Imagine moving, leaving all of your friends behind, and going to a new school during the nation’s biggest pandemic.

Tyson Buss used to live in Lancaster, WI where he went to Lancaster public schools for several years. Tyson formed bonds with the students from this school, joined cubs, and made a set school career for himself. Lancaster public schools was a big school with a big student population. At the start of his freshman year Tyson told his parents that he wanted to switch schools and go to Potosi because he was not making any friends in Lancaster and he did not want to feel left out and secluded. 

“I didn’t mind switching schools because I could start high school as a new freshman,” Tyson Buss stated. He wanted a change and he wanted to be closer to the Potosi and Casseville people he already knows. Tyson stated it was easier for him to make friends here because he feels like he can get along better with people from a smaller school district. Tyson wanted to come to this school and have a fresh start for his high school career. The only difference about starting at a new school this year is the coronavirus pandemic. 

The coronavirus pandemic has caused multiple things to be different, including going to school. When you are in school now, you need to wear a mask, practice being six feet apart from everyone, and also if you are not feeling well, you need to be out of school for fourteen days. In an interview with Tyson Buss, he stated: “Coming to a new school during COVID does not affect me because I am not sick and wearing masks protects me.” Tyson is not too concerned about the pandemic. When Tyson came to this school, he was hoping for an easy, carefree school year so he could have fun and be around his friends. This year looks a little different since there is a pandemic going on and all of us have to wear masks. There is also a chance that we could go to school virtually. Virtual school is hard for everyone because a lot of students got behind on homework and also could not see their friends or teachers. This caused a lot of anxiety in students and also about their grades. Tyson stated about his experience with virtual school during last school year, “I did not care for virtual learning, but it didn’t really matter to me.” Tyson has a laid back attitude towards the virus and also towards school. 

As the coronavirus peaks, so will the cases in school. The cases in school will make the government decide if we will stay open or not. Tyson’s freshman year might revolve around the anxiety of the pandemic, but also the hopes of making new friends, and meeting new people.