Coming of Age in the Age of COVID-19: Adolescents’ Perspectives on the Pandemic’s Impacts on Their Lives

Gabriel Velez, Assistant Professor and Developmental Psychologist in the Department of Educational Policy and Leadership at Marquette University College of Education, presents results from his study of how COVID-19 has affected the lives of students.   This research is aimed to provide an understanding of what some young people are going through and to help schools and others support them. Working through schools, including several within the JSN, the study collected and analyzed over 1,000 young people’s experiences of changes and challenges related to the pandemic. The survey asked about trust in various institutions, sources of information on COVID-19, emotions, impacts of the pandemic on their lives, challenges they and their communities face, and changes they believed will occur.   Dr. Velez studies identity development in adolescents, particularly in relation to citizenship, human rights, and peace, including young people’s understandings and responses to peace education and restorative practices in their schools.

 Gabriel graduated from Regis High School in 2003 and earned a BA in History and Literature from Harvard University and a PhD in Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago. Between time as an undergraduate and his doctoral studies, he taught at a Nativity network school in Harlem and spent two years in Peru serving as a Jesuit Volunteer.

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