https://www.youtube.com/embed/fITLj7jEuVM
They are raring to go — but, instead of freedom and adventure, they’re mostly confronted with their own four walls. How are young people coping with the pandemic? We follow high school student Karl, medical student Friederike, and hotel trainee Alena. How is the lockdown affecting them? I’m sick and tired of sitting here, staring at my laptop. What worries them? It’s an added stressor. Studying is more mentally draining than before. And what’s their future outlook? Not knowing what will happen to the hotel industry is really difficult. It’s early morning in Groß Neuendorf, a German village close to the Polish border. For high school student Karl, it’s just another day in lockdown. My name’s Karl Herrmann, I’m 17 years old and attend high school in Wriezen. But for more than three months now, lessons have been conducted remotely. The eleventh grader’s day starts in his bedroom with ninety minutes of English. "...the stereotypical, stereotypical roles of... I’m uncomfortable a little bit because the task is, you’re asked to hand in an article about the changing ...” I need 45 minutes to really wake up in the morning.
Normally, I’ve had that by the time I get to school. I’d get up at 6:30, travel to school, chat with a few people. So by that time, I’d already be quite alert. But now I get up, eat breakfast, get dressed, then I sit down in front of the computer and start lessons right away. That makes it really difficult to listen to the teacher — to fully concentrate and participate in a class that’s more than eighty minutes long.
After four hours in front of their computer screens, Karl and his younger brother Franz take a break. During the day, it’s just the two of them. Karl is in charge of making lunch. These are just the extra tasks that have to be done at the moment. Luckily I can cook. I mean, not everything — but some things. If it weren’t for the coronavirus, I’d be playing soccer in my club. I’d be meeting more with friends and going to the cinema. And I was actually supposed to spend a year abroad in Canada. But that didn’t work out because of COVID. Everything was already arranged. We had our flights booked, our suitcases packed and then two days before our departure, the whole thing was suspended.
And then they kept telling us for six weeks that it might somehow be possible, but in the end it wasn’t. It would have been nearby Calgary. That was the airport I was flying into. I think the year abroad would have done me good. These are the skis I got for it. Karl worked hard to save up for the equipment. Now it’s just sitting around in his room. Of course, I would have liked to use them more! Karl’s parents are doing their best to help him cope with the frustration. But they worry about the effect the lockdown is having. This tension — not being able to get out, not being able to develop is taking a toll on them mentally. And I’m extremely worried they won’t make their grades. Alena is nineteen. She’s training to become a hotel manager. It’s her dream job — were it not for the pandemic. Nineteen, twenty, twenty-one — we’re at the best age, and we’re not experiencing it. It’s been snatched away from us. This year has already changed me. Usually, I’d be out and about, rarely at home. I can’t do all that anymore.
It’s six a.m. and Alena is on her way to work. She’s doing her traineeship in a hotel in Bokel, near Hamburg. She comes here three times a week. Since the lockdown, only business travelers are allowed for overnight stays. A big change for Alena. Before the pandemic, we were on the go non-stop. Lots to do, lots of contact with people. Now it’s become very monotonous. We serve breakfast, and that’s it. Instead of learning how to properly set a table or serve guests, she and her fellow trainees only manage a few business travelers. What I miss most is the contact with guests. Good morning! Your room number? Forty-four. Forty-four, got it. Enjoy your breakfast. I love making people happy simply by bringing a meal or drinks to their table. You can laugh and talk with people. And now it’s: don’t get too close, or else we’re not keeping the required distance. And in that sense, everyone’s a bit uptight when it comes to having contact with one another.
The hospitality industry is facing its biggest crisis since World War Two. Turnover has plummeted. In Germany, revenue dropped forty percent last year compared to 2019. The hotel in Bokel is running a skeletal operation, so Alena does have some work. But what will happen when her traineeship ends? I’m a bit afraid of what my future holds. What can I do now? Who will actually employ me? That’s what really scares me. In Leipzig, it’s make or break for medical student Friederike. She has a very big exam today — one she’s been preparing for for two years. She needs to pass in order to carry on with her studies. Did you pass? Yes, all good. I passed. I feel great, I’m so relieved! I’m looking forward to having the rest of the day off. Normally, a reason for a celebration. But nothing these days is “normal.” Of course, it would have been lovely to meet up with everyone else in my exam group, to have breakfast together or meet up in the evening. Instead, I’ll be at home, having a quiet evening, doing nothing.
Friederike spends most of her time studying, alone in her one-room apartment in Leipzig. When I’m in studying mode, I basically do everything at my desk, apart from eating. I’d say I sit here eight hours a day. The student is in her fourth semester. Her mother also studied in Leipzig. Leipzig was always something of a dream city for me. Lots of culture to take in, more bars, more everything.
Just a lot going on. She quickly found her footing at university, forming friendships and making plans to hang out. And then COVID came along and put an end to everything just as soon as it had begun — this going out together and heading to a club or a bar. Everything I was starting to enjoy disappeared. It’s a real shame. Many of the perks that come along with studying at a university are no longer there. As a result of COVID, you notice that you’re not connected to the entire group anymore, so you have to actively contact people or meet up to keep the connection going.
Of course you fall out of touch with some people. Last summer, Friederike rescued a dog named Freya from an animal shelter. It was great that I had her during this intensive period of studying, so I was never really alone. I didn’t get that lonely feeling at night when you get into an empty bed and don’t have anybody. Of course, a dog isn’t a person. A dog doesn’t replace a partner — and isn’t intended to. But still, with a dog you’re not alone. Freya also forces Freiderike to leave the apartment. Those walks help Friederike structure her day and pull her away from her desk. Meanwhile, in the northeastern state of Brandenburg, some students are permitted to return to school. One week before the Easter holiday, junior high school students and eleventh graders are allowed back in the classroom.
For Karl that means: a history lesson - in person. It’s good to see friends again, to see something besides my laptop at home. It’s much more direct... It’s definitely nice to be back. Alright, let’s open up the windows again for the last part of the lesson. Afterwards, Karl and his class have an open study session. It gives students an opportunity to learn more independently. Today, their math teacher is there to answer questions. What’s the angle of intersection, the one between the two? The difference!- Correct! Sixty-three point four minus forty- five! -Yes! - So that’s it.
Yes, that’s it. All of Karl’s grades will count toward his high school diploma. He’s not the only one worrying. ... The fact that the final exams should be the same difficulty as in past years! It’s just a completely different situation. We haven’t had proper lessons for ages... Our work is also being assessed differently. There are fewer grades. We don’t want to be disadvantaged and have people saying that our high school diploma was much easier to get. But if you ace it, that still means you were working hard. Karl loves playing soccer. But he hasn’t trained with a team for almost a year now. I’m out of practice. I miss club sports so much. I’d like to get back to it. Because exercising at home alone or going on a run just isn’t the same for me. I miss it, but you know, team sports aren’t allowed right now. Alena has an early shift again at the hotel. This time she’s working alongside her colleague Jessica. More and more Alena is plagued with doubts about her future.
My plan was to work on a cruise ship for six months after finishing the traineeship, if I passed the exams. The idea was to get experience, meet new people, try out something new. But I think that I can forget all that. I don’t know if I want to continue on in this industry. Not like this!- There’s no point. I wanted to do this job because I like having contact with the guests. Putting on events, serving wine... I miss the banter with the kitchen staff too. There’s no one even in the kitchen now. - Oh man. Alena feels forgotten by politicians. I don’t think my voice is really being heard.
It’s just one little voice among many. Politicians are doing what they can to get our old lives back. But they’re prioritizing other things over us. I have the feelings we trainees are a side note. Welcome to the news of the day. The COVID-19 pandemic is making it more difficult for young people to start their careers. A study by the Bertelsmann Foundation finds trainees are feeling insecure.
One in five fear they won’t complete their traineeships. Young people especially are struggling due to the pandemic. About two-thirds are anxious about the future and feel they won’t be able to make up the lost time. A study conducted at universities in 25 countries found more than half of students worry they won’t be able to complete this academic year because of COVID. Young people are missing out on an important phase of their life — being able to plan for the future and discover the world. Many are frustrated. We fear this psychological burden increases with each additional day in lockdown.
Medical student Friederike moved to Leipzig two years ago. She thought her life would look a lot different. At the start, I shared an apartment with two other people. But they each moved out. I wondered if I should look for new flatmates or find a place and live alone — and I decided to get my own apartment. Her boyfriend Adrian began his studies in Bavaria last spring. His first semester started in lockdown. Since I started studying, I’ve seen the inside of a lecture hall maybe two or three times. That’s of course not what I imagined. But I hope things will calm down and next year will be different. Both are from Falkensee, not far from Berlin.
They’ve been together since high school. The pandemic has made their long- distance relationship especially challenging. What’s really difficult is that the rules keep changing. It’s hard to know what’s allowed and what’s not. Can I take the train to Leipzig, or not? Should we go or stay where we are? Seeing each other so rarely is an added stressor. Friederike has learned how to be alone. Both her dog and music bring balance to her life. Her parents are musicians, and she’s played an instrument since she was a child. I play the viola in the Leipzig University Orchestra. That feeling of being part of something bigger, that’s what I really like — that it’s not solely about me, but at the same time, it wouldn’t be the same without me.
I find it’s a very special way of making music and you can’t replicate it. It’s been more than a year since the university orchestra played together. In Brandenburg, Karl is back in his room with his laptop. In-person classes were suspended once again for his grade after the Easter vacation. Frustration is palpable. I think it’s annoying. I was excited to be in physics class again. Getting the news at the end of vacation really shocked and upset me. I’m sick and tired of sitting here, staring at my laptop. And yet we’ll just have to try our best to make progress like this — and fill the gaps afterwards. I’m worried about falling behind. I’ll be honest, I haven’t finished a lot of things from our online lessons. I don’t always understand everything fully. Many of my friends say they might repeat the eleventh grade, or end their studies after the eleventh grade with that type of diploma. I feel stuck in almost every regard.
Because in the end, I’m basically confined to my home and village. I can’t keep up with the changing rules. I don’t know what’s allowed and what’s not. Karl is increasingly frustrated. You always get something out of these situations. So maybe I just can’t see it...but no, I think for me it’s just been a big step backwards in every regard. Meanwhile, there’s a sense of excitement among Alena and her fellow trainees. They’ve invited their bosses and instructors to dine at the hotel. Everyone’s taken a COVID-19 test especially for the occasion. We need at least twelve tables. We did this because we wanted to learn a bit more in preparation for the exam and we wanted to get into the swing of how things really work — which we aren’t able to do at vocational school at the moment.
The hotel kitchen is closed to the public during lockdown. So chef trainee Markus is also limited to making beds and breakfast. But today, he can get hands-on experience again. He’s preparing a three-course menu of fish soup, beef fillet and a Bavarian dessert. It’s definitely a welcome change. I don’t want to see any more beds — unless it’s my own! It’s great to cook again. I’ve really missed it! Alena and her colleague Tjark are taking care of the table decorations. It’s so nice to get back into the old daily routine.
We’re noticing we’re under some time pressure — we’ve cut it a bit close. It’s been a long time since we’ve done this. But I’m really enjoying it again. We were all a bit nervous, we wanted everything to be perfect. When are they coming? - 5:30. -Two-and-a-half hours left. The vocational school switched to online lessons months ago. The trainees must help each other out. This is a Villa J.L., from 2018... Do I have to say where it was made? You can say, “This is a 2018, Villa J-L ...” People like me have exams soon, but we haven’t had in-person lessons.
I think I’ve had two. How will I manage exams? Yes, you can learn a lot on your own, but I don’t know whether I’m doing everything properly, if I’m meeting professional standards. So you’re in the corner, I’m up front? - Let’s see. It’s been a year since Alena and her colleagues have actually served a meal — or wine, for that matter. I’ll start with our rosé — this is a nice Merdinger — and it’s on the semi-dry side. May I pour you a glass? For one evening at least, it’s as if the pandemic doesn’t exist. In Leipzig, Friederike starts a new semester the same way she ended the last: alone at home. I would have liked to get back to normal classes, rather than sitting at my desk all day.
I’d rather be going to lectures and taking part in labs. Having a normal daily life, meeting people. That gives you a sense of stability, and the feeling that university is in session. Because all of her lectures are online and available any time, Friederike has to force herself to structure her day. You have to keep pulling yourself together. You have to be tough with yourself. You can’t just sit passively through a course and let everything wash over you. You have to stay focused. So of course, it’s an added stressor. Studying is more mentally draining than before. She does what she can to break her monotonous routine. Sometimes in the evenings, I put on some makeup and pick out clothes that I might wear on a night out — and maybe put them on to see if they still suit me or fit me. You know — the kind of things you do before going out — but without going out.
Right now, “going out” means taking the dog for a walk. But in a stroke of luck, that’s how Friederike met some new acquaintances a few weeks back. Here I can meet people with a clear conscience, I look forward to having some company. It’s nice to go out, knowing I’m going to see people — under conditions where I feel comfortable. Cheers! - It was great with you all today. A reminder of how things used to be. We’ve become good friends during the pandemic. It’s really brought us closer together. And no matter how hopeless the situation might feel, Alena is determined to keep going. I would really like to stay in this industry. This job is a lot of fun. Personally, I still have some hope. People want to dine out, they want to experience something again. I think eventually we’ll get back to how things were. Of course, I feel this has been a setback for me.
It depends what the government says, but basically I’m hoping for the best — that with time, things will start opening up again, but I can’t control that. I hope everything eases as soon as possible. There’s a lot of hope in the vaccines — and being able to move more freely with a clear conscience. I’m hoping we will get our freedom back..
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