When the pandemic first started it was nerve-racking and confusing given the little information we had about the disease. Two-week lockdowns turned into months and the months turned into years. The idea of locking down to protect those who are vulnerable was a thoughtful idea. However, the way in which we responded arguably had a much more detrimental effect on the youth of society. During the pandemic, we saw skyrocketing mental health problems in younger generations as many were forced into isolation. I would consider myself lucky as in the beginning, I went to stay with family so I wasn’t completely isolated. I used this time to become a better student and focus on mental development instead of physical development. In my experience, the early stages of the lockdowns became a time of self-reflection and emotional development. For me this time was invaluable. Now, knowing the statistics and death/hospitalization rate I firmly believe that we can no longer be scared of covid and can no longer rationalize lockdowns and mandates of any kind. The widespread availability of vaccines and proven therapeutics is why we can no longer stand for sacrificing the younger generation for the older. This is not to say that we shouldn’t protect those who are vulnerable. However, we can not protect the vulnerable at the expense of the non-vulnerable.