XXXXXXXXX this summer . Money raised will be donated to the Ramapo We Care program , which provides resources for students experiencing food , financial or other types of insecurity .
Susan Hangen , the interim dean of the Ramapo School of Humanities and a professor of anthropology and international studies , says the goal is to chronicle the living history from our “ most vulnerable voices .
“ What happened to them during the peak of the pandemic ? So many young people had life-changing , unexpected experiences , and really few people know what happened from a young person ’ s perspective ,” she says . “ These stories will be avaluable form of oral history in our future . The process of writing is also very therapeutic .”
IVY LEAGUE ACCEPTANCES
Adler says the students from Cliffside Park who participated have been accepted into colleges they didn ’ t think possible a year ago , including the University of Pennsylvania , New York University and Cornell .“ Writing gave them a transformative power ,” he says .
The stories show personal struggles with anxiety , isolation and growing distant from friends and loved ones . One student shared that at the height of the lockdown , time lost all meaning for his family , and their days and nights became switched . It led to them singing “ Happy Birthday ” and having cake for their dad at 3 a . m .
Monalise Mucha wrote about beauty during a lonesome period . “ The colorful fall leaves in Connecticut reminded me that life is not always dull , and that there is wonder within everything ,” she wrote .
Mucha says writing about her experience was a way to connect to the public . “ It is admirable that so many students chose to be apart of this book , revealing their experiences during the pandemic ,” she says . “ Telling your story takes strength and determination . The opportunity that this book gave usall for our voices to be heard inspired me greatly to use my courage to make my voice heard .” ❖
High school students and teachers interested in more information can go to ramapo . edu / theclassofcovid19 / share-yourstory .
@ 201magazine ( 201 ) HEALTH 2022 EDITION
29