Covid-19; the virus is ravaging the Earth right now. It has infected millions in over a year. One month ago was March 13, the first anniversary of the pandemic. It was a distressing time for many people. It symbolized the end of in-person events and the last day we could see our friends. It will forever be a significant day in the history of the US.
SARS-CoV-2, aka Covid-19.
On March 1, the news began to cover information on the flu-like novelty coronavirus. My school took measures to help keep everyone safe. We stayed six feet apart from each other. Some teachers touched on the fact that if cases continued rising at an alarming rate, we might have to stay home. They were unsure as to whether distance (online) learning would occur and, if so, how it would work. But then we began to find out. March 13, 2020: When I first heard that schools would close for two weeks due to rising cases, my mind went crazy with thoughts. Would we learn at home, or will school end abruptly? How will we see each other? When will we return? Will we ever return? But all of these questions were second to the most prominent one I had on my mind: Why are people so happy that school would close?
I had just come out of my history class, only to find people celebrating like it was the last day of the year. After school, hundreds of students ran ecstatically home, finally pleased they wouldn’t have to go to school for the rest of the year. I heard them saying, “No more school!” “We’re going home!” I saw some of my friends chanting as well, especially those in my grade level. Heck, I couldn’t believe there was so much ignorance that day. We didn’t know what was to come.
A promising year of high school turned out to be the exact opposite.
Our school, Hami High, closed due to to Covid.
That day, I lost friends, listened to ignorant cheering, and was now staying home all day. On March 14, a new era began in US history: a virtual epoch of working and learning from home. I was pleased with how the district decided to continue with the school year via distance learning. I had already taken an online health course at Santa Monica College, so learning from home wasn’t too big of a challenge. For the majority of students, however, it was a nightmare. I could empathize as they struggled to learn without much support.
One year later, we are all still stuck at home. However, I have found that life at home has not been difficult for me. Setting a routine and finding activities that I can do at home have helped me to continue during home. However, there are aspects of Covid-19 that are not so appealing. With this in mind, is life at home worthy or not? My response is that it is worthwhile because there are ways to make the best of it. If any obstacle tries to stop you, you won’t give up because every problem has a solution.
Finding a hobby such as creative writing, art, or knitting is an incredible way to destress and spend some time with yourself. It can help pass the time when you’re bored and be a chance to learn something new. While we were still at school, I had already written multiple short stories. Now that we’re at home, creative writing is an essential aspect of my life. The hobby allows me to escape my troubles and stress related to school and the outside world. It has helped to calm me down and write something creative that can one day be popular. It takes my mind off of negative aspects and eventually motivates me to continue with my work.
Writing a book is a great way to be creative!
Volunteering is also a way to help you get through the pandemic. It is a great way to get involved in your community and looks great on college applications and resumes. Aside from that, it can feel great to work with people and help the people in your community who could use a few more resources. Before I entered high school, I became a volunteer for the Los Angeles Public Library at the Robertson Branch. I help to organize events and community projects that provide resources to everyone in my community. As of today, most branches, including Robertson, have switched to virtual events. Our goal is still the same: help our community in any way. They are currently accepting new virtual volunteers, so this can be a chance to get involved in your community.
However, not everything throughout this time is good. Surely not! There have been multiple aspects of the pandemic that are complete obstacles. The biggest issue of all is maintaining good health. Many students struggle to find help or reach out to someone to talk about their mental health. Also, people have trouble preserving good physical health. For us students, we have been in online learning for over a year. Getting help from teachers and counselors is very difficult. Families can not take any unnecessary trips to help flatten the curve. It is saddening to them if they wished to visit far-away relatives. In my case, I’ve struggled with internet connections and sustaining high grades in my classes.
For many, no Wi-Fi is a very annoying problem.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout quarantine, it’s that everything has a solution, no matter how tough it is. We must persevere in life so that we can achieve our goals. If you feel sad or frustrated, let it out. Speak with your family. They will give you the best advice possible. Talk with your friends and relatives over the phone or video chat. Let them know they’re not alone. Find a way to exercise at home. If the weather allows it, go outside for a walk or a jog through the neighborhood. Spend time away from electronic devices to help your eyes and your brain. Keep up with your schoolwork. Ask your friends, siblings, or teachers when you have a question. Go to office hours or tutoring programs when you need that little boost. If you need to get a laptop or an internet connection, ask your school.
To sum up, there are many pros and cons to being at home all day. As calm as quarantine may seem, the world is still in a tremendous crisis. While staying at home does have its downsides, it could be your opportunity to learn something new. But the best pro is that it will be over. By working together, we will beat the pandemic. Don’t lose hope.
Author’s Note: This is my opinion, which can differ from you. I acknowledge my life in quarantine can be different from yours. That’s okay, I am with you. I will accept constructive criticism and feedback. If you disagree with the article, please kindly comment your opinions. Thank you, and hope you enjoyed the article!
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