Lived experience

Every Story Matters: A Year 10’s Journey Through the Pandemic

By COSMO on November 26th, 2024.

Sutton Trust COSMO Youth Panel member, Yasmin, looks back on her pandemic experience.

Yasmin is a member of the COSMO Youth Panel, a diverse group of students from across the country who were in Year 10 at the start of the pandemic. Yasmin unpacks her personal experiences during this challenging time and encourages others to share their pandemic experience with Every Story Matters to ensure the voices of young people, like herself, are heard.

I was just beginning Year 10, juggling the pressures of GCSE mock exam prep, when the pandemic hit. At first, the lockdown felt like an unexpected holiday – a welcome escape from endless studying. But as the days turned into weeks, that initial sense of relief quickly faded, replaced with a growing sense of dread. I found myself suddenly cut off from friends, school, and the comforting routines of normal life.

The social isolation hit harder than I’d expected. I tried to stay connected via social media, though it was new and overwhelming for me. I missed the real conversations and energy of being around friends.

Online learning was even harder. Without regular classes or structure, staying motivated was difficult. With no teachers checking in, it was easy to fall behind. When summer came and schools reopened, going back felt like a relief. We had “bubble classes,” sitting apart, everyone masked, no one quite acting like themselves. It was strange, but I craved the structure and being in a familiar setting helped me feel a bit more grounded.

At home, the impact of Covid was overwhelming and my family felt its devastating effects. We lost my grandma, who had always relied on her community for support, but the pandemic took that away just when she needed it most. My sister also struggled, with the isolation having a severe impact on her mental health. My younger brother, just starting primary school, missed out on so much foundational learning. Now he struggles with reading, and I can see the lasting impact it has had on him. Trying to manage my school life through all this was one of the most challenging experiences I’ve ever faced.

This experience has taught me how desperately we need better mental health support, especially for young people. I think everyone felt isolated, but for children and young people, it was particularly tough. We’re supposed to be out in the world, learning and exploring, not confined to screens and isolated at home. My sister’s experience underscored the importance of accessible support for those struggling with mental health issues, and my grandma’s passing reminded me of how crucial community is for the elderly.

It's so important for people like me to participate in projects like Every Story Matters, to share these experiences and make sure our voices are heard. The pandemic affected each of us differently, and it’s vital that these stories reach others. By sharing our experiences, we can make sure that any future crisis is met with better planning, more mental resources, and a stronger sense of community.

Follow this link to share your story: https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/every-story-matters/