During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, mask-wearing became the norm in our community.

However, since the Centers for Disease Control revised its guidelines on mask-wearing in late February and COVID-19 cases in Travis County began dropping rapidly, more and more students have gradually made the decision to stop wearing a mask while on campus.

I haven’t worn a mask at school for the past month now, and apart from a few friendly jabs from my classmates, not much has changed. My main motivation to stop wearing a mask at school is to improve my flow of oxygen, which is limited by the mask, making me incredibly tired during stale class periods.

The other main reason is because wearing a mask gives me really bad acne around my mouth and nose, which is a pain to deal with by itself. Even though I’m not wearing a mask, I still take extra precautions in order to protect myself and the people around me.

I keep a mask on me just in case I need to sneeze or cough in a crowded place, or if someone else is showing symptoms of illness. I’ve also been double vaccinated and have taken the booster shot, and I take a COVID test every time I come in contact with someone infected, just to be safe.

Just because I don’t wear a mask doesn’t mean that I’m against other people wearing them. COVID has shaken up our world in more ways than one, and it’ll take some adjusting before everything settles down entirely. Therefore, if people feel more comfortable wearing a mask in public because it gives them a sense of security, I’m completely fine with that, even if my choice is different from theirs at the end of the day.

I still hold the opinion that if you are a danger to others or at high risk, you should be wearing a mask. According to the CDC, over 81% of COVID-related deaths happen to adults over the age of 65. This means that an estimated 4.9 million seniors have died from COVID-related issues. These are the kind of people who should still be wearing masks for their own safety, as well as anyone who has regular contact with them.

Many countries have been using masks to minimize the spread of illnesses in public spaces long before the COVID-19 outbreak began. In the United States, however, that practice is frowned upon, and people who wear masks in public are labeled as “germaphobes” and “freaks” despite the fact that they are just trying to protect themselves or others from infection.

While I have stopped wearing my mask now that Travis County is considered low risk by the CDC’s new rating system, and I don’t plan on wearing one in the future unless it’s absolutely necessary, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. At the end of the day, everyone has their own preferences and they shouldn’t be pressured to change their ways based on the opinions of others.