Scared of the Sickness

As I lay in bed at 11:38 a.m., I wonder what class I’d be in right now — health. While thinking about the notes over our emotions and self esteem we would be taking with Henton, I fall back into my stack of pillows, just to have another cough attack. Barking and wheezing, I struggle to pay attention to the work I am supposed to be making up. I had already been stressing out from missing the first five hours of the day — little did I know I was going to miss the next three days of classes. 

For many teens, missing school can be agonizing. So painful to the point people have started to come to school while they’re still sick, spreading their illness to their closest friends — creating a cycle that seems never ending.

I fell victim to the sickness cycle: I was stuck at home for six days, measuring my temperature every hour hoping it’d be nearing 98.6°.

For about a month, now the flu has been going around and has infected a majority of the school. Walking through the overcrowded halls you can hear the coughing and sneezing of people who are too sick to be at school, but for some reason keep showing up.

In elementary school and middle school, it was easy to miss a day of school because you weren’t feeling good or you had a headache, but it’s a lot harder in high school. Now that we have seven classes to keep up with, there’s so much pressure to be at school no matter what. You’re scared to miss a Biology test or the class where your teacher is stubborn and refuses to go over previous lessons.

According to Shawnee Mission School District’s (SMSD) website, “For each person with a case shall remain in home isolation for seven days following onset of illness or for the duration of illness if the case is immune-compromised, except when seeking medical care.”

Sure, this policy is in place, but that doesn’t mean it’s not often ignored. Students are coming to school when they’re sick because they’re scared to miss class and don’t want to exceed the maximum of 10 absences. Let me tell you from personal experience — please, don’t come to school when you’re sick.

During your time at home, you can be catching up on homework, resting or drinking necessary electrolytes. 

If you have been diagnosed by the doctor with the flu, run the humidifier, follow your doctors orders and stay home.

If you are looking for something aside from Netflix to keep you busy, you can check the internet for some ideas. According to thehealthsessions.com, you can take a nice relaxing bath, browse through old cookbooks for some recipes you would like to try — or if you’re not feeling like getting up, you can curl up with a blanket and some tea and have a movie marathon

Students need to be able to relax, which can be hard to do — I totally understand — but they need to know when it’s time to stop and take a break. We shouldn’t feel like we have to go to school when we’re so sick we can barely get out of bed, let alone breathe.

Teachers can help combat the sick-at-school issue by by ensuring they post every homework update and notes powerpoint online and be willing to help students, no matter how much school they miss. Teachers could even record their lectures or students could Skype or FaceTime in to follow along with the class.

By coming to school sick, you run the risk of spreading your disease/illness to everyone else around you. Even though it seems difficult and can be annoying, I’m begging you, do us all a favor, and stay home when you’re contagious.