By Ally Bolender
alb304@txstate.edu
THE WOODLANDS — As Montgomery County, Texas enforces quarantine, closure of non-essential businesses and a curfew, Texas students are required to do schooling at home, isolate from friends and spend more time with their family.
Gracie Bolender (18), Jackson Bolender (14) and Carson Bolender (9) are siblings from The Woodlands, TX.
Gracie Bolender (18) is a senior in high school and has missed out on her senior prom, trip and graduation. The graduation has been postponed tentatively until July 12 and may be livestreamed for family members.
However, Gracie has stayed positive by finding new quarantine-friendly hobbies and creating zoom calls so that her and her friends can socialize.
Jackson Bolender (14) is an eighth grader who had to give up his track and lacrosse season due to the Coronavirus. However, he appears unfazed by the circumstance, “It’s okay because I can play Xbox all day and [dad] can’t get mad at me,” said Jackson Bolender.
Carson Bolender (9) is in third grade. He has his own iPad to complete his assignments on for the rest of the school year. But with parents at work and siblings busy with their own schooling, Carson finds himself falling behind on assignments and in need of help from mom and dad to set up Zoom lectures.
These are snippets of the Bolender kids in quarantine– sometimes struggling, but nevertheless, persevering.
Gracie Bolender, a senior high school student, purchased her prom dress with money she saved from babysitting. 
Gracie’s senior prom has been postponed indefinitely due to Coronavirus. 
Jackson Bolender, a 14-year-old middle school student, hangs up his lacrosse stick for the season. 
Dad is here to help: Mike Bolender (54) takes a break from working at home to help Carson Bolender (9) with a homework question on his iPad. 
Mike Bolender lectures Jackson Bolender on schoolwork, “It’s not about how fast you can go find the answer and go to the next question … If you do that, you’re not going to actually learn,” said Mike Bolender. 
Carson Bolender is often left to figure out his third grade assignments on his own as both of his parents work. 
The Bolender’s attended Easter Sunday service from their living room. Carson Bolender and his mom Shelly Bolender (50) say a prayer during the service. 
Easter is for egg hunts, candy and catching up on homework. Carson Bolender had to finish late assignments on Easter. 
Gracie Bolender wears her graduation gown around the house, “I’m going to get use out of it one way or another,” said Gracie. Graduation has been postponed tentatively until July 12 and may be livestreamed for family. 
Mike Bolender watches Jackson Bolender play video games during quarantine, “I still think he spends way too much time on that,” said Mike. 
The new classroom: Carson Bolender patiently raises his hand to speak in his Zoom class. 
Although different from regular classes, Zoom classes are still very involved and social. The phrase “I like turtles” was repeated over 50 times in the chat by the students.
