Cat Ochoa, ’24

TC: What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines?

CO: I don’t think it’s smart right before formal. I think we should have waited until after formal because with all of the different dates from different schools with different masking guidelines, I think it’s not the smartest thing to have everybody unmasked because that’s just going to be a super spreader, I can already feel it. I think it should be at least like two weeks after formal. Which okay, is later than the other schools, but it doesn’t make that big a difference.

TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask?

CO: Well, to be honest, my only day at school this week was yesterday. And I kind of forgot about the new masking guidelines. So I just put on my mask. And then I was like, why are people unmasked? And I remembered and I didn’t even like it was almost normal for them to be without masks. Some people were wearing them. Some weren’t. And I was just like, Okay, I mean, I know who you are. Personally, I am wearing a mask. I’m just because I am going to see my compromised family over spring break. So I want to make sure that I’m super safe for them.

TC: What do you think of people who think differently from you: Those that are or are not wearing a mask?

CO: You do you boo. I mean, if you’re respectful about it, that’s fine. You’re good. Like if someone feels uncomfortable, and they want you to put on a mask and you do, you’re great. We can stay friends. But if you’re disrespectful about it that’s why I might have words to say, I might disagree. And you might not get invited to my birthday party.

TC: Do you think dropping masks in school was the best decision for the state to make?

CO: The state, I mean, I don’t understand what’s going through their head. Just all of a sudden just saying, oh, yeah, everyone. Get rid of masks, it’s a personal choice. I don’t think it’s the smartest thing. I think certain counties should have gone before others. I don’t know if that’s actually what happened because I don’t really read the news. But I think it should have gone in waves, you know, like you can remove the mass but you still have to keep distance. Because I feel like now it’s just like back to normal. And all of a sudden, there’s gonna be a sudden COVID case, there’s no way that that’s not gonna happen.

TC: Do you think there should be an online option for community members that are not comfortable with these masking guidelines?

CO: Yes. In my experience, I had to take a week off of school. I had to take a week online in February. It was fine. And it helped me stay on top of my classes and everything. Whereas like, especially with private school, like we are paying for the school. So there should be an option for students who aren’t comfortable to either have a separate classroom or something like a separate area where they can be comfortable in the school. I don’t know if that’s possible, because it seems like all of this was being used at all times. Like, then, yes, there should be an online option. And like, I mean, it’s not optimal because like zoom and the classroom but at the same time is not optimal. But yeah, I mean, whatever makes kids feel comfortable.

TC: What do you think the current mask guidelines will trigger in the future, if anything?

CO: Phase three of COVID. I think we will go back to masking. I think we’ll go back to masks depending on how many cases arise, because they are going to arise. It just depends on how severe and especially like with our community and stuff. We might have to go back to distancing a little bit like three feet. I don’t think that’ll be the case. I think we’ll probably just have to like masks and test every week again. Go back to that, but ya know, there’s going to be a surge of cases. And I hope the school is prepared for that. And all the people that will get COVID and won’t be able to go to school.