Written by Kayla Chau
Edited by Mae Ngo and Agape Tariku
Cover by Christine Zhang and Dora Martelli
Disclaimer: We are not actively encouraging you to hang out, as keeping the people you interact with at a minimum is the best way to keep safe, but we know that as things have eased up, people are going out more, and we want to address how to go navigate that!
With schools reopening, more and more students are reuniting with their friends once again on campus, and more people are hanging out with their friends outside of school as well. Here at Awareful, we have compiled a guide to help you navigate this COVID-19 social landscape!
Rules:
1. Communication is key!
Before meeting with friends, communicate what you are comfortable with. Text or call them before saying that you want to social distance and wear masks when you hang out or see each other at school.
2. Respect your feelings and your friend’s feelings.
If you or your friend ever feel uncomfortable being somewhere because it got more crowded than you expected, someone arrived without a mask, or people came without respecting social distancing, then remove yourself and your friend(s) from the situation.
3. Keep in touch (figuratively) !
When you cannot hang out all the time, reach out! Text, call, videocall, etc… Your friendships still exist even when you don’t see one another, and putting in effort is how you keep your friendships! Sometimes it can be hard talking to friends online, but just reaching out and catching up makes all the difference. Life in quarantine can get lonely, and keeping in touch is healthy and important.
Some Scenarios...
4. Keeping your space
If someone walks up to you and does not adhere to social distancing, put your hands forward to keep space between you and tell them that you want to social distance and then take the needed steps back. If they still do not listen to you and try to break safety protocols, then remove yourself from the situation. Your safety and mental health is important, and if they want to talk to you, they need to respect that.
5. What do I do if I am feeling pressure from my friends to hang out unsafely?
Ask them again if they would be okay having a social distanced hangout with masks. If they do not listen, tell them you are not comfortable hanging out. It’s not worth sacrificing your safety, especially if you are meeting a big group of friends! They should respect your concerns, as well as recognize the people they are putting at risk by not being safe.
Some tips when you go out:
Always bring a couple masks with you!
Bring hand sanitizer and tissues with you to disinfect your hands after you touched something or to disinfect surfaces.
Hang out with the same small group of friends! It's much safer than a large group, or hanging out with lots of different people.
Remember, keeping the people you interact with at a minimum is the best way to keep safe! Ask yourself if going to that party is really that worth it. Think about how you are putting yourself at risk and how you put others at risk by going out. These are difficult, confusing times, and we must recognize the risks that come with hanging out.
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