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Recently, we ask our readers to share their experiences of life in lockdown. Young people’s lives have been turned upside down during this crisis, with schools and colleges closing, and many young people losing jobs. As part of a project with the Irish Examiner, we wanted to highlight these stories and give a voice to young people in Ireland learning to cope in this new situation.

Below, you can read what our readers have to say about the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on their daily lives. 

Young people share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Róisín, 23, Mayo

This whole experience really is like a rollercoaster. One day it can feel fine and I feel content in myself, and the next there is a huge wave of anxiety. I think it comes from all the unknown associated with it. We don’t know when we’ll be able to see our grandparents again, or hug a friend again. I think it shows how much we took for granted before, like sitting down to have food in a restaurant, or having a chat with the cashier in a supermarket. At the start of these restrictions, I had great intentions of the routine I was going to get myself into with college work and other things to keep myself occupied, yet as it stretches out longer and longer, it is really hard to get motivated to do anything. Living in a rural area has been a challenge and a blessing in these times. A challenge in terms of how the internet connection can be unsteady, and there’s no way for takeaways to be delivered! But a blessing in terms of how I can go for a walk without fear of meeting a single person while I’m out. It’s possible to escape that feeling of claustrophobia that comes with being stuck inside. 

David, 22, Cork

Initially, I began my experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in denial. I could not believe the seriousness of the virus and did not expect such stern measures to be implemented. Initially there was also a lot of rumours circulating about the virus and this did not help in determining what exactly was going on. The day my university closed was when it hit my hardest. The first thing I did however was run to the library and withdraw as many books as possible that I knew I would need to help me in my studies now. The lockdown also sent me on a positive path towards getting fit. For the first two weeks I remained in my student accommodation with friends until my parents could pick me up. Two weeks spent locked in all we did was drink and this was not healthy. All of us were in shock but after those two weeks I decided I would go full 180 and get fitter during the quarantine instead. As news broke of the potential complete lockdown, my mother did not hesitate when rushing to collect me and bring me home before the roads closed. Since I have been home I have made a good routine between study and exercise. I find it difficult missing my friends but we stay in touch over social media and video calls. I am most thankful for technology during this pandemic as it has allowed me to remain connected to those closest to me. I just hope all of this ends soon as some days it is difficult to function when the future is so uncertain and it feels like any efforts I make may be to no avail.

Aoife, 17, Sligo

It’s completely surreal, but it’s also amazing how quickly this has become the new normal. When I try and think about life before COVID-19 it seems almost dreamlike, like it didn’t even happen. I’m finding it so hard to stay motivated. If I slept in before this it was a panic because I would be late for the bus. Now if I sleep in I’m just late for my desk, and it’s not going anywhere! Some days are a lot harder than others, when I focus on all that I’m missing out on or how the events I was looking forward to have been cancelled. Other days though I feel like I’ve adapted completely and the time for doing nothing might be good for me. It’s a bit monotonous – online school, exercise, eat, sleep and repeat, but I’m trying to stay positive and I’ve started learning French now that I have the spare time. I miss my friends and Gaelic football, but what I think I miss most is having something to look forward to. We don’t know when this is going to end and I think that’s what’s beginning to drain everyone. For now I think it’s important to focus on the present and do things like play football in the garden, use the seven year old basketball hoop and go planting spuds with Dad, a collection of stuff I hadn’t done since I was about 11. In a way, the pandemic is a bit like revisiting a childhood summer holiday. I was always very excited to go back to school.

Dean, 17, Wicklow

I have found the lockdown difficult to cope with because in my family, we are used to just walking into each other’s houses and having a conversation. We are a very open and welcoming, close knit family which is hard to separate from, hence the difficulty of lockdown. The lack of freedom and “social” distancing makes it harder to enjoy getting a break from the house. The lack of seeing my friends and also the amount of schoolwork I’m getting is just a stress. The teachers reckon that what we normally covered in a week should now be done in two days which is ridiculous! Then parents nagging on about how there’s a list a mile long of stuff to be done in and around the house and that they want it done in one go but say “you have to do school work when given it. You also have to do a list of things that could take up to a month usually during summer, this week, and also have to be up and also go to bed at the same time with school, even on weekends.” Its so stressful and is causing me to struggle more with my mental health than ever before! –

Adam, 21, Cork

Honestly I’ve been having a good time in isolation so far. I think others my age are definitely worse off for different reasons, but my experience has given me a break from the stress of my part time job on the weekend, and the drama of my college during the week. I’ve been staying productive everyday since the lockdown which I think is key to getting through this. I finished my college assignments early on just to get it out of the way. I set myself my own projects outside of college that I can do for a few hours each day to keep me busy. As well as this I’m exercising almost every other day. I’ll jog about 2-3 times a week, do a home workout 2-3 times in the same week, and take rest days with whatever is left. It’s important to stay healthy both physically and mentally and both correlate to a healthy lifestyle. I think my biggest advantage is being able to talk to my friends every night. Before COVID-19 I would’ve been busy 7 days a week and wouldn’t get to hang out or talk to some of my best friends for days or sometimes even weeks at a time. This lockdown has given me the opportunity to stay in touch much more frequently and if it wasn’t for them I’m not sure how I’d be coping right now. As a plus I’ve received some much needed quality time with my mother at home. When I weigh it up, this pandemic experience has personally given me more good than bad. 

Lorna, 18, Galway

My experience with the pandemic so far has been eye-opening. Although there is a lot of fear and anxiety in my mind, I have benefited a lot from being at home. Thanks to the beautiful weather I’ve been allowed to go for walks with my dog and sisters which has really helped my mental health, health and my relationship with my family. It’s not all sunshine and roses due to the lack of uncertainty that I am facing with Leaving Cert exams. The stress that I’m feeling when I begin to think about it leaves me wondering what is the point of studying when I’m not completely certain that I will be sitting an exam come the end of July. Isolation has helped me to further my involvement in volunteering. I’ve begun my training as a Crisis Text Line volunteer, become a Youth Ambassador for ONE and, work harder as an Action Panel member with SpunOut.ie and SAUTI Youth ( Sustainable Accountability Uniting Tanzanian and Irish Youth) a climate action youth-led project. Although it’s frustrating to be in the same place day in day out, I know that as time progresses I will be a better and more patient person because of the pandemic.

Aimee, 16, Cavan

I think as a teenager in a global pandemic right now that it is a very strange, unexpected experience in life. No child or teenager ever had the thought of having to do school from home cross their mind, and now look where we are. I think that online school isn’t the easiest thing because you get easily distracted, especially if the television or radio is on the news station and talking about COVID-19. It’s very hard having to stay at home and not being able to see your friends and relatives, especially nanny and grandads. Being stuck at home makes you realise you should be more grateful for the things you have in life that you haven’t been so grateful for before, such as being able to call to your grandparents for tea and even going to school and doing work in real classrooms and seeing your friends.

Andrew, 22, Wexford

My life during COVID-19, like many others, has consisted of boredom, Zoom meetings and 5K challenges. At the start of 2020 I was very hopeful for the year ahead having been co-opted onto Wexford County Council. My plans have changed drastically. My days went from cramming in some study to running around meeting people and learning at a pace that I never thought was possible. Now, I get up go for a leisurely walk to clear the head for the day, check Instagram to see who’s doing the 5k/€5 challenge for charity. I will make a few phone calls or answer a couple of emails. Then, inevitably I will check Instagram again. I might go for a run and try and get a personal best on my 5k time. Saturday nights are quite compared to the gallivanting of old. Sundays can be bleak without the excitement of a GAA match. Things are difficult, loosing loved ones and friends while not being able to give them the sendoff they deserve. Social interaction seems a distant memory and it doesn’t seem to be coming back for quite a while. Young people have been told that there were no jobs for life anymore and that in any sector that we go into we will chop and change from one sector to another. Now is our test, are we able to overcome the challenges that this pandemic lays out in front of us, it will be difficult, but I believe so.

James, 25, Cork

I’ve been working from home since March 16th. It hasn’t been easy so far – I’ve had two friends pass away since lockdown began, and it’s been very tough not being able to say goodbye properly. I’m blessed to have such supportive housemates throughout this pandemic. One thing I would like to mention is that this crisis has made me think long and hard about the state of this country, and I personally have lost hope. This country has been a mess for over 10 years while our media act like cheerleaders for old men who couldn’t give a damn about the average working person. If things don’t change completely once this crisis is over, then the workers must force this change.

Clodagh, 16, Dublin

The first time hearing of the novel coronavirus seem so distant now, but I do remember it being just one of those things I found dismissible as something being blown out of proportion by the same people who are now panicking about 5G. But by the time midterm came, and people everywhere were travelling, in the span of just over a week the coronavirus became less an uneasy joke and more a direct worry. More than half of my own year had travelled to Italy, as had many other schools. The future was starting to become a bit uncertain, seeing as I was living with my grandparents: two at-risk people. Schools closed suddenly, and lockdown measures were coming in, so I took one of the last flights out to Luxembourg to my parents, who are at the moment living abroad. We are all now possibly overly informed on the evolving situation, and what is required of all of us, but I suppose what makes this so difficult is how invisible and distant it is. You can’t protest the virus, you can’t go out and fundraise, you can’t do much besides doing nothing. It gets hard to muster the motivation to get out of bed, never mind do the random projects school tries to keep us busy with. It can get intensely frustrating to know that some people are still seeing their friends, but we all have to remember why we are doing this and who for.

Ria, 16, Tipperary

My COVID-19 experience so far has been surreal. I usually wake up in the morning, do some of my school work, go on a jog within 2km of my house and spend time with my family. Of course, like everyone else I’m starting to overthink about different things, but I’ve been able to get my mind off those things by doing bits and pieces like painting etc. so I am very much supporting my mental health. I’m also making sure to keep in touch with my relatives and friends by phone and by sending letters with An Post. I’m starting to miss the little privileges in my life that I had before the pandemic, like meeting my friends and going to school. I’m starting to realise how hard the frontline staff are working for our country, and I’m very grateful to an Taoiseach, Mr. Harris, Dr. Tony Holohan and any other person striving to make this pandemic as easy as possible for our country.

Ellie, 21, Cork

The 12th of March 2020, the day the first of the COVID-19 restrictions were announced, was also the day I turned 21. At first, there was some novelty about it for a lot of people. Ah sure, few weeks off work, grand job altogether! The virus was a distant thought, something that killed other people, made other people sick, not us, not young, healthy people. As the lockdown grew increasingly severe, and stretched out to a seemingly endless and hopeless extent in front of us, more and more of my friends had to find alternative ways to celebrate milestones; birthdays, anniversaries, even a funeral. The novelty gave way to all-encompassing boredom, and a dull, ever-present unease. After work pints and quick coffees were replaced by compulsive jogging, sweating into your face mask. The feeling of invincibility was gone. Stranger still though, was the feeling of solidarity that grew out of all this. People making big trips to the shops so their elderly neighbours and relatives could safely cocoon. Friends coming together to livestream gigs, or “Netflix Party” together. In a weird way, the distancing has made me feel closer to my community than I ever have.

Anonymous, 18, Kildare

My experience, like most, has been a tough one. I seem to be having the opposite problem to most, they are stuck at home and bored, meanwhile I have never had less free time. I am working in a shop and was originally there part time during college, but I have been working nearly full time since the pandemic. We are understaffed as there are people with underlying medical conditions who wish to not work. The reason this is a problem for me is that I too have an underlying medical condition. I have asthma, so requested less shifts, paid for a doctor’s note for my boss and was told that if I wanted less shifts I could leave. This is not an option for me as both my parents have lost their jobs. As well as this, I am also still in college, with assignments to finish. I have been forced to ask for extensions as I can’t get them in on time with the amount I am working. This is unlike me, as I am normally a very good worker, and I have such an interest in what I am studying. I’m so anxious my teachers will think I don’t care. I struggle with anxiety and usually the only person I can talk to about it is my boyfriend. But of course, I can’t see him right now. This is especially tough when I see young people coming into my shop daily with their friends as if there is nothing happening in the world. I’m trying to stay hopeful but it’s difficult when you are just so scared.

Ruth, 22, Kilkenny

My days have changed drastically. I am used to being in work by 9am, working all day and finally getting home at 6:30 to relax. Now I find myself lost in the unknown of what is next for me. I lost my job due to the pandemic and I’m not sure if I will have it when all this is over. This is a major stress for me as it’s my only form of income. My health also took a hit. I ended up making myself sick with stress, worried about how me and my family are going to cope with a reduced income. However, it has not all been negative. I have been able to connect with people that I wouldn’t normally have time to talk to. It also brought my family together, which is most important to me. We are all healthy and I want to keep it that way. So I am staying home. And so should all of you.

Samantha, 20, Donegal

My experience with COVID-19 so far has been difficult to say the least. I feel as if life as I know it has been taken away from me. I’ve lost my job, my plans of going on a J1 and I have lost my entire sense of independence. I’ve been living out of home for two years studying in Maynooth and working full time trying to be as self-sufficient as possible. Moving home I feel I have completely lost this along with my sense of self. I know this sounds silly but it’s hard to go from living independently to moving back home. It’s mentally draining and feels quite degrading. I’m lucky in ways as I have quite a comfortable home environment and don’t have a lot of real complaining to do other than mentally adjusting to home. I have found this time to work on myself and try to get fit by doing a couch to 5k programme. I’ve also tried my hand at cooking and baking, something I wouldn’t of had the time to do due to trying to balance work and college. I’m worried about when I will get back to work and back on my feet as the plans for the future are very uncertain.

Emily, 21, Dublin

The past few weeks have been an experience I will never forget. Due to the colleges closing, I decided to work full-time at my local Burger King (where I work part-time when in college). We stayed open for a while to feed the front-line staff. I was working 10 hours shifts and still had college work to do on top of going into work. Safe to say, I was exhausted. I got laid off and now I’m focusing on getting on top of my college work. For the past few days, I have been going on runs and have been trying to keep myself busy to keep my mind occupied. Zoom calls are honestly what’s getting me through this pandemic. Iswt’s great being able to speak to those who I can’t meet in person. I have been trying to see the good in everything around me and appreciate the village I live in by going on walks and sitting outside when the sun is setting. It’s the little things in life that keep me going.

Niamh, 21, Dublin

Negative emotions come in waves. There are so many hours in the day to experience the rawness of life, and every conversation, mood or laugh is heightened. I’m getting through it but I do worry for my mental health by the time night comes around. I share a room in the family home, which is a flat with no garden. I miss green spaces and the sea. I’ve been apart from my partner of three years for over a month now, the longest it has ever been. Living in the city, it’s frustrating to see people fail to social distance, meeting their friends or walking in threes, expecting you to disappear while they walk by. Definitely an added stressor and I feel so anxious when I go for a short walk, taking back roads in and out of housing estates to avoid everyone. I’ve been temporarily laid off from my job, but the team are being amazing checking in on me. For my Masters, we continued classes online but they’re finished now. The last week I lost all structure, and with that my wellbeing decreased. All I have is my mindset, so for the new week I’m going to persevere with a new routine.

Clodagh, 17, Galway

COVID-19 has definitely impacted my day-to-day life. When the schools were shut down, I had no fixed structure to my day. I struggled with this for the first week but I can say by now that I’m used to it. I believe I’m lucky to live in a rural area because my 2km walk is a beautiful, scenic route, which many don’t have access to. I can say that at first COVID-19 seemed like a foreign illness to me. It didn’t impact me because I couldn’t relate to it directly. As soon as I started seeing the cases in Ireland increase I knew the days ahead would be frightening but I knew we could only do what we could. I have donated to charities and asked my friends to do the same. I think this could make the younger people feel as if they are helping and that they will feel that they can have a big impact on the outcome this illness will have on our society. Thinking of the people in our society who may be more impacted by this virus has made be more thoughtful and grateful. I think this is because I’ve realised that I’m fortunate to be healthy and safe.

Maeve, 20, Cork

I have been reading more, but writing nothing other than assignments on A Journal of a Plague Year and Titus Andronicus. It follows a man through the Great Plague and, as it was for those who read it in 1722, I find it hard to separate fact from fiction through descriptions of quarantines and death tolls. My news intake is less than usual, the fictional being easier to reconcile with a mind trying to get through lockdown than reality. After wrapping up a conclusion, I’ll revert to Sally Rooney or Joan Didion or, yesterday’s exercise in living vicariously, watching a rerun of Coldplay ‘live from Sao Paulo’ with my sisters and I muse upon how strange it is now to see so many people so close together. It’s Zoom calls through unstable connections which keep me smiling, overly-detailed analysis shared with my parents on our separate daily runs provide laughs at how creative we’re getting in mapping routes within two-kilometres. Things are okay, and the sun makes it easier. I am grateful that my biggest problem is how to fill my days and meeting deadlines but, as my mom leaves for work on the frontline, reality reminds me how far from normal we are. In the meantime, it’s the small things that keep the days from rolling into one – even if that means singing the wrong words to ‘Paradise’ too loud as you belt it in the kitchen with your sisters.

Sarah, 24, Donegal

I am living at home on the outskirts of Donegal Town with my one year old daughter, my mum and my older brother. The pandemic has opened our eyes immensely to what normality is and what really matter. My dad passed away from cancer last year which inspired me to apply to a Healthcare assistant course. We consider ourselves to be extremely lucky to live where we are as we can go outside for a walk, take in fresh air and listen to the lambs in the fields. We are so aware of what the costs of COVID-19 are and make sure that we practice proper hand hygiene and our food shop is only done once a week. I have applied to Be on Call for Ireland. My family and I know that we will have to become more strict about our practices if I get called to work during the pandemic. I feel like it is my duty as a person with the skillset needed to be able to help in whatever way. I fear catching the virus and bringing it home to my mum, brother and my daughter. I fear that I will get sick and not be able to help anymore. Hearing the stories of healthcare professionals falling ill and dying is a frightening thought to an outsider, however these are the selfless heroes who need all the backup they can get and I am willing to be part of it.

Jessie, 20, Kildare

The day begins at 2pm, the crack of dawn for us here. I get up and meet with my young sister who is attending a class in junior cert maths or science, pulling her hair out and begging me to leave. I sneak out of our room and enter the kitchen where my mother, when she’s not out being a front line worker in the local supermarket, is looking for some work to keep her distracted. I walk back to the hall way and press my ear to the door that leads to my parent’s room where my older father is frustrated, trying desperately to figure out how a laptop works as he tries to work from home for the first time in his life. I sneak back in to my room, grab my laptop and head out to the back garden shed, where I can finally begin my college assignments, which are constantly flooding in. Around 6pm I take my sister for a 2k run around the woods. We get back and cook up a packet of noodles and veg which we have stocked up. We return to our posts to complete our overflowing assignments. Some nights my sister joins me in the shed and we melt marshmallows over a candle, listening to music, watching the stars. Once a week I have a bubble bath to destress from the situation and to feel a change to routine. Other nights a cool shower does the trick. I have friends who are equally distressed with the reality. We have begun the habit of writing and sending letters to one another, a lovely surprise each day. Its a basic groundhog day situation, the days rarely change. I am intellectually challenged and usually receive support from the college to complete my assignments successfully. Having lost this support has proved to be a problem and has created an obstacle for completing the year for a majority of us. It has been upsetting to see the negative impact the situation has had on many of my fellow students mental health. I am, however, impressed with how so many have risen above and are working hard to provide support for many around the country. I have a few friends who are student nurses who are working hard saving lives. I could not be prouder. Its a scary situation, I have seen loss and sadness in many however I have also seen a community grow. I have heard from those I haven’t spoken to in months, patched up the past and we are creating projects for the future. When trapped by the darkness, we have found ourselves becoming the light.

Eva, 24, Dublin

COVID-19 has made me more aware of how little control we have over life and how insignificant material things become in the face of a universal crisis. No matter how big your house, how many cars you have, how many homes you own, how rich or famous you are, it all means nothing in the face of a health crisis. We are all as vulnerable as one another since a virus can affect anyone and everyone. In the eyes of a virus, a human is a human. It doesn’t differentiate on material grounds. So I suppose this situation has made me more aware of what is truly important and I hope going forward that it will give everybody a fresh perspective on life and we will prioritise social connection and kindness more than ever before.

Recently, we ask our readers to share their experiences of life in lockdown. Young people’s lives have been turned upside down during this crisis, with schools and colleges closing, and many young people losing jobs. As part of a project with the Irish Examiner, we wanted to highlight these stories and give a voice to young people in Ireland learning to cope in this new situation. 

Below, you can read what our readers have to say about the impact of COVID-19 on their time in school. 

Young people share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Eimer, 17, Cork

On March 12th when the schools closed, it felt like I was in the midst of some apocalyptic disaster film. A few weeks since then, I’ve been trying to establish a basic routine with schoolwork, face calls with friends and a little exercise. Having some consistency, has kept me more focused and I’ve somewhat adapted to this new normal. This is an anxious time, some days are better than others so I’ve been conscious of upping my self care and doing things I enjoy, like baking, reading, playing boardgames and (surprise) watching Netflix. We ring my little cousins in Kildare and Mallow, as well as my Nan who is cocooning almost every day.  I think there is a lot of pressure to be productive and to accomplish all those goals we have been putting off because we didn’t have the time. Sure Shakespeare wrote King Lear whilst in quarantine, surely you can bake some banana bread?! My world has been shaken up, I count changing out of my pyjamas as an accomplishment some days! I try and remember how lucky I am, both of my parents are working from home, I’m not in an exam year, none of my close family or friends have the coronavirus. 

Eoin, 19, Dublin

It’s been pretty grim. I’ve been very isolated over the last number of weeks having been at home since the closure of schools. As I live rurally there’s very little to do and it’s been a challenge to stay motivated to keep doing my college work and indeed it’s a challenge to stay focused. I’ve fallen behind in some of my modules and have spent many late nights working up until 2 or 3am to get stuff done.

Adam, 17, Monaghan

When this period of social distancing first began, I found it trivial and I took it as a time off school to relax and not do anything. This mindset had a huge impact on my productivity and mental health as I spent most of my day in bed and or consuming media. This led to me falling behind in school work rapidly, and I knew I would have to do something about it. After a few unproductive weeks, I decided to put together a schedule for myself. This alone improved my productivity and happiness tenfold, so much so that I wrote an article about how it helped me structure my days and get ahead of my schoolwork. However, after a couple of days, I found that rigidly scheduling my days was unsustainable and led to my inevitable burnout. I was back in a rut and I had to figure my way out again. To combat this awful feeling of going nowhere I decided to sign myself up for some online events and this forced me to be up earlier and engage with other people and I benefited greatly from these interactions. This then set me up for better, more active days. This time I continued to incorporate human interactions into my day by video calling my friends regularly. To improve my days I also started taking daily walks and runs to keep me healthy and improve my mood. The extra exercise along with eating healthier contributed to a better sleep schedule which in turn increased my energy for the day ahead. So while my time in lockdown began with a lot of unproductive weeks I eventually learned to adapt to this new lifestyle with a great deal of work and effort! 

Sarah, 17, Wicklow

Since the lockdown started, my daily routine has been mostly made up of taking super long walks and video calling friends until very late at night. It’s a bit of a mixed bag in terms of health – I’m eating much better and getting lots of exercise since there’s more time, but I’m also getting very little sleep due to stress. As a fifth year student, I think school is way easier at the moment than it was before the pandemic – since there are no classes there’s more time to get work done so I don’t end up having to do school all day, it only takes a few hours. I have much more time to do other stuff during school days now, like reading and cooking proper meals to eat. It’s great having so much freedom over how and when to do the work. 

Zoe, 17, Dublin

I am finding this lockdown really hard. I don’t seem to get a break from schoolwork. In the past couple of days I’ve felt really upset because I just want to go back to school. I know that’s not possible at this time but going to school is far easier than online school in an academic sense, and in a mental/emotional sense. I really think teachers need to slow down on the amount of work they are giving their students. I know they have to get a certain amount done by the end of the year, but they have to think of the mental state of their students as well.

Anastasiya, 17, Dublin

To describe it in one word, hectic. Everything is just all over the place. And you would think after 40 odd days you’d settle into a routine, get used to it, and make sense of it all. But instead I find myself waking up every morning back at what feels like square one. The more time goes by the harder it is to believe this is our reality, how long will this last and when will I hear the joyous words of the Leaving Cert being cancelled. Every time, I am sucked back into reality. Facing my teachers demanding homework because they posted something on Google classroom. My mom screaming about 50 house chores I haven’t done and my sister tempting me with another movie to watch instead of studying. How am I supposed to balance my schedule with the teachers, two incompatible things but apparently with the same goal. What is this all for? To sit an exam so that the system can tell me if I’m good enough to get my course. To get a grade that will define my future and set me on a path. Or I lose my UK offers because we postponed the Leaving Cert and there’s nothing I can do about it. I replay these images over and over with little people to snap me back and put me on track. I have 3 possible outcomes. I fail because it is difficult to concentrate for another 100 days leading up to the exams. Option 2 I get into a college in Ireland. Or number 3 I get into the UK uni, but how will this one come true, right now it’s impossible. The window is closing fast, it’s slipping through my fingers and it’s all in the Irish education systems hands. What will my fate be? Will we even survive this pandemic and be able to go to college? A never ending train of thoughts filling my mind, and boom another day goes by. What have I achieved? More stress, more crying and more suspense waiting for something, but I’ve no idea what it is.

Omo, 17, Dublin

Personally COVID-19 was the best thing to happen for me. I was heavily stressed juggling school work, and my social life. It was all just caving in on top of each other, with assignments due all over the place. Now I I have time for myself to think, and improve my mental and physical health. I have time to exercise at home, learn how to make new dishes, make stronger bonds with the family. I didn’t have this before because I was always out, or locked in my room studying or doing homework. With the weather being so good out, I make workout videos for my friends and others to do as well. It is best to stay positive at times like this and just hope for it to be over soon.

Gemma, 17, Cork

I’ve been at home now for well over a month, and haven’t seen any of my friends in person since the schools closed. I’m quite introverted and coping with the alone time isn’t as difficult for me as it would be for others. Akthough, I do still miss having in-person conversations at lunchtimes and between classes. I miss the random friendly hugs. Video calls just aren’t the same. One friend had to cancel her 18th, which we were all looking forward to, and another friend is having a birthday soon. I’ve been trying my best to get up early and do schoolwork, as I’m in fifth year and need to get work done for next year. There’s a lot of talk about the current Leaving Certs, which is understandable, but no-one seems to think about the year behind them who is undoubtedly going to be affected. While they had almost all of their course already covered when the schools closed, we were still trying to get projects done before the end of fifth year, so we would have more time to revise next year. It doesn’t seem like we’ll get as much done as we’d hoped to. Covering new material online is difficult, as teachers have various levels of skill when it comes to operating things like Microsoft Teams. It seems possible that I mightn’t return to school until October, meaning we probably won’t get as much time to revise as other years. All of this is the cause of great stress and worry for me, maybe not every day, but most days.

Recently, we ask our readers to share their experiences of life in lockdown. Young people’s lives have been turned upside down during this crisis, with schools and colleges closing, and many young people losing jobs. As part of a project with the Irish Examiner, we wanted to highlight these stories and give a voice to young people in Ireland learning to cope in this new situation.

Below, you can read what our readers have to say about preparing for the Leaving Cert during the COVID-19 pandemic

Young people share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Katie, 18, Roscommon

So far during the COVID-19 pandemic I’ve been finding it hard to get used to the situation at hand. Everyone in the country is self isolating at home. Schools are closed, as are every non-essential service. We’re watching the world panic, but we’re also watching it band together. Through places like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, people of all ages are banding together to help one another get through the isolation. As a Leaving Certificate student, these apps, the students, teachers and educational companies who have banded together to pool resources during this time, have greatly helped me. While my mental health and well-being has been improved by these new connections, the lack of clarity with the Leaving Certificate and the now postponement has greatly impacted me. It has changed the way that I work, study and cope and I know that many students feel the same. It’s very easy to feel that we are alone in this lock-down. I know I have succumbed to this feeling myself, but it’s so important to remember that we are always here for each other. Personally, in order to cope, I have been practising self care and I am doing my best to keep a positive mental attitude. I’ve made sure to keep in contact with the ones I love and have been keeping myself preoccupied through reading and writing out the doubts I’m feeling. All we can do is our best I suppose. 

Jakub, 18, Galway

At the moment this pandemic is having a huge impact on my life, as this year I am meant to be doing my Leaving Cert. There is so much uncertainty around what’s going on with the Leaving Cert and school that young people’s mental health is being seriously affected. I feel like the State Examinations Commission and the Department of Education are not listening to young people’s voices and thinking of their well-being throughout this pandemic. Young people in Ireland are trying their best to stay at home, and keep them, and their families safe. I feel like there should be more information given to schools to share with young people, and how they can cope this pandemic. I feel like young people are not being supported as much as they should be during this pandemic to help them get through their day-to-day lives.  

Anna, 17, Longford

My experience of the COVID-19 pandemic as a Leaving Cert student has been filled with constant anxiety and uncertainty regarding the exams. It is difficult to study with a pandemic taking place around you. I sometimes find myself losing motivation for studying as exam worry pales in comparison to the virus we are facing. By postponing the exams until late July, it’s sometimes difficult to imagine an end in sight. Now that we have to do our exams so late I can’t get a summer job to support myself in college. I am struggling to find accommodation, as landlords can’t hold properties for students who don’t know when they will be attending college. I understand the exams were postponed out of fairness to students, but how is this fair to students either? Student’s mental health is paying the price of this decision. For the last 6 weeks we have not been allowed to physically interact with our friends, and teachers, or even leave the house out of public safety. There is no separation between our school and home life anymore and it has become suffocating. So much rests on the Leaving Cert exam – it determines our entry into college and our future careers. In normal circumstances, it’s a very stressful time for students, but the situation we find ourselves in has heightened our anxiety. The Department of Education needs to listen to the wishes of the students sitting the exams and prioritise student well being over all else. 

Nicole, 18, Wicklow

Stressful and very hard to not see anybody for so long. I feel overwhelmed, and that the Leaving Cert, on top of everything going on, is very damaging to us. I’d like to have done the exams after so much preparation, but it’s not worth the risk, and how much we’ve missed, especially when you can’t do online classes, as you can’t learn that way.

Molly, 18, Dublin

On Monday morning I woke up to my final few weeks in “school”. With my Google classroom full with work, I sat down at my desk in the hopes that my concentration would be better than it had been in the weeks previous. I find working from home harder, because there is no longer the same support network that surrounded me in school. I had my teachers encouraging me to work harder, the end was in sight. My friends reminded me that graduation and debs were just around the corner. My parents encouraged me to do my best, because that’s all that mattered. Now I have less contact with all of those people. My teachers try to answer my questions as best they can over Zoom. I check in with my friends through social media, but we can’t see each other, when all we want is a hug. I talk to my dad and my brothers through Facetime, asking how their school day went and what games they played. Everyday, without fail, myself and my mom go for a walk in our local park, ensuring we stay in our new boundaries, we can’t go very far. I have always felt the world is so big, with a desire to travel and see as much of it as I can, but now I feel penned in. My life has come to short walks and studying for my looming Leaving Cert exams. Nevertheless, my green jersey is on. 

Caitlin, 18, Cork

The pandemic has been extremely stressful so far. On top of that, 6th years are being told to study as normal for exams, which is just adding to stress levels for so many of us. I don’t think anyone has taken our mental health into account, as it’s clear the ministers are more concerned with keeping up the tradition of the Leaving Cert. Personally, it’s difficult for me to study at home, and my anxiety regarding the whole situation has definitely gotten worse since the announcement on April 10th.

Zara, 17, Cork

My Experience during this Pandemic so far has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to accept during my life time. 2020 was meant to be a big year for me. The year I complete my Leaving Cert, go to college, and become an adult. Everything started off by simply being told that schools were closing and we could be at home for more then 2 weeks. I won’t lie, I was so happy when I heard this because I was never a big fan of school. Things gradually got worse. I then heard that day that gyms were closing. The gym was one of my favourite places to go , a place I could take out my energy on the weights and just focus on myself and get some me time . That was another thing I had no control over and had to accept. After a few days I became very bored and decided I wanted to meet up with my friends. I didn’t understand the severity of this disease. I began arguing with my parents because I was so frustrated at being in all the time, and not being able to socialise with anyone. I then started some bad habits which consisted of me doing no school work, constantly boredom eating, going to bed late at night, taking unnecessary naps during the day, and constantly using technology. It has made me feel really unhealthy in myself. I always feel tired and unmotivated to do stuff. And my bad habits also impacted my parents. They became very frustrated with me when they saw no school work was being done, which caused more bad habits. A few weeks later Leo announced that a full lock down was taking place and that anyone over 70 needed to cocoon. I remember telling my Grandad this on the phone, and that we had to do his shopping for him from this day on. He was not happy. He’s a very independent man and this impacted on his emotions greatly. A week and a half ago I heard that our Leaving Cert is being postponed until July. I was really upset about this. I just wanted to get my Leaving Cert done because I had an amazing summer planned. From going to Longitude to going to Lanzarote with my family, and our debs in August, all that is gone.

Ellie, 18, Dublin

The past few weeks have been a struggle to say the least. I am a Leaving Cert student, and trying to motivate myself to study and learn has been near impossible. I live in a very busy household so my house was never a place I would use to study, but with everything closed I have no other choice. The uncertainty surrounding us at this time is indescribable. We have no outlets left to relax and unwind. Personally, I miss nothing more than my friends and my family. FaceTime and Zoom calls have been my best friend during this time, but they will never replace the social interaction we’re all missing so much. I feel like I’m wasting so much time with all this going on. When my grandad contracted COVID-19 in March, it was a real reality check to just how serious this whole thing is. Thankfully he pulled through, and is now back home. I have made a real effort to social distance since then, and it’s been so hard not seeing my friends. The sooner we all listen to the social distancing rules the government is telling us, the sooner we will get back to reality.

Amy Louise, 18, Louth

I first heard about the virus breaking out in China when my Dad got invited to a Chinese New Year celebration in Dublin. My Mam heard the news and said not a chance we were going, in case any people coming over brought the virus with them. At the start I felt like the whole thing about the country going into lockdown wasn’t going to be going on for too long. I didn’t feel too bothered by the whole situation, thinking that my town wouldn’t be that affected by it. Then someone in this factory just outside of town, where my older brother works. got infected. A few of his colleagues were made stay home for around 3 weeks, including my brother’s friend. That’s when I realised how quickly it was spreading across the country. When lockdown started, I was staying in my Grandmother’s house, about 15 minutes from my home, with my parents and my two siblings. I’m still here with my Nan and finding it horribly hard that I can’t be with my parents during this. I miss my younger sister more than anything. The whole thing with the Leaving Cert being postponed stressed me out. I was really looking forward to finishing school and spending time with my friends before getting my head down and studying in college. It’s becoming more and more difficult by the day. I can no longer go for my daily walks to loosen my joints to help relieve the pain being caused by my Rheumatoid Arthritis, which causes my joints to swell and inflame.

Aisha, 17, Dublin

Currently, I’m exhausted. I have a compromised immune system from a chronic illness, I’m basically bed bound. The government ruling on the Leaving Cert is making me stressed, and effecting my health even more. I’m unable to study, I’ve memory problems and I’m completely isolated from friends again, after being housebound before a while ago. It’s harder to get any medication. I’m worried about developing more health issues because going to a GP is now dangerous for me, and going food shopping is massively draining. My friends are stressed about their future, college courses and family members. We’re also anxious about losing our summer, to exams or to isolation. Winter was hard because of how dark it gets and how miserable the weather is. We were looking forward to birthday celebrations, and being able to have fun outside while off school. We all just hope this ends soon, I really wanna hug my friends and family again.

Holly, 18, Mayo

My experience of the COVID-19 pandemic as Leaving Certificate student has been quite difficult so far. The lack of information and answers around the postponement of the Leaving Certificate has been very been stressful. Trying to keep motivated has been hard. The thought of having to study for the summer is yet another added stress and something that a lot of students my age are struggling with. The fear of contracting the virus or those around me becoming ill is very scary. It is difficult to try and focus on school work when a global pandemic is happening.

Megan, 18, Dublin

I’ve found the COVID-19 experience very overwhelming so far. With stress from the Leaving Cert, and being unable to spend time with friends and family. I think people my age can agree with me that this is a very stressful situation that students are in at the moment. I found it particularly difficult, school, the anxiety, and the pressure of the Leaving Cert being the worst pressure of them all. I think the young people of Ireland need more support to help them through this crazy time.

Chloe, 17, Dublin

It’s been a rollercoaster to say the least. I’m sitting my Leaving Cert this summer and I’m really struggling. I’m extremely academic and enjoy school, but right now it’s really taking it out of me. The uncertainty is extremely tough to deal with. I try to remain positive though, and see that maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. I struggle with my mental health a lot and this situation is really not ideal, but we’ll all get through it.
I try to keep a routine. Get up and get dressed, start the day off with some school work until lunch time, take a break to go for a walk and clear my mind. I do some more school work in the afternoon until dinner time and if there’s any assignments left I’ll finish them after dinner. The workload is intense, but my teachers have been amazing. Self care is important for all of us during this hard time so I ensure to have some down time in the evenings. I think it’s important for us all to remember that this will pass and every situation in life is temporary!!

Umulkhaira, 20, Dublin

I’m in 6th year and I’m normally a motivated person. I get my work done on time, but during this lockdown I’m finding it difficult to keep structure during my day and to separate my school work time from my ‘me’ time. Teaching myself takes so long, and I’m finding that I’m taking less breaks to catch-up. I share a room with my sisters, so I don’t have a place where I can peacefully study and learn. I have a large family so the rest of the house is the same. My mental health did get really bad at one point during the quarantine, but then I started doing yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. I feel like that’s helping a lot. I understand that the government is trying their best to make difficult decisions at this time of uncertainty, but I just can’t wait until we can go back to a somewhat normal life. –

Tori, 17, Donegal

Stressful, as I am studying for my Leaving Cert. I find it difficult to study as I have to choose between classes, as teachers are hosting online meetings at the same time. Postponing the Leaving Cert has prolonged studying at home without classroom help. It is difficult to learn new chapters without being in a classroom to understand it. I’m doing Art and we cannot finish our project at home as it must be done in school. I’m concerned about it as we were meant to have five weeks to complete our booklet, and now we are only going to get two weeks before our exams.

Leah, 18, Galway

At the start of my Leaving Cert year, I missed a lot of school days, due to some stubborn infections. After being in and out of hospital, it had a huge impact on my mental health. I had yet to complete a full week of school. Somehow, I managed to stay going. Through the tears, I sat my mocks, to everyone’s surprise. Around the same time I stumbled upon my dream 3rd level course. I was so happy to had finally found some direction and motivation. It was rocky but I was so proud of myself for returning to school ’til I heard the news that the schools were shutting. After all my hard work to get back on my feet… it was taken away from me again. It’s hard for me to concentrate at home but sometimes you have to stay going. This will end someday. Hold on.

Laura, 18, Cork

As a Leaving Cert student, I am outraged by the decisions made in regards to our exams this year. Students have completely been disregarded by the government in their decision making. They insist on ploughing ahead with these dangerous exams. Mental health is suffering greatly as a result and we are becoming more and more anxious as reports emerge about the obvious and serious flaws in the current plan. At the end of the day, we are expected to sit exams, together, during a global pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands. Our lives and the lives of our families are being gambled with for the sake of exams. We are scared for ourselves and our families. Lockdown is giving me the time to take a step back and enjoy the simpler things in life. I am also enjoying having time to myself to focus on my well being and hobbies. However, it is very hard to escape the anxiety being caused by the Leaving Cert exams. Young people are not guinea pigs, we have lives too, and it is inhumane to force us to sacrifice our health for the sake of exams that could easily have been cancelled.

Recently, we ask our readers to share their experiences of life in lockdown. Young people’s lives have been turned upside down during this crisis, with schools and colleges closing, and many young people losing jobs. As part of a project with the Irish Examiner, we wanted to highlight these stories and give a voice to young people in Ireland learning to cope in this new situation. 

Below, you can read what our readers have to say about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their college lives. 

Young people share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ross, 20, Dublin

It has been tough staying in and trying to do college assignments, particularly as the percentage of my assessment that would have gone towards my degree has been removed. It has meant looking after my family more and shopping with all the precautions, such as gloves and hand sanitiser. However, it has also meant connecting with other people online through meetings, college societies and through my work with a mental health text line. It has been stressful and I have needed to take more self-care, but checking in with myself and others has helped so much.  

Chloe, 20, Tipperary

Initially, the situation was quite scary and nerve-racking due to the lack of information and clarity, but this was a common issue for everyone. The biggest problem I have found is attempting to do college work. Despite the worry and stress about health, money, etc., being put on families across the country, students (both second level and third level) are expected to continue working as normal. With no access to a library, a suitable study environment, or the necessary books, it makes doing college work more difficult than usual. Of course nothing can be done about this situation, but the refusal of colleges to be more accommodating, and the lack of support from the Department of Education is making the situation harder than it should be. Now should be a time for all students to focus on their families and their health, not trying to get work done.  

Aoife, 21, Leitrim

I’m in my final two weeks of my degree at UCD, and this couldn’t be further from how I imagined it going. Instead of taking library breaks to go sit in the sun by the lake, I’m going from my desk downstairs to chat the dog for a few minutes every couple of hours. I live in a rural location, and feel very lucky to have beautiful walks within my radius to enjoy in the evenings. Also, I thoroughly enjoying spending time with my parents, who I’m sure are overjoyed to have me home and complaining about assignments more than actually doing them. I’ve been at home for a little over six weeks, so this is starting to feel like the new normal, which can be disorienting. College essay deadlines are actually a welcomed structure to my week, something that I will have to compensate for when I’m finished. My friends and I, all living in a relatively close proximity to each other, are in contact with each other now more than ever. Apart from the odd discussion on a new source of information regarding COVID-19, our group chat is a source of humour and distraction, very much needed as of late. I feel very lucky to have been able to move home, and to have parents and extended family who are doing well, but cannot wait until we are allowed to catch up in person again. 

Jessica, 19, Dublin

I am in second year of my physics degree right now, and studying for exams during the pandemic is definitely a different experience. It’s times like these that I feel really grateful for my situation. I’ve kept my job, but I have friends who have been let go, or picked up more hours in essential work that puts more stress on their studies. I’m lucky to be staying with my family, and although I can’t see my friends or boyfriend, I have people to talk to every day, not everyone is so lucky. These are definitely trying times for everyone, and seeing different communities help each other and come up with new ways to support vulnerable people has helped to keep my spirits up. I just hope that everyone in my age group remembers why social distancing is put in place, so that we can help to keep everyone as healthy as possible. 

Denise, 23, Tipperary

The COVID-19 experience has been a strange one. One minute I was in college keeping updated on the Taoiseach’s announcement, soon after the place was completely empty, a ghost town, and you quickly got the sense of how serious a pandemic is. Six weeks on, there is no bread baked, consistent home workouts completed, or a garden bench built from scratch, because the truth is, it’s overwhelming. I was full of enthusiasm about how wisely I would spend my time, and despite a few anxious wobbles about our new normal in the beginning, it was going to plan. The last two weeks though, have been a serious slump and the productivity that was there has since disappeared. As of now, I am lucky if I will even get my assignments submitted on time but any life win, is still a win. Just being realistic is what‘s getting me through now, staying at home is necessary for the sake of our health and I know it won’t last forever, even if it feels that way at times. 

Tara, 20, Kildare

Living during the COVID-19 pandemic so far has been a whirlwind of emotions. As a final year university student, I’ve been very concerned about how my degree will be affected by not being able to attend lectures in person, as well as having limited online sources from lecturers. Trying to find the motivation to sit down and do college work has been difficult as my routine has been flipped on its head. When I realised my last semester of college would be completed remotely, I felt robbed of enjoying the little daily things in college like going for lunch with friends, meeting up to hang out in between lectures, and even wandering around the library looking for seats to study. It really is the little everyday things that we take for granted. The feeling of uncertainty is what I, and most people I know in my position, are experiencing. The uncertainty of if exams at home will show our full potential, the uncertainty of how finding a graduate job will work out in the next coming weeks, and the uncertainty of what the future as a whole has to offer. I am grateful for my health and my friends and family who are only a text or phone call away, but the stress and sense of loss is looming over me now.

Niamh, 20, Cavan

I am a 20 year old, final year Law and Criminology student. For the entirety of my degree, I have lived away from home, and returned every other weekend or so. Due to the lockdown, I have moved back in with my family full time. Although it is wonderful being home and seeing my family every day, the lockdown has made certain aspects of my life extremely hard. Living in rural Cavan, I have no access to WiFi or a reliable mobile data connection. This makes completing my final year essays and exams extremely difficult. This also makes communicating with friends/lecturers/my boyfriend hard. Feelings of isolation are growing, and the fear of failing my final year due to connectivity issues keeps me up at night. I am set to start my Masters in September, and the uncertainty surrounding this has caused me much anxiety. I can only imagine what Leaving Cert students are going through right now with all the confusion surrounding their exams.
Before the lockdown, I made a conscious decision to try and be more eco-friendly – shopping in stores where produce came plastic free, using reusable containers and trying to support smaller local businesses who fight against fast fashion etc. Unfortunately, with the travel limit of 2km and the closure of smaller businesses, my family is forced to resort to buying plastic wrapped produce and are finding it difficult to recycle with travel restrictions.

Max, 20, Cork

I feel the most unmotivated I’ve ever been in a college course that I really enjoyed. I can’t help but procrastinate every day about assignments but I just cannot focus at home. PlayStation just swallows all of the hours I’m at home. I’m struggling to get out of this cycle.

Kathlyn, 21, Cork

I haven’t stopped since the quarantine started. The college work has piled on. We’ve been given work that we would normally do in 10-12 weeks and expected to do it in 4 weeks, with no library resources in houses that mightn’t be suitable for academic work. I’m also still working as I work in a supermarket. Managing it all has been hard. I feel my classmates will have a much bigger advantage over me since I am still working, and a lot of them probably aren’t. This is also my final year, and all of these exams count towards my degree. I feel I was robbed of my last few weeks with my friends and I’m not even sure if I will get a good graduation in October at this point. Feel like finishing 3 years of work cannot be celebrated. Which I find very hard.

Emmet, 21, Roscommon

Due to COVID-19 I’ve had to return home from an Erasmus semester in Paris. For weeks after I returned, I was getting several emails daily about what would happen to my studies- some of them conflicting. My internet connection is poor and I can’t join in live classes- instead I have to download them afterwards. With the rest of my family here I have no suitable space to study or work. None of my family have work online or seem to understand what I’m doing. When I was in college I could use college computers, use the library and I could participate fully in classes. I can’t help but feel I’m at a major disadvantage in my studies because they’ve been put online. Essays are all consuming to me at this time as I can’t focus or work efficiently. I haven’t gained any extra time to do things. All of my energy is put towards trying to stay on top of work. I worry about maintaining this. Things I did for myself, swimming, blogging (www.thestudentexplorer.com) and other things for fun, have fallen to the side. I don’t have time to dwell too much on things. I’m glad this isn’t my final year and I have to remain optimistic that life will be normal by September.

Stefaine, 19, Dublin

I’m a student so I live in Dublin to be close to college. My family lives in Kildare and I was planning on going down to them but then the lockdown kicked in. So I spent Easter and my birthday all alone since I live in a rented house and everyone has left. I don’t need to be in Dublin but I’m basically stuck here and still paying rent out of my own pocket. The only thing getting me through this, is college work, and the fact that at the end of the day I have exams to prepare for. After they end in May I really don’t know what I’ll do with myself. It’s super important to stay in touch with people ‘on the outside’ and I’m grateful to live in a world so connected, even when we’re apart, we’re all still together.

Ben, 20, Tipperary

It’s a bit of a whirlwind. I was supposed to be moving to France for a year as part of my college course but that has been postponed until September at the earliest, with more news in early May. Now I’m doing 12,000 words in college assignments, working remotely on a full-time basis, and trying to be a normal young adult in some kind of a symbiotic universe that is alien to life 10 weeks ago. My work has become more international. We supplied beauty salons previously, but in a total business pivot, we moved into the field of importing PPE for consumers, nursing homes, and businesses. That has involved a totally new sleep schedule where I’m on call from 1am to 3am and 1pm to 7pm to cover all time zones. College has been an experience. Gone are the daily interactions with staff where you could get feedback on work and get scheduled learning. Now it’s listen to the voice-over PowerPoints, if you can and want to, if not just work with what you had in essays that decide your college outcome. As someone with additional learning needs, I’m worried that these exams won’t allow me to express my full knowledge and ability; especially considering the intermittent rural broadband. Other than that, and the fact my grandmother has COVID-19, my mental health has been pretty good. There is always niggling anxiety that comes with all this uncertainty, but now is the time to do ones best and keep the spirits up!

Patrick, 22, Louth

My experience so far isn’t too bad, however my story is about exposing landlords who are still trying to rip students off. I am in college in Maynooth University. We left our rented property on a Friday and expected to return on the Sunday to start a new week at college, but that didn’t happen. We got calls from our landlord asking us to travel up while the country is on lockdown to clean the house, or he won’t give us our deposit back. We highlighted that we were unable to travel, but he persisted with the threat of keeping our deposit. He said he wants it clean as he has new tenants for the house starting in May. The threats were actually a regular thing from this landlord in Maynooth. Two of us travelled down, hired a skip and cleaned the house out. We went down on separate days to avoid mixing as we are all concerned about COVID-19, however, like most landlords in the country, ours just cares about money. This adds extra stress on us as students, and on some of us who are currently also working on the frontline with SuperValu. Landlords like this should be exposed, especially at terrible times like this when communities are uniting to fight against this pandemic.

Tawnya, 22, Carlow

I am Tawnya Foster, 22 years old, and the Vice-President of Welfare & Equality with I.T Carlow Students’ Union. At the start of the college closure, there was a lot of uncertainty amongst students. Specifically, with leaving their accommodation on very short notice, what the rest of the college year was going to look like, and how long this was going to last for. I saw some of the largest volumes of queries from students who needed help than I had ever saw in the whole year. The strain that the complexity and volume of queries had on my own mental health was intense. I also had similar concerns around when things were going to go back to normal, and I felt awful that I couldn’t always answer students queries directly or that it would take a long time for me to answer them. Also, I was adjusting to a new way of working and communicating with colleagues. As a Canadian working in Ireland, I was stuck living in here in a house on my own throughout the lockdown. Personally, I found this to be isolating at times. The longer this lockdown has lasted the more manageable the queries have been working wise; however, the harder personal life has been. As a person who is sociable, loves going to the gym, and enjoys planning, I feel a sense of loss in the ability to plan and loneliness with the lockdown in force.

Recently, the Irish Examiner ran a two-page special report in the Friday and Saturday papers, sharing the experiences of young people living under lockdown in Ireland. SpunOut.ie partnered with the Examiner to bring stories from our readers during this unusual and extraordinary time, and to shine a light on how young people are managing during a global pandemic.

As part of this project, SpunOut.ie carried out a survey of over 1,000 young people aged 16-25 in Ireland to get an understanding of how they are feeling during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also invited readers to submit short paragraphs on how they have been feeling over the last few months of lockdown.

Survey results: Young people in lockdown

The survey asked young people aged 16-25 about their health and wellbeing, work and income, their thoughts on the Leaving Cert, and their hopes for the future.

Read our analysis on the survey results from Jack Eustace, Governance and Policy Officer at SpunOut.ie

Here are some of the results from that survey:

• 34% of young people say they will need mental health support after COVID crisis
• 88% of Leaving Cert students concerned about contracting virus while sitting exams
• 34% of young people have lost work since the pandemic hit
• 66% of young people think it will be end of the year or 2021 before return to normal
• Most common lockdown coping mechanisms are; listening to music, watching TV and going for walks
• Features of lockdown young people would like to keep after COVID-19 include; an increased appreciation for ‘normal’ life (68.7%), lower carbon emissions (58%), more government support for the vulnerable (53.5%)

Young people’s voices on life in lockdown

As part of this partnership, we asked our readers and volunteers to send in short paragraphs detailing their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, we received 90 submissions from young people across Ireland, and many of these were featured in the Examiner.

Read our analysis on young people’s submissions from Hannah Byrne, Senior Online Content Producer at SpunOut.ie.

Here are some highlights from those written and video submissions:

Courtney, 20, living in Carlow

Ellie, 18, living in Dublin

The past few weeks have been a struggle to say the least. I am a Leaving Cert student and trying to motivate myself to study and learn has been near impossible. I live in a very busy household so my house was never a place I would use to study but with everything closed I have no other choice. The uncertainty surrounding us at this time is indescribable, we have no outlets left to relax and unwind, personally I miss nothing more than my friends and my family. FaceTime and Zoom calls have been my best friend during this time but they will never replace the social interaction we’re all missing so much. I feel like I’m wasting so much time with all this going on and when my grandad contracted COVID-19 in March it was a real reality check to just how serious this whole thing is, thankfully he pulled through and is now back home. I have made a real effort to social distance since then and it’s been so hard not seeing my friends but the sooner we all listen to the social distancing rules the government is telling us the sooner we will get back to reality.

Mike, 22, living in Kerry

Róisín, 23, living in Mayo

This whole experience really is like a rollercoaster. One day it can feel fine and I feel content in myself, and the next there is a huge wave of anxiety. I think it comes from all the unknown associated with it. We don’t know when we’ll be able to see our grandparents again, hug a friend again. I think it shows how much we took for granted before, like sitting down to have food in a restaurant or having a chat with the cashier in a supermarket. At the start of these restrictions, I had great intentions of the routine I was going to get myself into with college work and other things to keep myself occupied, yet as it stretches out longer and longer, it is really hard to get motivated to do anything. Living in a rural area has been a challenge and a blessing in these times. A challenge in terms of how the internet connection can be unsteady, and there’s no way for takeaways to be delivered! But a blessing in terms of how I can go for a walk without fear of meeting a single person while I’m out. It’s possible to escape that feeling of claustrophobia that comes with being stuck inside.

Abbie, 17, Leaving Cert student

Katie, 20, living in Monaghan

I’ve been finding lockdown hard. I was in my final year of my social work degree, and now we’ve been fast-tracked to support the health services. I’m working full-time now, about two months earlier than we were expected to start. This job is emotionally difficult at the best of times, but with the current crisis, it’s even more challenging. When I’m not at work, I’m self-isolating alone in my student flat. It was particularly difficult the first few weeks, being separated for the foreseeable future from my family and friends. When the crisis and lockdown began, it felt like my whole life had been torn away from me. I think I’m adjusting better now, and I’ve developed a good routine of keeping in touch with the people who are important to me! I think I’ve learned a lot from this, and I’ve begun to recognise what really matters in life. It’s not the expensive stuff, top grades or lots of money that gets you through lockdown; it’s the happy memories of friends, family and good experiences!

Criodán, NUIG student, living in Westmeath

Emily, 21, living in Dublin

The past few weeks have been an experience I will never forget. Due to the colleges closing, I decided to work full-time at my local Burger King (where I work part-time when in college), we stayed open for a while to feed the front-line staff. I was working 10 hours shifts and still had college work to do on top of going into work. Safe to say, I was exhausted. I got laid off and now I’m focusing on getting on top of my college work. For the past few days, I have been going on runs and have been trying to keep myself busy to keep my mind occupied. Zoom calls are honestly what’s getting me through this pandemic, it’s great being able to speak to those who I can’t meet in person. I have been trying to see the good in everything around me and appreciate the village I live in by going on walks and sitting outside when the sun is setting. It’s the little things in life that keep me going.

Caitlin, living in Dublin

Read all of the submissions we received from young people across Ireland at the links below:

• Young people and COVID-19: School students
• Young people and COVID-19: The Leaving Cert
• Young people and COVID-19: College students
• Young people and COVID-19: Mental health stories
• Young people and COVID-19: The new normal

Recently, we ask our readers to share their experiences of life in lockdown. Young people’s lives have been turned upside down during this crisis, with schools and colleges closing, and many young people losing jobs. As part of a project with the Irish Examiner, we wanted to highlight these stories and give a voice to young people in Ireland learning to cope in this new situation. 

Below, you can read what our readers have to say about their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Young people share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Maisie, 17, Mayo

My experience with COVID-19 over the past few weeks has been quite challenging. I’ve got the added pressure of being a Leaving Cert which has taken a toll on my mental health. This effect on my mental health is amplified by the separation I’m feeling from my friends and family. From the very beginning I have taken social distancing very seriously and it’s difficult, being away from most of the people I love. I understand it’s for the best but it doesn’t make it any easier really. The depth of this impact has brought me to a headspace that I was in only once before, when I was grieving the passing of a close loved one. That was scary for me. To wake up and feel like I was back in that hole of depression is scary. I’m very lucky however, that over the past couple of years I have developed efficient coping skills and I have built up a network of outstandingly supportive friends through SpunOut.ie’s Action Panels. We have group video call check ins regularly and they’re always there for me to lean on. Coming to terms with the separation from society was the hardest part for me but we have to remember it’s just another one of life’s many twists and turns. We can make it through this with support from our friends and brilliant services such as SpunOut.ie’s text line, Samaritans, Jigsaw and so many more. I have used these a few times over the weeks and it has been greatly reassuring knowing there is support out there for us all in this unparalleled situation we are facing. 

Jaime, 20 Kildare

I feel like lockdown has really made my anxiety and depression far worse. Even with a lot of exercise and doing things I enjoy, life feels very hard at the moment. I think the government needs to think more about the mental health impact this virus is having on all of us and needs to put the measures in place to help people cope. I find online learning very difficult, as do many of my college peers. Its very hard to motivate yourself to listen to online lectures on a zoom call and to do the work without a college learning environment.

Emma, 16, Donegal

I live in the isolated countryside of Donegal, which in itself is lonely on a day to day basis, never mind a lockdown! I’ve been self isolating since we were let out of school six weeks ago. However my mental health has 100% been suffering. Usually I’m a really outgoing person who’s never really sat in the house, but when it came to lockdown, my freedom just crumbled around me. I suffer with my mental health, and due to the virus, I can no longer attend counselling which is really hard on me. It’s really not easy to get out of bed most mornings. I tend to keep myself busy with reading, running, staring at the ceiling, wishing I could see my boyfriend – the everyday things! I tend to keep my spirits up with my attitude of ‘my situation could be so much worse’ and to be grateful for all the blessings. I’m lucky to have such good people I can count on when this whole horrible nightmare is over! In conclusion, I really didn’t know how much freedom I had until it was taken away from me and when lockdown is over, I will definitely be more appreciative of everything I have and can do! 

Jade, 17, Westmeath

My experience so far with living a life in a pandemic has been strange and difficult to say the least. At the beginning of this lockdown I had it in my head that it would only be for a few days or even weeks. Never did I think it would last months and have such bad effects on our economy. It has also taken so many people’s lives and the most devastating part of losing lives is their families can’t say goodbye.  I’m not going to lie but COVID-19 has scared me and made me see life in a different picture. It’s also had a bigger impact on my mental health. I found I’m having way more down days and waking up I feel all the days are just becoming one. Not being able to see family when you’re like that makes me feel a million times worse and now everything is online it’s like we don’t have a life anymore. My hopes is that life will go back to normal but quite frankly is there even a normal anymore? I hope everyone can get though this together but only time will tell. 

Jessica, 21, Dublin

Most days, I am able to process whatever comes my way, but now that I am nearing the end of my college education, I have discovered that my mental health is suffering more due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. I find myself mourning over the lost experiences that I should’ve been having in my final days as a student. I feel I am grieving this former life that has been stripped from me. It is difficult to keep motivated when I’m studying at home, because the future is foggy and there’s no immediate goal in sight. However, I’ve developed healthy skills to help cope within the chaos. The most important coping mechanism that I’m using is showing gratitude for the small things. By appreciating the little victories day-to-day, it allows for me to see the value in all of the good things in my life and builds a positive mindset. I don’t think that writing a long to-do list is the best way to handle this scenario because it’s overwhelming and is often unrealistic. Instead, I just set out one practical task for the day, such as walking ten thousand steps or cooking dinner for my family. I feel that during this time I’ve learned that it’s okay not to be okay and that talking to others can really help clear negative thoughts out. Having open discussions can form a sense of clarity and unity with others, which is a special bond to share during this time of universal crisis.

Katie, 20, Monaghan

I’ve been finding lockdown hard. I was in my final year of my social work degree, and now we’ve been fast-tracked to support the health services. I’m working full-time now, about two months earlier than we were expected to start. This job is emotionally difficult at the best of times, but with the current crisis, it’s even more challenging. When I’m not at work, I’m self-isolating alone in my student flat. It was particularly difficult the first few weeks, being separated for the foreseeable future from my family and friends. When the crisis and lockdown began, it felt like my whole life had been torn away from me. I think I’m adjusting better now, and I’ve developed a good routine of keeping in touch with the people who are important to me! I think I’ve learned a lot from this, and I’ve begun to recognise what really matters in life. It’s not the expensive stuff, top grades or lots of money that gets you through lockdown. It’s the happy memories of friends, family and good experiences!

Cole, 21, Living outside of Ireland

The biggest struggle for me has become the loneliness. I’ve just come out of medical training in the military. Spending months with the same group of people, sharing four man dorms and going to the gym every evening. I was also lucky enough to see my girlfriend most weekends, which meant exploring London a lot. Now I go back to my single room every evening after work and watch Netflix. I try to get a workout done every evening but the motivation is more difficult to find. I call home a lot and look at flights on Ryanair, hoping I get to see them all soon.

Leanne, 20, Cork

I was surprised by how the pandemic has made me feel. I think I expected to feel scared, but instead I feel bored. An insatiable kind of bored where you get stuck in a constant loop of monotony and you feel like your brain has turned to liquid in your head and you feel like there’s no meaning anymore, no point. For older people, I think they worry a lot about getting sick, but for younger people, we’re worried about our mental health, and the impact that a loss of routine can have. We’re fortunate that most of us don’t have to worry about becoming seriously ill, but from my own experience and from talking to my peers, this has had a major impact on young people’s happiness and sense of self worth. It feels like being a teenager on their summer holidays who’s been grounded by their parents, which for many people this age feels like a huge step backwards when we’ve only just learned how to he independent. For people who have had issues with mental health before, this is an eerily familiar place to be, staying at home all day wringing our hands and feeling unproductive and stagnant, and that can be really difficult for people to revisit. The world feels really unstable right now and I think we’re just trying really hard to keep our balance.

Holly, 21, Dublin

At this point it feels like the government in all aspects are prioritising physical heath over mental health, I suffer majorly with multiple different mental health issues and because of a housing crisis I’m still living at home with no escape and no place to call my own. It’s got to a point where I’m in my own head way to much with no escape. Being stuck like this, on house arrest, with no crime committed, will cause more harm to my health than the virus could. The long term effects this will have on my mental heath will effect me for my whole life and there is nothing being done about that.

Anke, 23, Dublin

As a young person working in a hospital, I have found the last few weeks very challenging on my mental health due to the government restrictions which are in place. Due to these restrictions to curb the outbreak of COVID-19 I have had to change the way I communicate and seek support from friends and family. I have never been so grateful for technology! Not only is it allowing me to stay in contact with loved ones but it is also allowing me to do some of my work from home and hence limit the face to face contact I have with colleagues and service users I work with. In addition to changing my methods of communication, I have also adapted my routine so that I can still do the things I enjoy (which is so important especially at the moment!) In the evenings, I have started doing at home workouts and going for walks instead of going to the gym. I have started journaling, reading self help books and knitting. I have also maintained some aspects of my routine such as having a regular wake and sleep time, getting dressed every morning and eating a balanced diet. These are just a few ways I have been coping with the increased stress and low mood I have been experiencing. I have been taking each day as it comes and have been trying to have a balanced day where I am productive, have time for self care and also do leisure activities that I find enjoyable. I hope you are all able to do the same during these challenging times.

Scott, 17, Dublin

So the last six weeks have felt like four months to me. Not being able to go further than two kilometres with the fears of authority abusing power as they have to many of my friends, the uncertainty of the future of my education and general anxiety over how our Taoiseach and Minister for Health are addressing the pandemic in this country. I find it quite difficult to concentrate, whether it be studying or maintaining my mental health. The so called “clarity” the higher ups have given us has ended up becoming what worries me the most. Secondary school students around the country are missing out on valuable, physical class time and its upsetting. It is understandable that the front line staff and scientists are doing their best and hardest job to help flatten the curve but all that is shown is the negatives in the media. All I want is for some proper, genuine clarity without fears that are attached to this pandemic.

Grainne, 16, Wexford

It’s hard for us all, I miss my friends, my school and my old, normal life. I do the shopping for my family as I’m living with my dad and my granny who both have underlying conditions. I don’t get to see my mum as much as she’s working in the civil service. Social media has really been a bit of a lifeline for me. If i wasn’t able to talk to my friends everyday I’d be in bits. The only thing is that there’s nothing to talk about – no juicy gossip about our classmates, no plans to go out for the night. It’s really boring but at least it’s in line with the social distancing guidelines. People in the supermarket look down on me a bit because I’m a teenager. They think I’m out to see my friends when I’m actually here to get bread, milk, the paper for Dad and the Ireland’s Own for Gran. I would definitely say I’m scared. What if life doesn’t go back to normal? What if we are stuck social distancing forever? Or worst of all, what if I brought the virus back to my family and they got sick? It’s a constant state of anxiety, but what can we do but all try our best so we can prevent the spread, flatten the curve, protect our loved ones and end the lockdown as soon as possible. I’m also upset about missing so much school. As I’m in fifth year I’m worried about missing out on important content, especially as its hard to stay motivated at home. However, the teachers have been great and we are trying our best. I’m also worried about my friends in sixth year, and the worry they are having over the Leaving Cert. However I do think we are coming together through this, and I suppose we will just have to wait until it’s all over. I just can’t wait to see my friends again and go back to school. To go shopping and to go out for the night. To go back to normal.

Angela, 17, Dublin

This was meant to be a new life with new and unforgettable experiences/memories. Now, I have this great sense of loss. My graduation and debs. Gone! Honestly it’s such a surreal experience, I still don’t believe it’s happening. The days are beginning to blend together, it’s very monotonous. It’s hard to maintain a positive mindset about the Leaving Certificate with all the uncertainty. Online school feels like an option at this point. I was unable to finish my practical work and around the time of writing this, they say it’s getting graded as is. It’s selfish of me to go on about how much this lockdown is affecting me when people are ill and dying but I am confused about my future and college no longer looks like an option. We are all aware it’s an extremely unfortunate situation with the Leaving Certificate but there are people living in abusive homes, hostels and other less than ideal environments to study efficiently. My heart goes out to them. Anyways I hope everyone is staying safe and self isolating:)) P.S I also feel that the board of education’s promise to ensure we have two weeks of school before the Leaving Certificate shows a lack of empathy because I’m am almost certain that they are aware that online school is not as efficient as we hoped and the remainder of the course won’t be done in the two weeks of provided time.

Caoimhe, 16, Tipperary

For the health of Ireland I’ve stayed in my house for over two months. The most challenging aspect of staying in my house has been the toll on my mental health with nothing to distract my ever wandering thoughts I feel my brain drift off to dark places. The loss of a daily schedule has opened up a gaping hole I never really knew was there. The touch and contact of other people in my life is quite a thing even though I’m not a touchy person all I wanna do is hug and hold everyone close to me, regardless of if we have hugged before. The distance itself has made it harder to communicate to my friends and others. It’s quite hard to talk when the world around is empty, filled with a daily amount of worthless hours that don’t mean anything. Talking seems so worthless with the lack of physical contact, or when the promise of physical contact is not there. The never ending spiral of events as the news lights up my phone constantly reminding me of the horrific events happening just outside my door. But I can’t turn it off because then I feel selfish and that I should be listening to the very lives that are being ruined everyday. In other words my quarantine has been going just the way I expected.

World-changing events have a tendency to leave deep marks and memories on those who live through them. This is never more true than for young people, whose lives and prospects are shaped by the big moments in which they come of age.

It was with this in mind that SpunOut.ie, Ireland’s online youth information service, as part of a partnership with the Irish Examiner, decided to conduct a wide-ranging survey of young people aged 16-25 to learn more about their hopes, fears and experiences of life in a society grappling with COVID-19. All told, we received 1,084 responses from young people all across Ireland, telling a story of a generation under lockdown.

Health and wellbeing

One of the most stark findings of our survey was that a majority of young people consider their family units to be ‘especially vulnerable’ to COVID-19. Almost 3 in 5 (57%) respondents said they have a member of their household with a heightened risk of infection, with just 15% reporting themselves as immuno-compromised. This anxiety for the health of loved ones and their own, understandably feeds into the overall impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health, with a third of respondents saying they will need extra counselling or other supports as a result of their current circumstances.

Yet with access to ordinary means of support so limited, young people are more reliant than ever on coping mechanisms they can engage with at home. When asked how they are dealing with anxiety or stress, some of the most popular answers are also the most familiar: 68% are listening to music, 67% watching TV or movies, and 59% going for walks when they can. However, a fifth of respondents also report using alcohol to get through the crisis.

While the majority of young people are engaging in healthy coping mechanisms, policy-makers would be wise to note the increased desire for mental health services which will become apparent once social distancing guidelines have been lifted or relaxed. Ireland’s youth mental health budget lagged far behind those of comparable countries before the pandemic, so a decision to scale up our support capacity now will be necessary to prevent the system’s capacity being overwhelmed in the coming months.

Leaving Cert

One of the great causes of stress for young people is, of course, the Leaving Certificate. Approximately a quarter of those surveyed were due to sit their final exams this summer. More than most, their lives have been thrown into flux as plans for postponed written exams slowly filter through causing confusion and uncertainty. The clear need these students have is for information and support, as our survey indicates there are many questions about the exams which have yet to be answered to their satisfaction.

A huge number (88%) of Leaving Cert students report they fear the prospect of catching COVID-19 while sitting their exams. We must see more urgency from the Government as to how the Department of Education intends to hold nationwide examinations in a way that is safe for all. Also troubling is the number of students – twelve percent – who have had no online classes since their schools shut their doors. Even among those who have had engagement with their teachers, a significant cohort report not having the necessary technology to fully engage with remote learning. Just less than half of Leaving Cert students say they do not have a reliable laptop, and 40% describe their WiFi connectivity as inadequate for learning.

Against this backdrop, the Government’s plans to increase the supply of information technology to students is welcome – but it will require substantial investment if there is any hope of bridging the digital divide between those students who can learn at home with ease, and those who cannot.

Work and income

Another understandable finding is the effect the pandemic is having on young people’s incomes, both personally and on a household level. Just over a third of respondents report having lost full-time (8%) and part-time (26%) work since the crisis began. Yet even these figures obscures the true impact, given that half of young people were already not in work due to unemployment or status as full-time students prior to lockdown. The impact on young people who were in work when the crisis started is therefore severe, with 37% telling us they are currently reliant on the state’s emergency COVID-19 support payments either personally or through their family.

Again, there are clear lessons for the Government here when it comes to the post-crisis rebuilding of our society. As always, the rate of youth unemployment is primarily influenced by the general performance of the economy, and young workers are suffering through no fault of their own. Those in power must focus on reflating the economy so that jobs are once again available, and not fall victim to lazy stereotypes of young people being unable or unwilling to work.

In particular, the existence of a large group of young people who would work if circumstances allowed should spur a major investment in apprenticeship places and back-to-education funding. In this way, the coming recession need not become another lost period for younger workers. It could instead be a moment in which they are supported to increase their skills and develop new qualifications for when economic growth returns.

Looking ahead

And what do Ireland’s young people make of the caretaker Government’s crisis management? In general, our survey indicated that most young people are supportive of the Government’s handling of the pandemic: 73% indicate a high level of satisfaction. However, Leaving Cert students are significantly more likely to show displeasure than young people in general.

An overwhelming majority of respondents (92%) also indicate that they have been following social distancing guidelines since their introduction. In terms of when the current restrictions might be lifted, young people generally anticipate a long wait. Most feel that life will not return to normal until after the end of summer, with nearly 30% thinking it may be next year before normality resumes.

Yet views are not all negative, and most young people see some upsides to the current situation. More than half of all respondents cite lower carbon emissions and higher government support for the vulnerable as two features of lockdown they would like to see carried forward into post-crisis Ireland. Ultimately leaving us with an interesting, and hopeful insight into the values of young people in Ireland today.

Jack Eustace is Governance & Policy Officer with SpunOut.ie

Young people in Ireland are experiencing high levels of stress and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been thrown into a new reality beyond any of their expectations, and many now find themselves struggling to keep up. During this time, we need to offer young people emotional support and understanding to help them get through this crisis and look forward to the future.

Since the beginning of this global emergency, SpunOut.ie has been engaging with young people across Ireland to get an understanding of their experiences during the pandemic. They, like many others, are experiencing high levels of anxiety under these new circumstances. These feelings are compounded by the fact that they are also expected to continue on with their school or college work as though things were normal – something which is very difficult for a young person to do without the structure, resources, and dedicated learning spaces they are used to.

Living situations

Living situations can have a big impact on a student’s ability to engage in focused learning. Those in smaller living spaces or with big families are less likely to have somewhere to do their work, while for others, their home is not a safe place to be. Some young people act as carers for other family members and will find themselves having to carry out tasks like cooking, cleaning, or doing the shopping. Expecting them to carry out their usual level of schoolwork in these circumstances is unfair.

The digital divide is another challenge for many young people. Students in rural areas have said that their access to WiFi and data is limited, and poor connections make it harder to engage with online learning. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds may not even have the technology they need to be able to carry out their work or to attend online classes. This unequal access to the tools needed to participate is resulting in a huge gap between those who have these resources and those who have not, and this will be reflected in final assignments or exams.

Leaving Cert

This crisis has been hugely disruptive to young people’s lives, and they are rightly upset by the fact that they are missing out on a number of milestones – their debs night, the summer before college, or making the most of their final year. Young people understand the importance of social distancing and the sacrifices they have to make, but it does not make the loss of these important life events any less disappointing. This is felt most strongly by Leaving Cert students who are losing out on the opportunity to take part in the traditions that many of us experienced in our final few days of school, or in the summer after the exams.

For many Leaving Cert students, the fact that the exams are still going ahead suggests that they should be putting the same amount of work into their studies as they would if they were not living in these extreme circumstances, which is putting them under significant stress. Last week when we put a call out to Leaving Cert students to send us their questions for Minister for Education Joe McHugh, we received 1,500 emails in 8 hours – something that is totally unprecedented in our 15 years of working with young people. It is clear that these students feel deeply impacted by this crisis, and the uncertainty as to how their exams will be carried out and what it will mean for them moving forward into the future is causing a lot of anxiety.

Working from home is challenging for most people, but in particular, young people are struggling. Many young people have reported feeling less focused and less motivated at home, and they miss their everyday social interactions with their peers. Some students are struggling to even hand in assignments on time, and they feel that their teachers, lecturers, and parents are putting an unreasonable amount of pressure on them to get things done.

Mental health

Understandably, these factors are having a significant impact on young people’s mental health. Just before the virus hit, SpunOut.ie launched a free, 24/7 text service for those in crisis. Through this service, anyone experiencing a crisis can contact a trained volunteer by texting SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280. Since the pandemic began, demand for this service has shot up by 60%, with those reporting feelings of stress and anxiety doubling in the same period. Young people are worried about how this virus is impacting on their lives, about vulnerable members of their family, and about what this means for their future.

This is not a time for us to expect more of the young people in our lives. They are already under enormous stress, and expecting them to carry on as normal is unreasonable. They need our compassion and understanding to help them through this crisis.

Hannah Byrne is Senior Online Content Producer with SpunOut.ie

Not everyone is going to have the ideal study space setup so we need to do what we can with the space we have.

Creating a study space at home

In an ideal world, we would have an office space or a spare room to study in. In reality, that is not the case for a lot of us. It can be helpful to realise you are not alone in this. Here are some things to keep in mind when thinking about where to study.

What are the essentials

It can be useful to think about what the essentials are. The top three things for most people are something to sit on, something to lean on and somewhere with the least amount of distractions. Think about what your top three things are.

Once you set up your space, it can also be helpful to have a calendar with important dates/deadlines, and your study timetable nearby.

Setting up in your own room

If you do have space and can get set up in your own bedroom, try not to study while on your bed as this can make it difficult for you to separate relaxing or sleeping from studying. A well lit room that’s not too warm can help make your surroundings a more productive place to study.

Sharing a space

Many of you may have to share a study space with a sibling or a parent who is also working from home. It could be helpful to have a discussion with them about the best way to work around each other. Maybe this means setting your study timetable up so that you take breaks or lunch at a different time to them so you get some time to yourself. You could also start studying a bit earlier or later than they are working to maximise time without distractions. It can be difficult spending a lot more time with the same people in a small space, here are some tips on reducing arguments at home if there is tension. 

Think outside the box

Think about the rooms or space you have in your home. You may have space to set up in your own bedroom. If this isn’t possible, or you really struggle to study in your own room perhaps you could use a sibling, parent or guardian’s room, if they are happy for you to do that.

Try outdoors

If the weather is nice and it means you have a bit more space, studying outside can work well for some people. You can enjoy the fresh air and not feel like you are missing out on any nice weather. Ensure you can move your study bits easily back inside in case the weather does quickly change.

Get creative

If you don’t have a suitable desk or chair to use you may need to get creative. Think about what other items you have in your house that might work. Maybe you could use an ironing board as a makeshift desk or a storage box and cushions for a chair. It’s important to try and ensure whatever you use is the right height to help support your posture. Having something to support your back will help and if you are using a computer or laptop, having the screen at eye-level can reduce strain on your body.

Studying doesn’t have to be at your desk

Another option to consider when studying is to incorporate exercise into your study routine. Many studies have shown the benefits of trying to recall information while out for a walk/run or even in the swimming pool. Exercise can be a great way to stimulate many parts of your brain to perform better with regards to recall of material and consolidation of information.

The current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has meant that a lot of people have lost their jobs, had their working hours reduced or may be temporarily unemployed. It can be a worrying time for families.

Dealing with parental job loss

Here are some useful things to keep in mind. 

Talk about it

If you find you are worrying a lot about your parent losing their job, talk to them about it. Explain how you are feeling and why it is worrying you. They may reassure you that they have support, are not worried about finding a new job or they may even have something else lined up. Some of the worries you might have may be things that your parent is already working on and by speaking to them it can help ease these worries.

Supports Available

The government has made money available for people who have lost their jobs at this time called the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The government recognises there are many people in a similar situation and has made extra supports available for people.

Help with job applications

If your parent is looking for a new job at this time, it is likely they will be looking online and may have to do online interviews. It’s always useful to have someone read over and proofread applications we might be doing. Offering support with this could be a good idea if you feel you can help. You may also be able to help with online interviews by helping them get set up if they are not familiar with using technology for work.

Help out at home

Your parent may need to spend time job searching or filling out applications. If you can, help out at home by keeping your younger siblings occupied for a while or maybe doing some chores around the house. This will take some of the pressure off your parent while they are focusing on finding something new.

Try not to worry too much

It is easier said than done, but worrying isn’t helpful for us. It’s something we have little or no control over and many people are facing the same situation. Trying to stay positive and in the present moment can be helpful in reducing worries or fears we may have about the future.

Feeling overwhelmed or anxious around the current pandemic?

This situation is completely new to everyone involved and it is normal to feel worried or anxious about what is going on. Following the Government’s instructions on how to stay safe and help slow the spread of the virus, can help to make you feel more in control of your current situation.

If you feel overwhelmed by the current situation and need someone to talk to, our anonymous, 24 hour text line is always open. You’re worth talking about and we’re here to listen and support you.

• Get anonymous support 24/7 with our text message support service
• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Text SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280 to begin
• Find out more about our text message support service

This COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic is extremely difficult for everyone right now, but over 65,000 students have the added pressure of exams potentially starting on July 29th. It can be difficult to study at home for many people. Here are a few tips to help you stay focused during these tough times.

1. Take study breaks

It’s so important to take breaks during your study. Studying all day with only one or two breaks for food does more damage than good. I would recommend studying for 35-40 minutes blocks with a 10 minute break in between. After two or three of these sessions, take a longer break. This will leave you feeling refreshed and increase your focus for the 40 minute sessions. I would also recommend using a timer to control this so you stay on track with both your work times and break times. Personally, I found seeing the clock go down makes the study seem almost game-like, trying to get a certain amount of work done in this time and then enjoying a well-deserved break.

2. Exercise

For our own health and the health of others we’ve been asked to stay at home which for some people means less exercise. The government has told us we can now exercise within 5km of our homes. Exercise is so important for our mental health. When we exercise our body releases chemicals called endorphins. These are nicknamed the ‘happy chemicals’ in our bodies. The happier and more positive we are – the more focused we become! The bit of fresh air you get while out exercising also helps you focus. 

3. Be conscious of what you eat

Eating well is the key to success, especially during these difficult times. Try to avoid foods which are high in sugar and ‘junk food’ which only provide a boost in energy for a short amount of time and can make you crash. Try snacking on foods such as nuts, blueberries and bananas which are ‘brain foods’ and have natural sugars which boost energy and help concentration. Dark chocolate is also a great food to improve concentration and focus, and gives us energy. Just make sure to eat it sparingly!

4. Disconnect from the news and social media

Turn it off! I understand that we are all inundated with news about this crisis and it’s important to stay up to date. However, it’s equally important to take a break! I too am guilty of reading articles and constant news updates on my phone but it is so important to turn it off sometimes and take a break for the benefit of our mental health. If families are discussing the pandemic, especially what will happen regarding the Leaving Cert – ask them to change topic when you’re around. Families understand that LC students are under a lot of pressure right now and more often than not are willing to help in any way they can.

5. Focus on what you can control

We are living in really difficult times where almost everything seems like it’s out of our control. So focus on what you can control. You can’t control what decisions the government makes about this pandemic or what will happen about the Leaving Cert. What we can control is making sure we are eating properly, getting enough sleep, and keeping ourselves well – both mentally and physically. Remember too that the Leaving Cert isn’t the ‘be all and end all’. It might be an important exam, but it is only an exam. Sitting the Leaving Cert and the study done towards it are achievements in themselves. Stay safe, stay positive and stay focused!

Need some support? 

If you are struggling with the stress of our exams or with this pandemic in general please talk to a trusted friend, family member, or someone you trust. If you could do with having a chat with someone, SpunOut.ie’s anonymous, 24 hour text line is always open. You’re worth talking about and we’re here to listen and support you! Text SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280. Standard SMS rates may apply.

Young people all over the world are finding it difficult to deal with COVID-19 pandemic. With school, colleges and workplaces closed, there have been some big changes in the last few weeks. Many young people are struggling with their mental health as they’re staying at home where possible and social distancing. The Mental Health Fund was devised by GoFundMe as a way to gather funds for crisis mental health services around the globe. A partnership was formed between the USA, Canada, the UK and Ireland. In Ireland, the funds are being split between spunout.ie and CrisisTextLine. Demi Lovato has become a supporter for the fundraiser, having been incredibly open about her own experiences with mental health difficulties. She publicly commented on the fact that “so many people have been left alone with their thoughts, their anxieties, their abusers” which obviously contributes to the increasing need for crisis services worldwide.

Spreading the word

spunout.ie volunteers have gotten involved with the fundraising, and we have created the #4MentalHealth campaign. We’ve opted to focus our plans on a social media challenge as they’ve been so popular recently, and are relatively inexpensive to run. We knew we had a big group of people to back a social media campaign as we have the support of the spunout.ie volunteers, our friends, and our families. We took inspiration from Instagram accounts such as Humans of New York and Humans of Dublin. We wanted people to relate to the pictures they shared and for those pictures to tell a story, so we decided to have people post pictures that make them happy or bring them joy.

What is the ‘#4mentalhealth’ campaign about?

Our campaign was based around the idea of four – four countries, four pictures, four friends and €4 donations. We’re asking people to share four pictures that positively impact your mental health, tag 4 people to do the same, and donate €4 towards spunout.ie by texting SPUNOUT to 50300 (Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions, Helpline: 0871800925, Website: fundraisingsolutions.co/). We wanted the donation to be affordable for young people, as we assumed it would be mostly young people involving themselves in the challenge, so €4 felt like the best option for us. The €4 donation was made possible by the text donation line that spunout.ie already had in place, almost like fate.

Getting started with the campaign

Once we decided on our method of donation, we took to our fellow volunteers to ask for some help in filming a promotion video to be shared across our various social media accounts. Like we’ve said, we’re really lucky to have the support and engagement of all the volunteers and had no trouble at all finding volunteers for our video. We wrote up a script for the video, keeping it short and sweet to keep people’s attention. We then had each volunteer record one line to incorporate as many people as possible, and spread the workload as thin as we could. We thought it was important to record both a landscape and portrait video, so we could make use of the “story” feature on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook.

After the promotion video was recorded and edited, we began reaching out to the media – radio stations, websites, and newspapers alike. We also approached a number of influencers across the platforms we would be operating on and asked them to share the message. Just two days in, we’ve had two interviews recorded for radio and had a number of influencers relevant to the topic of mental health share the message with their followers.

Looking after our mental health

Our reasons for getting involved may all be different, however we can all agree that people’s mental health is always a concern to us at the best of times. With the current COVID-19 situation, we have seen just how important our mental health, resilience and coping skills are. However, for some people, more support is needed. This is where our resources and support services have become even more important than normal. Young people reaching out to spunout.ie for support is up 60% since the COVID-19 pandemic began, young people reaching out to our 24/7 text line for support is up 44% and anxiety/stress as an issue has doubled, with 52% of texters mentioning it now in their conversations.

We would love to have you continue the amazing success this fundraiser has been. Upload four pictures onto your preferred social media, tag four friends to do the same and text SPUNOUT to 50300 to donate €4 (Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions, Helpline: 0871800925, Website: fundraisingsolutions.co/). €4 allows us to reach 9 readers every single month for a year. Last year we had over 1.8 million readers.

Other ways to donate include

• The GoFundMe page – https://ie.gofundme.com/f/thementalhealthfund
• Directly on the spunout.ie website – https://spunout.ie/about/donate-online/once

Thank you for all the involvement and support so far, and remember to get involved if you haven’t already! The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting mental health services all across the world, and they need your help. Remember to stay at home, check in on friends and relatives, and wash your hands with soap!