibilities

And what’s to come next

I’d like to convince I’m being prepared for dark days

I’ll get to talk about this, yeah I got through it

Those women were breaking normalities

Announcing their triumphs because it allowed a step towards impartiality

Some more than others are galloping the waters of fear

To some it is new to others old

For those women they were the new frontier

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Monday, April 6th 2020
-Andrea

It’s been about 2 weeks since I’ve last seen outside. As much as I want to go outside,  I know it’s for the better that I stay inside. Everyday I think more and more if my mom is going to be ok. I stay up till almost 6 everyday just so I can kiss my mom goodbye as she goes to work.Today as I woke up my thoughts were different, my grandpa's birthday just passed. 🤬 he’s 94 and I couldn’t even spend his birthday with him like we do every year. At least we got to sing him happy birthday through the phone.  I guess that’s a good outcome. I don’t know when this is going to end or how long it’s going to take before everything will become normal again, but I hope it’s soon. I hope my mom doesn’t have to wake up scared to go to work anymore. I just want everything to turn out for the better instead of turn out for the worst.

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Sunday, March 15th, 2020:
As I was in my bedroom with my sister watching the movie “Freedom Writers” on Netflix, my older sister sent me message saying “Put NY 1 on the tv, Cuomo is speaking on whether schools will be closed or not”, I rushed to the living where my mom and dad were already watching Cuomo speak upon the pandemic the world is currently facing and a couple minutes later he elaborated on school closures, then he proceeded on saying that all public schools will be closed until April 20th. At first, I was excited that I did not have to go to school for a whole month, but I came back to reality that I am in my senior year and that’s when everything officially hit me all at once. Different thoughts ran across my mind, “Will I even graduate?”, “How am I even going to commit to a college?”, “Will I have to do an extra semester in high school?”, “Why is this happening in our last months as seniors?”, “Will we even get to have a prom?”, “Hopefully this doesn’t extend further than April 20th”.

In this moment, I have mixed emotions throughout this entire situation we as a whole are facing because we weren’t prepared as we should have been. Seeing how many cases are skyrocketing on a daily basis worries me because we don’t know exactly how many people will be affected by COVID-19 by the end of the week. Never did I think that our last couple of months as seniors was going to be like this, these are months which most of us are finally deciding where we want to go after high school or just spend time with everyone. Most of us have known each other since 6th grade and to think about it that in our 12th grade year, we would not be able to spend it together.

As the days progress, I am able to grasp on the concept that everything happens for a reason and that no matter what happens I have to see it on the brighter side. This is what’s best for us in the moment, because we have to ensure that everyone is not being affected by this and can go on with their daily lives. I’ve begun to understand that our health should always come first because if we aren’t healthy, then we won’t be able to keep moving on with our lives. Many of us have goals/aspirations which we want to achieve by a certain time, but if health is affected then it is likely that we will have to postpone everything in order to take time and care for our own bodies.

I know that we will get the chance to hear “Congratulations class of 2020” because this is just a storm which will pass and we will get a sunny day. We can’t let situations like these dictate our future and the way we react, we should take this as a lesson on the way we manage our hygiene in order to prevent problems like these from occurring.

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Monday, March 30th, 2020
-Mayerling

Today I sit here listening  to “I’d rather go blind” by Etta James. She sounds hurt and passionate about what she is saying. I too feel hurt yet I must continue to do what’s necessary to be okay. Music is what is keeping me sane right now and I’ve never been more grateful for these lovely artists. The way that each lyric delivers a sense of emotion is what I dream to do, but with my instrument. I’ve been practicing “Almost cried” by Duke Ellington. Every time I play it, it’s like I’m in a different world. My World. Full of musicians, happiness, and notes. Most importantly the art of music itself is in My World. It’s who I am and who I’ll continue to be through this pandemic we are all facing.

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Monday, April 20th, 2020
-Dashiel

I can feel the jitters run through my body today. Tomorrow I officially turn 19 years old. I’m almost at the start of my adulthood. I remember like it was yesterday when I was 16 and hanging out with my friends back in Sophomore Year. Time surely flies!

Sadly, not much will be done, not like it has been this past birthdays, all because of the pandemic, but at least I could give myself a “self care quality time” to just enjoy my special day. I would probably play some video games, while I wait for March to roll up and hopefully this situation dies down, since there’s a game I’m waiting to play so badly but I can’t have it on my hands yet.

I’ve had thoughts going around my head about my future. What I’ll do, how and the decisions I’ll take as an adult person. Would I finally decide if I’ll go to college? Will I move out? Will I pursue this career or this one? There’s endless possibilities and paths for me to choose. I know I’m young and still have a lot to live, but I also want to have a plan in mind to follow (and knowing me, maybe some backup ones too).

It’s funny, I’m feeling a little melancholic realizing I’m at adulthood’s doorstep. I will miss my teenage years, but they will help me realize and reflectionate of this past decade of my lifetime that I’ll leave behind. It’s like closing the cover of a book, the end of an arc.

But as scary as it sounds, I’m ready to open the next tome and start a new read once again...

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Monday, April 20th, 2020
-Randy T

Life used to be full of dreams and goals no it is merely a nightmare, the novel virus has put people's homes, jobs, and health in jeopardy. We're stuck at home with not much to do, I now have to kill time reading a book rather than hanging out with my friends & making memories. Additionally, we're now part of a tragic piece of world history, but one thing I like about New Yorkers is how committed, united, & hopeful we are in moments like this. We (meaning my aunt who is a fanatic of this) put our things down at 7:00 pm on the dot to make ‘music’ to celebrate the medical staff for their hard work for fighting to save the lives of those with coronavirus while putting theirs at risk. I always end up hearing car honkings and even police cruisers turning their siren on & off to show support. Now more than ever we have to focus on maintaining a positive mindset while staying at home on lockdown.

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Monday, April 6, 2020
-Hualbin

Home Away, Home Ever

A place to feel safe and wanted.

A place to rest my mind and heart.

A place to make myself a new.

I will normally be happy to be in a safe place

somewhere deep inside me i feel there needs to be more

It's such a weird feeling wanting to go outside and the see the world

Having to stay inside everyday away from the outside world. Feeling a sense of isolationStress from too much work

Wondering when I'll see my friends again Wondering if these events were supposed to happen. Was the reason of this to learn independence

Or to understand how it feels to truly feel helpless.

Not being able to see the trees and flowers.

Hearing the calmness of the sea and feeling the wind in my face.

Giving me time to think about the choice I made and the dreams I have.

Remembering the times we spend together

The connections we made with one another.

Keeping myself hopeful and alive

Until we see each other again.

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-Diane
You lost your wife before your kids were even ten years old. You were mother and father to them for as long as I can remember. You raised three incredible, supportive, and successful adults all by yourself. I know tia was proud of everything you have done for them. You were never the man who stayed quiet, I remember hearing stories how you once faked being a cop at the supermarket just because you saw a lady getting robbed. When I told you I got into Brandeis the first thing you did was come over and bring me a cake. That was the last time I got to see you Tio. I want to say its unfair that you were taken already but I know you were in pain and now you are better alongside tia.

Your kids were raised as if they were my were siblings. I gained two older brothers and an amazing big sister through you. All I want is that with your loss, it can bring us all even closer.  Thank you for all the love,  laughter, and support you have given all of us every day.

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-Carl
Right next to my left nostril is a little pimple or insect bite, I don’t know what it is but it itches. Why did I go out, because I was going stir crazy, because my house was full of people and noise, but I regret having left now with this interminable itch. Why didn’t I use my sleeve when opening up those doors, when gripping the railing, when picking up the newspaper? If I had then I could give myself a little scratch, just a little relief from this nuisance. I wish I could trade places with Kovalyov, better no nose than a nose one can’t touch. I should read that book again, but then I should finish Dead Souls first and my copy broke so now I have a different translation so I would have...this itch I hate this itch. I walk here like Tantalus in his pool of water but instead of food and drink I just want to scratch my nose. I walk past Associated, or what used to be Associated, they renamed it I don’t know why but they did. On I go, past the people in line they remind me of the supreme store and the ridiculous line in front of it. I smile at the thought and raise my hand out of my coat pocket, but I catch myself and stuff it back in my pocket. “I got you this itch is nothing, NOTHING!” I think. An ambulance races past me sirens blaring, “Another one, poor soul.” I think that I should pray or something, or should I. I don’t really pray, not recently at least so...THIS ITCH THIS NAGGING LITTLE ITCH. “Just quickly real fast.” No, no, no I can’t do that, I have to wait until I get home, until I remove my shoes and socks and wash my hands for those interminable 20 seconds. I enter the park, there are people in it. “They should  all be home don't they know, the nerve of these people...” but I’m in the park as well so I can’t throw stones at them breaking my glass house. I hear the birds sing, the squirrels eat and climb. I like that they don’t care, they can’t care. To them humans are insignificant, they have bigger worries like eating and mating. It's beautiful it truly is beautiful I mean...Why this Itch seriously this ITCH it's driving me mad! I breath in the fresh air and look at a Cardinal perched on  branch, a sparrow dancing around a branch and my hand slowly approaches the itch until I snap out of it “Not today you stupid little itch!” That wasn’t in my head I realize as a child stares at me, the parents are also looking at me, worst of all I don’t think they heard the word itch. I make an about face and rush out of the park, as if that makes me look any less suspicious. “Go home, go home” I think repeatedly over and over. And when home, take off my shoes and socks, then wash my hands for 20 seconds, remember to make sure the water is warm first and then scratch it.

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Monday, March 23rd, 2020
-Madeline

“Madeline, lávate las manos antes de saludarnos por favor,” those were the first words I heard when walking through the doors of my house. I never expected that this was what I was going to hear when walking through those doors, especially not the words I would hear coming out of my mother’s mouth. This wasn’t something I was used to, much when in my culture the first thing you do when walking through those doors is ask for tus bendiciones from those around you. I had spent the weekend in Yonkers, I hadn’t seen my mother in a few days now which meant I haven’t even gotten my blessings from her either.

Blessings. These are patterns, these are actions you get used to without even realizing but with the development in self care there has been a decrease in the interaction in our household but at the same time it has brought us together. I have been instructed by family ever since I could remember to look after myself but now I’m not alone, they’re trying to look out for me as well. While walking into the bathroom to wash my hands I heard my mother’s voice, “Yo prefiero tener ese virus antes que mis dos hijas,” she’s worried for all of us. I stood in the bathroom looking at myself in the mirror before washing my hands, how did this happen to us? This was supposed to be my year, our year. What did we do to deserve this unexpected outbreak?

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-Julio
Well, this day is the day things don’t go as well for him. After all, this virus is taking things from him little by little. Today, it took is father, well not took like that, but put his father in the hospital. He, woke up early to attend his crew call, but instead, he called 911 to call an ambulance to pick up his father. Being the only legal age English speaking person in the house, he needed to be there when they took his dad.

He didn’t look okay, he and his father didn’t talk a lot due to past incidents but they still communicated like father and son. However, He looked hurt, is still his father and some blood hurts. Now, now he has to show the most, show his mother and his sister that things are going to be okay. Hopefully.

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Monday, March 23rd, 2020
-Ulises

About a week ago my family and I were hangin’ out in the living room watching the news when something popped up on the TV screen. It said something along the lines of “Vaccine could take 6 months to be found”. When I heard this it was a weird realization because I knew my senior year was basically over. Those last few moments adults remember from senior year may not be like ours. Instead we would have to practice social distancing. I wonder how this will impact our mental health always being at home considering that humans are social creatures.

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Monday, March 23rd, 2020
-Vinny

Shocked at the fact that school is closed until April 20th. My phone blows up with notifications from family, friends, and teachers. I get a specific text from Bluestone telling us the news that PSAL has cancelled our season until further notice. Tells the seniors that he’s proud of our growth and it’s been great having us play for him. As tears run down my face, I cannot think straight, I couldn’t believe that the season could be really over. Not being able to start our season, Images from the past playing with the current seniors ran through my head like the speed of light. I couldn’t believe that all these years leading up to the big senior year would be cut short.

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-Aaron
When analyzing the image carefully, you can see the main character of the hit comedy movie "Shrek" point his finger at you. This subtle display of power is emphasized when you realize that in the movie he played the role of king. Lord Farquaad, as he is called in the film, in a short synapses plays the part of the villain, with a short stature, with his name actually being a play on the phrase "Lord 🤬 Wad. " Adding to the character's arrogant and highly privileged background. With this in mind- we look back at the image, and already grow a sense of anger or irritation to the character. However, what the illustrator purposefully does in an act of artistic freedom is write the word "White" above the character. Not only that, but a closer examination showcases a Farquaad with a gleeful attitude. Adding further humor to the arbitrarily added word "White." Once done, however- the viewer feels a sense of sympathy for the character that can not truly be explained. Perhaps it could be that as the word "White" is so nonchalantly thrown into the image- it is a reference to the train of thought known as "White Guilt." A primarily negative mental drive that causes the victim to think a series of thoughts generated by the negative actions committed by his/ her people(s) in the past. With all this in mind, we can assume that Farquaad is attempting to sympathize with us towards his "White Guilt" by throwing the word "White" under the bus. As he believes his people have done so to others in the past and modern-day. Allowing us to reimagine the true nature and character of this unliked movie villain, as well as allow us to say to him- and ourselves, "It's Okay To Be White."

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-Serecia
It was a normal day for many of us. Then suddenly we heard classes are moving online and graduation was indefinitely postponed. No Caps, No Gowns for many in the Class of 2020. All these years of hard work and suddenly it doesn't seem worth it. When my friend and I were having tough days, we would tell each other, "Just wait till graduation day. We're all walking across the stage together and we'll get our diploma. It'll be so worth it then." "If we can't do it in June, we are very committed to do a ceremony" says Marelyn Pichardo, Vice Principal of WHEELS.

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"A stroll through the mind of a student" Monday, March 30th, 2020

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"A stroll through the mind of a student" Monday, March 30th, 2020

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-Ramses
“Hello, I'm talking to the parent of Yanel.” I hear in the background as I write down this entry. My mother is at work trying to get on track with her students and seeing if they are ahead of their work. With time to adjust herself to the new method of teaching, she has been hard at work trying to get into contact with her students, seeing if they have any devices to do any homework, and checking their progress daily. “Ok gracia mi corazon” I hear as she closes up her call with one of her students. Unlike Wheels which has google classroom, my mom needs to personally contact her students’ by phone and make a progress check for every single student daily. Needless to say, she’s busy, but she seems pretty alright considering what's going on. Overall she is in a good position and while her school can benefit with computers for students everything is fine for her.

Then as I’m writing a part of this entry, my father calls me from the kitchen asking me “can you eat these grapes so that they don’t go to waste.” My dad has also gotten better after this week. He’s mostly the person that goes outside and gets all of the food and other resources from outside, a bit of a side-effect from this is that he’s acting like a clean freak. Near the front door there is a can of lysol and spraying me, my mom, and himself every time we come back home. He also sprays it around the wall so when I was going to turn off the lights I put my hands on the switch and felt a very slimy liquid on the wall. As soon as my mouth was ready to ask my dad what was on the wall, he told me “Ohh yeah, I used the spray on the wall.” He also seems content with cooking in place of my mom, and he loves to brag about it. He makes “mangu de platano allmarilo” and I hate to make his cooking seem bad, but he puts way too much oil in it. At times, it seems like just by eating a piece of it creates like 3 pimples in my back, so I hold off on eating it. All and all, he seems to be happy even with his current situation.

As for myself homework is going smoothly, I’m mostly getting my work done on time for all of my classes. However, I feel deep down there is something wrong with me mentally. I’m even though I'm trying to get all of my work done, it's far-cry from the way I normally take classes in 11th grade, where I’m enthusiastic to complete it as soon as I go home, how I get my work done in time, and organized. I have a clear track in my mind, I understand everything that goes on internally as well as externally. But seemingly after the second semester, my mind is in shambles, whenever I’m in class I feel like half of my mind is paying attention and the other half is asleep, I feel more mentally fatigued when I come across work, and lose any sense of motivation or drive for my work and this quarantine isn’t helping me with this. I know that part of this might be a case of senioritis, but something about this doesn’t feel right. Part of me really cares about school and wants to finish up strong but something in my head is stopping me from doing it, like the one part of my head wants to figure out what is going on in the metaphorical house but the other part of my head is preventing me from figuring it out. I really want to figure this out before June so that I can be like myself again otherwise my head feels like my head is a battlefield for class warfare.

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Monday, April 13, 2020
-Jade

Sakura Tree: Fragility and Beauty of Life.

Beautiful yet tragically short. This week I felt interest in drawing my own version of the Powerpuff Girls. This is Kiki, a representation of the Sakura.

She represents how quickly life can change in a second. The visual example of Now.

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Monday, April 6, 2020
-Elias

All this time at home made me want to do some search on the origin of COVID-19 and why we are quarantined. The source of the coronavirus is unclear. Many people believe it came from Bats, and other people think it might have come from other animals. Some people even think it’s a curse from a higher power for the mistreatment of animals, since they are not affected by said virus. To your right is an image of Dr. Li Wenliang, an Ophthalmologist in Wuhan. This is the doctor who identified the coronavirus, before it was an outbreak. In December of 2019, he went to his hospital with respiratory problems. He was showing symptoms of something that we didn’t know anything about. He warned Wuhan and the Chinese government of a possible new virus, but they shut him down. The police silenced him, made him admit that he was lying about the virus, to not cause an uproar between the civilians. Wenliang passed away on February 7, 2020, at just 33 years old. He was among 12 other medics who passed away. After his death, he was recognized as a martyr. The drawing shows a picture he took, but a little different. It shows the barbed wire covering his mouth, prohibiting him from talking and warning people of what’s to come. On Saturday, April 4, 2020, the Chinese government honored him with three minutes of silence. I wonder if the police and the Chinese government took Wenliang’s warning seriously, the virus could have been under more control, and fewer lives would be lost. Everyone needs to know his name and his story: Dr. Li Wenliang, everybody.