By Sama Allam

Self-isolation has got to be the worst thing that’s happened since calculus. You’ve got all this free time now and nothing to do with it. You’re stuck at home. You haven’t seen your friends in weeks. Your siblings are driving you crazy. What’s there to do besides binge-watch Netflix all day?

Well, for starters, you could read that book that’s been sitting on your shelf for months. Or you could learn to draw, like you’ve always wanted to. Maybe even start learning a new language through apps like Duolingo or Memrise.

Due to the cancellation of in-person school, there are more hours freed up for your own, personal use. That is a few more hours to start doing what you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the time to start. For example, Tempe Prep junior Ridley Diez de Medina views this period of self-isolation as a time to “relax and learn about things that interest you, that you wouldn’t have time to do otherwise.” He has taken up mathematical coding through an app called Grasshopper, which he approaches as a “brain teaser.” He believes its practicality could be useful in the future. When not attending class via Zoom, he keeps productivity high through the use of a schedule and maintains a regular sleep schedule. However, Ridley advises to leave time for fun activities outside of school so as to not get burnt out.

Most importantly, Ridley, among many of his peers, advise staying inside and practicing self-isolation. The current situation might scare some people, but it is important to remember that just because we cannot control what happens outside, does not mean we cannot control our personal lives. Take advantage of this freed-up time to improve yourself, your relationships, and the environment you live in. With time, social-isolation will end, and hopefully, we will all come out of it as better people.