While searching for things to do during this time of social distancing, it can be hard to socialize with those most important to us. College students, who are used to seeing their friends every day in classes, while grabbing a quick lunch, or passing by one another while walking to classes, are trying to figure out how to hang out with their friends without actually being together. 

Wiscasset resident Lindsey Gordon, who attends Norwich University in Vermont, is home for the remainder of the semester as her university is one of the many that have made the switch to remote learning. When asked what she has been doing to keep busy and involved with friends, she said she’s “been trying to get outside as much as possible, whether it’s hiking with my dog, going to the beach, or going for a run. I’ve been trying to pick up new hobbies like yoga or even trying to solve a rubik's cube.

“It is unfortunate, I really want to see my friends, but it is what it is!” Gordon added, she and her friends from school held a Netflix Party. This allows you to watch a TV show or movie on Netflix, while having a screen where you can send messages to one another at the same time. This allows you to react to things like you would in person, making you feel as though you are with your friends. 

Grace Webber, a 2018 graduate of Wiscasset Middle High School, attends the University of New Hampshire. She said, “all I have been up to for the most part is homework. I have been staying home, spending time with family, and keeping up with other people’s lives through social media.”

Other ideas for people to still interact with their friends and family during this time include video calls such as Facetime, and some people are using Zoom to talk to their friends. It’s a method professors have been using to teach online classes. I saw one person hosting a Zoom birthday party with over 30 friends on the call to help their birthday still feel special during this time! 

Along with people getting creative with video chats, different challenges have been spreading on social media as well, aiming to spread positivity. My favorite is “see a dog, send a dog.” For this challenge, one person posts a picture of their dog, the caption being the name of the challenge, and then passes it on to the next person by tagging a friend in the photo. That person then posts the same thing with their dog, continuing the chain.