Spring is finally here at Fieldston, and that means one thing is on everyone’s minds. No, it’s not finals, or SATs or even that school is soon coming to an end. It’s pollen allergies. Itchy eyes, runny noses, and a never-ending feeling that you are quite literally about to sneeze. Fieldston students know these symptoms all too well.
Fieldston students had a lot to say, regarding their allergies and how they affect their academic experience. “Somedays, coming to school with allergies feels unbearable,” mentioned Nate Schmelkin (Form IV). “I struggle to see the board with my itchy eyes, which is even worse when I wear contacts. I get up for tissues all the time during class. My teachers continue their lessons regardless, and I feel like I fall behind on notes.” Alkis Karmpaliotis (Form IV) raised similar concerns. “I recently had a chemistry test, during which I sneezed about five different times, requiring me to leave my seat to get a tissue. Little things like that can be a huge distraction to students trying to work.”
Schmelkin and Karmpaliotis mentioned that allergies this year felt worse than in years past — and they might be right. Recent allergy seasons have started earlier and begun to last longer. Research from Climate Central supports this idea, finding that plants begin growing fifteen days earlier on average compared to 1970. Earlier plant blooms lead to earlier allergies.
Climate Central also suggested a new culprit may be to blame for worse allergy seasons: mold. Mold spores (bundles of fungi) are found both on surfaces and in the air. Airborne mold particles interact with the immune system similarly to pollen, exacerbating symptoms. Mold allergies have not been studied as heavily as pollen allergies, but experts believe climate change may be to blame for their newfound prevalence. Warmer and more humid conditions in more parts of the world, for greater portions of the year, lead to a greater presence of mold.
Most students say they tend to experience the worst allergy symptoms on the warmest, sunniest and nicest days. We’ve already had multiple seventy and eighty-degree days at Fieldston, best days for many but worst for allergy sufferers. While we may currently be experiencing a cooler spell, temperatures will rise again as the spring wears on, so we are, by no means, out of the woods yet.
Accordingly, Fieldston students are concerned about the issue and believe Fieldston can help. Karmpaliotis (Form IV) urged teachers to be mindful of students’ allergies and try to have tissue boxes available. Schmelkin (Form IV) also encouraged teachers to rethink outdoor classrooms. “I mean there is no doubt that, on a beautiful day, going to spaces outside, like those by the Tate Library can be a wonderful change of pace. But for me, when plant buds and bundles of pollen are being blown into my face, it’s not a pleasant experience.” He also noted that opening windows, a remnant of the COVID era, can expose students to more pollen and worsen their symptoms.
Schmelkin (Form IV) shared a recent experience of visiting the nurse in need of allergy medicine after a day of suffering from his symptoms. To his dismay, no such medicine was available. With the exception of Benadryl, allergy medicine is not provided at the nurse’s office. Correcting this is an important first step in building a strong support system for allergy sufferers.
Students have also suggested the provision of boxes of Claritin and other medicine in locations where free COVID tests are offered currently. Schmelkin (Form IV) is one such advocate. “I think having free COVID tests was a great way to keep our community safe, but as COVID cases die during the warmer months, it would be great to pivot and provide allergy relief. The COVID tests help keep our community healthy, but having allergy medicine available would help keep us at our best while we’re learning.”
Fieldston’s community needs more support during this allergy season and in ones to come. Just take one look at your friends or classmates, many of whom are probably suffering. Regardless of their sniffles, allergies are affecting students’ ability to learn. Our experience with COVID-19 ought to have reminded us that health comes first and that health issues, however minor they may seem, all affect our ability to learn.
