A submission describing a person's struggle with their mental health during the pandemic and resulting lockdown, detailing how isolation has negatively impacted their mental health.

A student's paper discussing the federal government's response to COVID-19.

A student's essay on how COVID-19 has affected education in Nevada.

In communities across the world, children dream of their high school graduation and walking across a stage to receive a diploma. The graduating class of 2020, unfortunately will not share this moment with many classes before them as graduations and all public gatherings have been cancelled during this spring and early summer. This disruption and breach from tradition reveals how we have taken the ritual of graduation for granted as well as many other ceremonies. Society loves ceremony, and while the act of a young adult being handed a piece of paper is not the pinnacle of their accomplishment, the ceremony signifies a rite of passage. Parents and/or caretakers watch the person they have raised receive a credential. Walking across the stage is a momentous point, and for many marks the end of the gestation period. In addition, it recognizes the students’ work and potential, launching them forward into the world. Without this ceremony, students lack the moment that defines a separation of the previous chapter from the next one. Teachers and administrators at some high schools have made “commencement signs” to supplement graduation, and by planting the signs in seniors’ lawns, schools have created an alternate ceremony to officialize the role exit of students. Because our culture loves ceremonies dearly, we feel compassion for high school seniors who are being compromised by the virus and deprived of celebration. The commencement signs in graduates' front yards display students who have the achieved status of completing their formal education, and it reminds us, in a time of introspective isolation, to not lose pride for others or forget our youth. Graduates are like warriors with their positive spirits and persistence through this difficult and adverse time and are being appreciated in a novel way. The signs show us that while many things in our world are currently paused, these students are not, which I feel is a beacon of hope for the future.

Our two grandchildren 2yr Callie Kay and 4yr Addi left these for us in our mailbox after 8 weeks of self quarantine as I am a nurse

10 year old plans Friday night movie outing in family living room! Lexi Salamanca and family. As the movie theaters are all closed, lexi used her imagination to make her family night as much fun as possible!

Empezando el 18 de mayo los menores de 14 años pueden salir de sus casas....hasta 5 cuadras. Y no pueden jugar con pelotas ni bici, pero pueden salir.

This image displays a baby, reaching out and touching the face shield of what seems to be her mother all gowned up and dressed in PPE. The woman in the picture who seems to be a healthcare worker is crying as she is torn away from being able to hug and kiss her child because of the possibility of being infected after working in the hospital with coronavirus patients. She is crying because she has to be away from her family for 12-48 hour shifts and can’t be there with her family during a moment in time where everyone is living in fear of the virus. This picture is especially special because it touches upon the hardships that healthcare workers are facing after working with patients all-day and not being able to have that relief of coming home and being comforted by their family members. This post was also made right before mother's day to honor these health care mothers. The caption to this picture was in Portuguese and said "Mães. Hoje é o vosso dia. Esta ilustração vem ao encontro das mensagens que fui recebendo de profissionais de saúde que anseiam voltar a abraçar os filhos. Continuem com a mesma força de sempre. A cuidar dos filhos, dos pais e dos avós de alguém. O coração dos vossos filhos está carregado de orgulho. 🖤 a todas as mães um grande beijinho, um especial à minha. ✨ ©️2020, Sofia Pádua." When translated to English it said "Mothers. Today is your day. This illustration is in line with the messages I have received from health professionals who want to hug their children again. Continue with the same strength as always. Taking care of someone's children, parents, and grandparents. Your children's hearts are filled with pride. A big kiss to all mothers, a special one to mine. ✨ © ️2020, Sofia Pádua." #CSUS #HIST15H *Instagram Post

A personal account of the pandemic.

Article discussing the struggles of current high school seniors as they plan to enter college.

Ashi is 6 years old. She wanted to draw a picture of a beautiful day.

Spring is a magical time in the desert. The weather and cacti blooms are nothing short of amazing. My two young daughters and I spent a lot of time outside during this quarantine and always looked forward to our daily walks where we could admire the bright colors and unique shapes of the cacti blooms. We feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful area.

“Covid-19 has affected my beliefs in the way that it has made me strengthen my faith and I am a Christian and believe in Jesus Christ.” “No.” “Covid-19 has affected my participation in my religious community by social distancing not being able to gather in prayer and congregate for worshipping.” “Yes, my religious community helps with passing out lunches to the kids of the community that are underprivileged and don't have access to any lunch nor breakfast because they're closing up the schools.”

A Journal of the Plague Year

HUM402 Play School has been the leading early childhood education television program for over 50 years in Australia. This special episode, available via Facebook, communicates the changes happening due to COVID-19. It empathises with the children about not being able to see friends, but gives them ways to help stop the virus like washing their hands.

I took my nieces and nephew on a bike ride the other day so they could feel the sun and have fun as kids should. We usually take a shorter route that takes us around 15 minutes, but my nieces and nephew requested the longer route which takes us over an hour. #CSUS #HIST15H

The Landscape of Emotion Series: Under Quarantine is a series illustrating the diverse experiences of mental health and feelings throughout quarantine. Clara Leon, my mother, focuses on unemployment and the love she has and misses for her job. Note: Edward and William are the children she takes care of.

A sunny spring day and a wider range of people than usual were walking in this public area, self consciously enjoying the air and exercise, but keeping physical distance.

“The resiliency has been passed down to further generations, so we are able to survive these times of struggle.”

A guy is sitting in his living room attending his virtual graduation. There are car horns in the background as there is a birthday party going on.

I’m a study-abroad student. Due to the virus, I had to stay at my home in New York. I got the update of the virus through Chinese social media, and I think it is really interesting. I’m going to share some posts from Chinese social media about the virus. The post is about that one of the temporary hospitals is going to close, which means the hope is coming. Through the post, I feel the persistence of those front line fighters. There are plenty of touching stories in the post. One of them brings his daughter's doll to the front line. They are also others' wives, husbands, mothers, children. These medical staff came to the frontline at the risk of infection, and their families were also worried, proud, and worried about them from afar.

This is a hand out designed to go along with face masks created by members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg Sewing Circle to be distributed to the public. The masks have been distributed in the community, to elder care facilities and children's homes to the local immigrant community and to the local homeless community. The handout outlines proper use and care of a face mask.

Sign posted in front of one of several playgrounds at the popular Sedgwick County Park in west Wichita, Kansas. All playground equipment had been roped off during the state's "stay-at-home" order. Sedgwick County, Kansas: creator Photo taken by Aaron Peterka, Northeastern University Image taken on 05/01/2020.

Small child walks in asking mom how to turn off the video call. This meme captures the idea that sometimes as a parent we let our kid have a bit more access to devices than usual, letting them make video calls to friends and family. This lets them maintain their connections to the outside world, but it also means they're not totally able to handle all the technology.

This is a school parking lot at about 1pm, normally, this would be towards the end of the school day and there might be students walking between buildings. Now, it is empty as students have to complete work from home and cannot be at the school. *5/7/2020; Covid-19

This photo was taken on my birthday, Saturday May 2nd, 2020, and it shows my cousin and I. This photo is really important to me because my cousin and I have became really close over time. We FaceTime everyday and we make many memories. She is one of my best friends and I love her very much. She is very funny and crazy, and I can’t ask for a better friend/cousin. We would sometimes come to each other’s house unexpectedly, and then spend the whole day together. She is always there for me, and I am always there for her.

An attempt at humor in the midst of a crisis.

A post with photos of the food program implemented to supply food to kids in School District 52, Prince Rupert, BC. Photos show volunteers preparing over 200 hundred bags of food and gift cards for families struggling amidst school closures and stay-at-home orders. The post appeared on the Prince Rupert School District website.

A schedule for a weekly library storytime from the Homer Public Library, Homer, AK,delivered over the radio in lieu of in-person storytime. The program is broadcast on KBBI, Homer’s public radio station, in a weekly, one-hour program of stories, music, and calls from kids. The schedule provides a weekly list of stories and songs that will appear on the program.

A letter from the government of the Yukon to families outlining ways for them to speak to children and cope with both the medical and emotional needs of Covid-19. It offers ideas and techniques for normalizing lives and homeschooling students of different ages. It also gives descriptions of symptoms to look for, ways to teach students hygiene, and methods to prevent the spread of the virus.

During this quarantine I have spent a lot of time with my family. My brother and I always play games together and hang out since we can’t see anyone else. We can’t really go anywhere so we have to find fun things to do at home. I enjoy spending time with my family and hanging out with my brothers. My dad is an essential worker so he isn’t home a lot but the rest of us are. We are making the best out of the situation.

This is a video of me and my brother playing madden and talking smack. Playful, explicit language!

So I am no story teller...I just wish to document an experience... Masiphumelele, affectionately known as Masi, is a township of an estimated 40 000 people in the South Peninsula of Cape Town, South Africa. If you know our townships, you'll know many of the residents live way below the poverty line at the best of times... hugely exacerbated by something like COVID-19 lockdown. So a huge initiative is feeding the people. And it is in this context that I experienced the absolute beauty of our people... Private individuals from all walks of life...many more affluent than their Masi neighbors...but not necessarily so... freely and generously giving of their time... money... energy... love...to come alongside Masi and deliver food parcels. Perhaps even more beautiful was the spirit of the Masi people. So welcoming... genuinely...not just because they may receive a food parcel. Children running alongside the vehicles, smiling, wanting to talk to the 'visitors' (not fully understanding social distancing 🤗). Residents going out of their way to help the donors find the intended recipients... they themselves not having much... but being sssssooo happy for a neighbor who might receive a parcel... even when they didn't and could well have done with one... the absolute gratitude and sadly the relief on the faces of those who did receive... just a basic parcel...but it meant meals for 2 weeks. And the heartbreak for the volunteers delivering the parcels... knowing that for every one who received, 100s more needed but wouldn't get... but not letting that sadness stop them... rather swallowing their own pain and carrying on with the work... knowing that at least a difference was made for a few people...like the story of the starfish. We often look at what COVID-19 has taken from us, and there is much lost. It has also given us so much...a glimpse into the beautiful souls of so many beautiful people...a privilege

Local photographers, inspired by other groups across the country, are offering families photo sessions from the safety of their own front porches. The Arizona Front Porch Project photographers are donating 30% of proceeds to local charities. Families choose props and locations, and can get creative with their photo sessions.

This image was taken by me on one if my walks around a local park. I have been going to this park since I was three years old. Ever since the stay-at-home order was give for NC at the end of March I have noticed a much greater diversity in the demographics of people who visit the park.Traditionally the park would be populated by younger children, around elementary and middle school aged, along with young parents and their children. Now people of all types and ages frequent the park in an attempt to help normalize and adjust the the changes caused by the pandemic. Something I never expected to enjoy while going to the park is being able to see so many different people playing happily and making the best of the situation. Seeing others adjusting to the pandemic, in a way helps me accept the normalization of the changing social dynamics that have been created.

I set up a Zoom call for my 3rd grade son and his friends. This picture shows that no matter what, boys will still be boys. They had their nerf guns, made faces at each other, and were as silly as usual. Yes, this is hard, but boys will still be goofy and crazy.

I love this image because it represents an event that never would have occurred had we not all been home together. My husband was on a conference call with the doors to his office shut. While on the call, my son built a wall in front of the door. My husband literally had no idea it was happening. Shows that during all of this craziness we can still have some great laughs!

I took this picture because it demonstrates a new reality alongside the old. Masks hung up to be taken when we go out, next to the backpacks that haven't been touched since school was canceled.

#friendswhogive was started to teach my children that GIVING to others can be just as rewarding as receiving, especially at the Holiday time."- Denise Heckelman, Founder #friendswhogive organized a "rainbow hunt" for kids. Families can post drawings of rainbows in their window and as children walk and bike ride around they can count how many rainbows they pass along the way. #FordhamUniversity #VART3030 #RainbowSeries

Play School has been the leading early childhood education television program for over 50 years in Australia. This special episode communicates the changes happening, empathises with the children as well as telling them what they can do to help.

My daughters, aged 6 and 3, spreading joy by drawing pictures of hope and happiness on our front gate. We wanted to join the 'Teddy Bear Hunt' of Launceston in our own way to entertain those exercising as they travel past.

Playground closed with caution tape wrapped around the equipment. #HST643

HUM402 The Government has closed all parks until further notice to help control the spread of Covid-19.

This image tells us the that even though the world is going through a tough time, the community can still come together to take care of each other.

I have two sons, 5 and 3 years old. My son's Kindergarten year of school was closed and we were suddenly homeschooling due to the pandemic. I have created a collage of some of our family activities during our time at home.

Touro Infirmary shares on Facebook that their security team received a thank you from the Infirmary's Kids Activity Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Pediatric clinics offer virtual appointments to encourage people to continue to see their doctors and avoid increased exposure to COVID-19 during the stay-at-home order.

Children's Hospital New Orleans thanks Take 5 Oil Change and Driven Brands Charitable Foundation for donating 19 cases of gloves.

Personal account of a nurse

Every time the garbage truck comes, my son, Carter, 5, rushes to watch the action from the living room window. He comments on the bin order, and asks questions about how the truck’s “arms” work and where the garbage is going. It reminds me of when I was a kid, and how during hockey intermissions, with no action on the ice, my dad would entertain me by having us each pick a zambonie and see whose would win the “race” to clean the ice first.