Most students at Camas High School have grown up within a tumultuous time in human history. There has been no shortage of once-in-a-lifetime crises occurring only during the past decade, which has been a formative time for the students at Camas.

Whether it be any of the multiple military conflicts that have occurred, like the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, the historic Covid-19 pandemic, widespread racial injustice and national panic, or the increasingly pressing Climate Crisis, many students have different responses and methods of coping with this stressful environment. 

“Hearing about all of these problems, it makes me feel very grateful.” said freshman Aryaa Vinod. 

Fortunately, while there are certainly issues that take place on American soil, U.S. citizens are typically spared from the throes of military conflict. 

Because of this lack of proximity and separation from the events, it’s not necessarily that it’s difficult for students to empathize with the victims, but it is most definitely difficult to completely understand the magnitude and effect of them.

“It’s kind of hard to put yourself in a situation if you’re not actually in that situation.” said Senior Drew Hancock.

Hancock also theorized that so much exposure to information has led many people to turn away from the media. 

“People don’t like to look at bad news.” Hancock said. 

It is not uncommon for students to share some sort of critique of the media. 

“I feel like the news can make people feel pissed off or scared.” said sophomore Niky Razani.

While acknowledging the importance of bringing attention to the atrocities that the news discusses, Razani was discontent with the media’s overreliance on negative news. 

“I think there should be more balance in the news [between the good and the bad]”. Razani added. 

Although, it is possible that the news does accurately reflect a harsh truth: that most world events are tragic. 

A seeming indifference to news may be a result of desensitization, which itself is a product of exposure. 

“Especially in the media, we see violence all the time, even in fiction. It’s just been normalized in our society.” said freshman Connor Loftsgaarden. 

No matter how numb students may have become after witnessing tragic events for their entire childhood, students are still quite fortunate not to be the ones experiencing it, and there is no excuse for not taking such news seriously.

“They know they can do things about it, but they’ll make jokes or they don’t treat it very well.” said sophomore Bianca Flores. 

It is unfavorable that students have lived through such an adversely historic time, and it is just as unfavorable that students may experience anxiety and overload of emotions, or perhaps even a lack thereof. 

Regardless, it is up to students to rise up and create a less stressful society not only for themselves, but for future generations.