With COVID-19 ramped up since spring break and many of us being quarantined for just as long I, like many of you, have started to become a little restless. Thinking of the small things I can’t do now, like go out to eat and hang out with friends, and the big things I may not get to do this summer, I’ve found myself stuck in my mind a lot. That being said, there are many ways that others are striving to help with issues like these as well as other struggles people may have with being stuck at home.

One of the most notable was the virtual concert and fundraiser, “One World: Together At Home.” Organized by Lady Gaga, the special was broadcast on April 18 across many platforms in an attempt to raise funds for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization. The special featured an array of musical guests consisting of artists like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift and some oldies like Elton John and The Rolling Stones. Having been compared to a much smaller, virtual version of Live Aid, a benefit concert put on in 1985 to raise funds for relief of the Ethiopian famine, I found the special to be incredibly moving and inspiring in times like this. Whether it encouraged you to help and donate or it simply gave you a good distraction for the night, “One World: Together At Home” was a great way to bring people together. The special can be rewatched using many different resources including YouTube and recordings of each performance are available on all music streaming platforms.

Another one of my favorites that is currently still going on, is John Krasinski’s online show “Some Good News.” The show is produced on YouTube and is advertised as “a news show dedicated entirely to good news.” It mainly features stories of compassion and accomplishment sent to Krasinski through twitter and email. It also features many special guests and interviews. My personal favorite was the entire original Broadway cast of “Hamilton” doing a virtual performance of the opening number for a little girl who won’t get to see the show due to lockdown. It has also had appearances by A-List celebrities like Oprah, Steven Spielberg and activist Malala Yousafzai. A new episode is released every week and it is something that has managed to always bring a smile to my face. 

Something I am very much looking forward to is a virtual graduation ceremony that is going to be put on by YouTube on June 6. Aimed at celebrating the accomplishments of high school and college graduates of 2020, the live stream will feature commencement speeches by people such as President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga and Malala Yousafzai, as well as many other names. It will also feature special appearances by people such as Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington and Zendaya. With little known about the actual format and plans for the stream, I’m very excited, both as a member of the class of 2020 and a fan of many of these names, to see what they do to congratulate the hard work we have put into our education. Try to link an article or something about this event.

Along with these events and positive distractions are the many small ways that communities are helping each other. From making face masks to helping get supplies to those in need, people are finding the desire to help more than ever before. Most importantly though I want to highlight the work of our teachers. With no preparation and very little instruction, our teachers have been going above and beyond for us to keep learning throughout the year. From simply making sure we are prepared for the AP test to continuing to teach all that they can before the year is up, I want to say how grateful I am for hard work and guidance through this time. Even though we might not express it, I think I speak for most of us when I say we are very appreciative of all that teachers are do for us.

These actions and time-consuming projects that have been happening have been helping me immensely when it comes to my mental state, and I hope they can continue to help you too. So next time you’re bored, don’t want to watch the news or feel as though you need a distraction, use these outlets or look up some others, because there are plenty more.