The crisp winter air never fails to bring out warm personalities. Dressed in cozy attire, North Atlanta High School students roam the 11-story building – prepared to take on the final semester of the school year with a newfound sense of motivation. However, with the return of students to school following winter break, a plethora of winter illnesses and their distribution ensue. At North Atlanta, coughs, sniffles, and sneezes have marked the beginning of an infectious winter season.
Though the common cold is the most far-extending illness lingering around this time of the year, it certainly isn’t the only one. Following the return to school, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), the flu, COVID-19, and laryngitis have all made major comebacks. Many of these illnesses have similar symptoms, which has resulted in students being confused about which illness they have come into possession of. “I couldn’t tell if I had COVID, the flu, or just a common cold,” said junior Samayyah Bennett. “But what I do know is that I felt awful.”
At a school as thoroughly populated as North Atlanta, illnesses spread at a rapid speed. Specifically during winter, students are bound to come into contact with someone who has a sickness of some sort. In an attempt to avoid getting sick, a couple of students have even begun wearing face masks such as the N95 again. Others have taken it upon themselves to advocate for more responsibility during the spread of these infections. “I wish that people would stop coming to school when they know that they are sick,” said junior Bridgette Sanchez-Garcia. “Putting others at risk is selfish.”
If there is one thing that the entire North Atlanta student body can agree on, it’s that being sick is not a fun experience. Students are compelled to decide whether they will stay at home or attend classes. Missing a single day of school can result in a pileup of missing assignments, making one miserable. However, going to school sick can be even more intense. Many students have confessed that they feel quite embarrassed to cough or sneeze in class. “The worst gift that I have received this season is my cough,” said junior Kristen Duncan. “While in class, the repetitive noise feels weirdly obnoxious.”
While winter invariably excels at bringing about a sense of nostalgia and joy, it also poses challenges to our health. It is crucial that North Atlanta students understand the severity of spreading seasonal illnesses and take action to avoid doing so.
