The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on Students: Pamela Cantor, M.D., in The New York Times
Speaking with reporter Lisa Miller, Dr. Cantor discusses how students are learning to live again after pandemic disruptions.
March 14, 2025
Pamela Cantor, M.D., was interviewed by reporter Lisa Miller for "The Pandemic Ruined High School for Them. They’re Learning to Live Again," published in The New York Times on March 14, 2025. The piece explores the lasting social and emotional effects of pandemic-era school closures on the class of 2021, highlighting how young adults are navigating connection, independence, and identity in its aftermath.
Dr. Cantor shared insights on how the era of remote learning gave teenagers an unusual level of control over their self-presentation—allowing them to “rehearse” interactions behind screens. She likened the experience to actors preparing for a play alone, only to be thrust onto a stage without ever having practiced in front of a live audience. Once in-person life resumed, the sudden loss of that buffer intensified social anxiety and the fear of making mistakes.
“Cantor compared the class of 2021 to a company of actors rehearsing for a play alone and online — and then, once the lockdown was lifted, being asked to perform it onstage before a live audience.”
The Pandemic Ruined High School for Them. They’re Learning to Live Again. “The Great Read” in The New York Times, March 14, 2025
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Watch Pamela Cantor, M.D. answer questions from parents in this video series from The Human Potential L.A.B. and Learning Heroes, part of their Go Beyond Grades campaign.
Spring 2025