Taking a Break: Students Celebrate Their Labor Day Weekend While Social Distancing

Grace Baek, Staff Writer|September 11, 2020

Juniors Alejandra Guio-Perez, Sriragavi Ukeshkumar and Mariam Arafa surprise their friend with a virtual Red Carpet themed birthday party.

Amid concerns regarding possible spikes in COVID-19 cases, students found their own compromises to the traditional Labor Day picnics, barbeques and fireworks.

Labor Day weekend is often the symbolic boundary between summer and fall, as well as one of the busiest weekends for celebration between families and friends. However, due to current difficulties in travel or large gatherings, many students changed their traditional plans.

“Normally, I go shopping a lot or hang out with friends, [but] this year’s Labor Day is different just because of the circumstances and restrictions,” freshman Kaili Hellewell said. “[This year], I mostly stayed home, watched TV and caught up on late work. I also got to catch up with a friend that I haven’t seen since March, which was so much fun.”

There were also students who celebrated a special occasion during the weekend. Junior Alejandra Guio-Perez and a couple of her friends held a surprise birthday party over Zoom for a friend.

“We wanted to do something special for her, so… we were all dressed up [for a Red Carpet theme]… and we put up a birthday song in the call, and she was very surprised,” Guio-Perez said. “To protect others and to protect ourselves… I think it’s important for everyone to stay home or take all the precautions if you’re going outside because there are lives at risk.”

Like many other students, junior LoLa Kim was able to find a way to spend Labor Day weekend outdoors while following all precautions, wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer and practicing social distancing.

“I celebrated my mom’s birthday; we went out to a restaurant [and] got cake,” Kim said. “I think if everybody stays safe now, then [the cases] will keep going down so we will have more freedom later.”