This past year has had a particularly profound impact on teenagers: Many of the formative experiences that shape this special and often confusing time of life—prom, graduation, senior ditch day—disappeared, or were poorly replaced by virtual stand-ins. What did teens learn about themselves during this remarkable period in human history? And what single experience, object or discovery would they want their future selves to remember about their Covid year?
We asked high-school-age kids to share their pandemic stories in hopes that they’ll look back on them a decade or more from now and reflect on how they—and the world—have changed. Here are the reflections of 12 teens from across the U.S. and Canada.—Julie Jargon
—Coordinated by Madison Conte; Design by Michael Bucher; Photo editing by Ericka Burchett and Leah Latella; Video editing by Dave Cole.