Instead of the endless comments from parents telling their children to ‘go outside and hang out with your friends more,’ COVID-19 has restricted everyone to their homes.  The notion of being outdoors or in public for long periods seems foreign. However, with change comes proper adjustments in order to make the best out of an unfortunate situation

As the holidays near and the risk of catching the virus lingering, plans to fly out of state or country feel unsafe, or even just uncomfortable for people. 

However, Road trips provide a safe and socially distant way of traveling for those who want to get out of the house, but not on an airplane. 

“I would definitely recommend getting out of Houston,” said sophomore Divya Khatri, who took a road trip to Fredericksburg, Texas during Thanksgiving break, “It was really nice and relaxing, since we hadn’t really gone out at all because of quarantine, and it was nice to get away from Houston and to a more unfamiliar area. Even though it felt unusual leaving my house, I think it added to the thrill.”

During this time where going out is almost unimaginable, and everyone seems to be stuck in their rooms, driving to a new setting might decrease stress levels, and make isolation in the days to come more bearable.

“There’s a lot of stress among students, especially with midterms coming up,” said Khatri, “I think it’s important to reduce stress in any way we can, and getting out is a great approach; even if you aren’t leaving town, you can go outside. Personally, I enjoy long bike rides to get my mind off of things.”