Ava Lough, ’22

The Catalyst (TC): So I’m here with Ava Lough, who’s a senior, and I just wanted to ask you a few questions about the mask update at school. So first, what was your initial reaction to the new masking guidelines?

Ava Lough (AL): To be honest, I don’t really feel like I had that strong of a reaction. I think I kind of like expected to come since all of these state mandates are being lifted right now. So not I wasn’t like surprised or anything

TC: perfect. And why do you choose to wear a mask?

AL: Um, I guess it’s just a personal preference. I feel like I just want to do like the most I can to be safe. I haven’t had COVID yet, so I don’t really want to like get it now.

TC: And what do you think of people who maybe are doing something different than us? So following that new personal choice and deciding not to wear a mask?

AL: I don’t know. I mean, it’s up to them. It’s a personal choice. I feel like it doesn’t really affect me. All that much. So

TC: do you think dropping the mask mandates in school was the best decision for the state to make?

AL: I’m honestly not sure. I feel like there are pros and cons to both sides. So like it could go either way.

TC: And with the new masking guidelines, they’ve taken away the online schooling option and do you think that there should be an online option for community members that are comfortable that are not comfortable with these new guidelines for those who are maybe immunocompromised

AL: Oh, I didn’t realize that they had taken away like online so it’s still available for people who are likely to get sick and have to like stay home?

TC: It’s not.

AL: It’s completely not enough. Oh, I feel like it should definitely still be an option. Yeah. Because like if you get sick and you have to miss like, a week of school, then yeah, I feel like it should still be an option to have online.

TC: Perfect. Thank you.