Views from Harborough schoolgirls: How youngsters are trying to find the positives in lockdown

My life in lockdown - by Milly Docherty, Deputy Head girl.

My heart dropped when I initially heard the news regarding the cancellation of GCSEs.

We’ve been preparing for them since the start of secondary school, never in a million years would I have thought that they wouldn’t go ahead- saying I was shocked and upset was an understatement.

Getting used to this new normal started very wobbly- going from living a structured school life to this bizarre new way of living took a while to get used to.

I try my best to keep myself busy- whether that be through baking, cooking, playing the guitar, learning more French or painting. I mostly use my free time to develop new skills and interests.

Recently I completed a 10-mile run around the countryside in Foxton, Great Bowden and Market Harborough - I personally know that I wouldn't have done that if it wasn’t for quarantine!

Despite my efforts of staying motivated, I have caught myself binging on multiple boxsets and films in the evenings!

Next week I aim to take an introductory open university course on biofuels to keep my brain active, my physics teacher recommended using the open university courses to learn something new, what a fantastic idea!

Additionally, I hope to have another online lunch date with my friends through “zoom” or “houseparty”. I must say that not being able to physically see my friends has been the greatest test for me so far during my time in quarantine.

How I’m trying to view the lockdown positively - By Eve Townsley, Head girl

For me, the strangest thing about being in lockdown is not seeing my friends.

Although I can talk to them via social media, it’s not the same as meeting them face-to-face at school or during extra-curricular clubs.

Another thing that took a while to get used to was the cancellation of our GCSEs, which none of us had really been expecting – at the beginning, it felt really odd that we wouldn’t be taking the exams after two or three years of preparing for them.

Next year, I will be studying A-Level history, German and Spanish at WQE college in Leicester, which I’m really excited for. I’m using some of my time during the lockdown to prepare myself for courses, so that it hopefully won’t be as big of a jump from GCSE.

To keep up my physical health, I’ve been making sure to go out once a day, either to walk my dog or to go on a run. My dance teachers have also organised online dance classes via ‘Zoom’, which sounds like a weird idea, but is actually a really good way to continue with my hobby and see my dance friends.

To stay mentally healthy, I’ve been trying to stick to some sort of routine, which stops me from wasting the whole day and helps me to actually do the things that I want to do during this period. I’ve also been doing a bit of work that my teachers have set online, because it helps to fill the time. Mainly, I’m trying to view the lockdown positively as a time to do all the things.

I’ve wanted to do for ages, like improving my skills in my A-Level subjects, reading more, and watching TV programmes, but haven’t had time to because of school, hobbies and other commitments. Talking to my friends online also makes this time feel a bit closer to normal.