There are two types of people right now during this Coronavirus quarantine: those who are terrified of the situation and could do with a distraction and those who are just bored. Regardless of whether you are bored or just looking for a fun distraction from the hectic climate of 2020, these intriguing do-it-yourself activities are the perfect way to take your mind off of things. In this difficult time, these crafts can help with stress relief and bring a smile to someone’s face. With TikTok as my guide, I have separated these activities into two categories based on what you are in the mood to do: cooking and crafting. 

TikTok is a popular, relatively new app in which many teenagers post not only funny, relatable content, but also cooking recipes. Tanisha Khan ’22 decided to make soufflé pancakes with her free time. “I think that I chose to make the soufflé pancakes of all things, not only because they’re pretty simple to make, but because they have a fun and bouncy texture (to take away from the contrastingly dull life that we’re all living right now),” Khan said.  Her fellow classmate Justin Zheduo Lang ’22 decided to make Oreo brownies. “I don’t know why it works, but it does, and it tastes good, so I don’t ask questions,” Lang said. In its entirety, cooking is a great way for you to use your time, and TikTok creators, such as Chef Shereen (@cookingwithshereen) and Eitan Bernath (@eitan), have curated an archive of simple recipes that you can easily recreate yourself at home.

Additionally, many teenagers have been trying out different crafts to entertain themselves. One trend, painting old mirrors, has taken over the internet. Arifa Tasmiya ’22 decided to try this out one day. “I was inspired by the artistic TikToks that I watched when I was bored. Some people painted their mirrors with cute designs, and I realized that painting would be an interesting way to develop my artistic skills and to entertain myself,” Tasmiya said. Similarly, Saamiya Ahmed ’22 found that making her own masks was an entertaining way to be proactive and keep safe during this time. She found that “it was cool to be able to put our own little spin on staying safe during the coronavirus.” Her mother found old cloth around the house, and they cut and sewed the fabric into a mask. Sophia Mah ’22 has done the same thing during this quarantine. She adds that “you can make quarantine a lot more fun by wearing a funky mask.” 

Altogether, Bronx Science teenagers have found many interesting ways to keep busy during this quarantine. While some may be vehemently watching Netflix and others maybe tackling a pile of homework, others have been trying out different recipes and crafts to pass the time.  

“I was inspired by the artistic TikToks that I watched when I was bored. Some people painted their mirrors with cute designs, and I realized that painting would be an interesting way to develop my artistic skills and to entertain myself,” Arifa Tasmiya ’22 said.