Written By: Kate Di Guglielmo, Editor
RELIEF: RUSD follows suit as California removes the mask mandate.
The time has come where life is finally headed toward normalcy. For two years COVID-19 has reigned terror on people everywhere, shutting down businesses, bringing death, and stealing precious experiences from the youth of the world. According to The Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, in California, starting March 1, masks were no longer required for unvaccinated individuals, except for high transmissions settings like hospitals, homeless shelters, and correctional facilities, where they were highly recommended. This means school districts across California are allowed to do what many schools in other states have been doing and remove the mandate.
Students will finally get to live their life as if the world is once again normal. Those who choose to not wear their masks will get the chance to display their faces for everyone to see. Some will be very surprised at what they may find. The teacher who you thought had a bare face may have a voluptuous mustache and the kid who sits next to you in math who you thought had a big nose may have the nose you wish you had. The mandate being lifted opens our eyes to what our teachers and classmates actually look like, as well as take us a step closer to what was once normal.
At Riverside Poly High School the mask mandate was lifted on March 14, 2022, exactly two years and one day after COVID-19 shut down many schools and many businesses. Many Poly students seem to be happy about this newfound freedom, as some students say how it should have been a choice from the beginning. As said by a respected Poly High School student, Lily Marsella (11), it’s about time to “try and get things back to normal.”
Although most are excited for the mask mandate to be lifted, there are still some who will be choosing to continue to wear their masks. Koston Espiritu (11), an involved student on Poly´s campus, justifiably believes that ¨Covid is still a real thing¨ and that there still is a chance ¨an even newer variant could develop.¨ While the lift is exciting, Espiritu (11) is right, there is always a chance for a more potentially dangerous virus to evolve which can cause dire consequences, especially for those who aren’t protected. Also like Espiritu (11), Aly Kraft, a senior at Poly High School, will be keeping her mask on in order to ¨keep [her] family and [her]self safe.¨ Valuing others safety over one’s comfort is a respectable and selfless act which should be respected by everyone. In the true spirit of Poly’s culture, we will all respect each other – mask wearers and nonmask-wearers alike.
COVID has turned the world upside down, but it’s time for us to turn it right side up. There is no doubt that the fear was real, and that for many that fear still remains. It’s time to cautiously embrace true social interaction. Bring on Prom inside, Grad Night, assemblies in the gymnasium, field trips and smiles – those absolutely beautiful smiles. The mask mandate lift will hopefully be one step closer to ending our fears and bring us all peace of mind.