As a continuation of The Now Times, a series where I look at how people’s lives have changed during the pandemic, I spoke with 13 year-old Harper Mooney who shares what it’s like being a kid during COVID-19. Like many of us, Harper’s life has changed significantly: her schooling is entirely online, person-to-person contact is limited to immediate family, and she was unable to visit her grandpa when he passed away in 2020. Alongside these challenges, Harper feels that the last year has also brought new phases of growth. Modern teenagers like Harper face pressure and expectations from all sorts of sources: friends, classmates, social media. For Harper, the pandemic has made her take a step back from these voices and she has determined—on her own terms—who she wants to be. Harper’s story is full of wisdom about reckoning with our flaws and strengths, and offers a lesson in how we can learn to be ok with ourselves. 

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