Lesson ’ s From Lockdown
To say it ’ s been an unprecedented eighteen months is something of an understatement . The repercussions brought about by the pandemic have affected us all in some way and this is particularly true for some of the young Hive members who have struggled with the day-to-day challenges brought about by lockdown .
To help young people express some of their concerns , local literacy champion Charlie Lea , who is the founder of literary arts organisation Read Now Write Now , launched an inspirational writing competition for members of The Hive to explore their thoughts and feelings about lockdown . Charlie and his panel of judges received an incredible array of submissions from young people across the Wirral , with fantastic prizes kindly funded by the Mid Wirral Rotary Club . Local author and head judge Charlie says : ‘ When you are writing about yourself it ’ s honest and that ’ s really , really important for your mental health . It ’ s therapeutic and a really good boost for your health and wellbeing . The impact of the pandemic on young people cannot be underestimated , and they need our support more than ever before .’
Check out the inspirational winning entries from Rosie , aged 10 and Ellie , aged 17 ….
Rosie , 10 :
‘ 2020 we thought would be just like any other year . But no … this thing came … this virus . At last in March we realised Coronavirus was now in our country . Being stuck inside every day was not what we wanted . Mid-March happily the wonderful sun came out , so we could swim in the pool or play with friends , playing outdoors enjoying the sun , walks and spending time with my amazing family .
Going to the end of 2020 , everyone thought 2021 would be amazing and the virus would go ! But … no . Kids hoping they would go back to school and see their friends . At the start of January , we got the news , bad news . I cried . No school . No school meant no fun and being stuck inside all day .
Being stuck inside watching the pouring down weather felt like hell . I woke up nearly every morning hoping it would be nice weather . A few months later , things started to go downhill . I started feeling sad for completely no reason . I felt socially awkward , lonely and just really upset . I really didn ’ t want to go back to school , but I tried and it wasn ’ t that bad . I feel like lockdown has really made a change for people . I hope you enjoyed my story .
Ellie , 17 :
Lockdown . Self-Isolation . Quarantine . I never knew what any of these words meant . I ' d heard of them but didn ' t know the meaning . I was stuck in a time where I couldn ' t see my friends or family . It was a hard time . I felt lost . I felt like I was changing as a person and this person wasn ' t me . My depression is like a rollercoaster , it goes up and down and up and down but once you ' re on , you have no control . My friends think I can willingly come off the depression rollercoaster , but I can ' t . My anxiety pushes me down . I can ' t get up ; I can ' t go out . Anxiety plays with me like a game of chess , I scribble out the black hole , that ' s how I feel , I ' m not possessed , just depressed . I tell my friends how I feel , my depression is a shape shifter one day it ' s as small as an ant , the next it ' s as high as a kite but the next it can drop to the ground and suddenly , I shatter like glass . I really don ' t want to get out of bed , yet if I can the brick will fall , and I feel nothing I cry everything away in the end , but I will run out of tears but then I eat and eat and feel fat and self-conscious and so I starve myself then I worry and feel under pressure . I only feel better when I am with my friends but then even still , I am low and alone . I sit on the edge of my bed thinking of happier days before I go to sleep , but my good friend Insomnia will visit and play mind tricks with me . Anxiety is playing a game of hide and seek with me and I ' m the only one who hopelessly counts and waits for someone to shout or snigger so I can find them but of course it never happens . My friends , they say relax in a bath , it will help but when I get in the bath , I see me drowning , screaming , diving deeper down and I can ' t get up . Sometimes my friends will say light some candles , but the flickering flames burn my soul . Anxiety is a monster . Anxiety isn ' t my friend . wirrallife . com 17