Quarantine Bettering

March 13th 2020, people around the world have become accustomed to overlooking the things that we are blessed enough to have… the things that we should be grateful for everyday, but aren't. Instead, we are more worried about social media and drama, than the important things happening in the world. The majority of people in the world aren't making deep connections with their families, friends, sports, home or the outdoors anymore. It seems like people throw their trash everywhere else but the trash can! Parents send their kids to school ( to get an education) and expect them to behave, but instead of that kids are being disrespectful towards their teachers and peers over nothing. So it seems not many get to spend time with their families because either their parents are at work or their siblings are addicted to their devices. I believe that these are the key problems of the world, I believe that change starts with us. I now understand that this quarantine is essential for us, A sign from God to the world, that something needs to change. People need to change their mindsets. We need to take this time of self isolation to look into who we are and better ourselves and the world.

It was a few days before March 13th 2020, nobody suspected what we were about to be told. It seemed like a normal school day. …. that wasn't how it played out. We were told by at least 2 of our teachers that we might be going on lock down because of the Corona virus. When everyone heard the news, some were scared about the situation and others thought it was a joke and weren't taking it seriously. I was just thinking I never would have thought that the virus would spread from China to the U. S this quickly. I didn't think much of the situation when it was in China but when the Corona hit the U.S, it was a whole different story. In every class I went to for the week before March 13th, I heard Corona virus. I heard my peers laughing about it and making jokes, (¨Nothing was funny when people are dying from this¨) is what I said to myself in my head. Apart from everyone talking about the virus, school went on as usual. Until, when out of nowhere, the gym teacher comes in with packets and says: ¨Who needs one? ¨ I have no idea what she is talking about. I´m like: ¨Why is the gym teacher handing us packets?¨ I get a packet to see what it's for and it says ¨Health Packet for Phase 1 Remote Learning.¨ Then, it all comes back to me and I realize we are about to go on quarantine. It all happened so fast. I have no idea how long this quarantine was going to last. All I knew at the time was that everyone gets to stay home and can´t leave the house. No school, No sports, No fun!…..Basically.

Another day passes and the world is, officially, on lock down….trapped inside our homes BORED to death, going crazy. That is how I viewed the situation that the whole world was in...initially! I thought that all of this would be over soon, but, then, I realized that this is not my decision to make; It is noBODY's. My view towards the situation, from then to now, has changed. I, now, grasp the message behind this quarantine. I understand that self-care is essential. I need to take more time for myself, listen in silence. This quarantine can make some go crazy, but not me. I realized why this is happening and want others to realize it too. We need to get closer to our families. We need to become more efficient and empathetic. We need to be active, and go outside. We need to change, mentally. We need to care more. We need to make use out of what we were given on this Earth and not take it for granted. We need to change for the better...want to be better people. In this time of quarantine, I am cooking healthier foods, going outside more often, getting more sleep, spending more time with my family and God, meditating, practicing basketball, and, overall, becoming a better and more efficient human. In this time I now have the time to strive & prepare myself for greatness.

I am thankful for this quarantine, because this is something that will be a part of history and inspire people of the present and the future to learn to not to be self-indulgent, lazy, aloof and complacent. We need to learn to love the world, learn to take care of ourselves, learn more about our families, learn about God, and learn how benefit of isolation. Try new things, because this isn't a lock down, it is a message of growth for everyone. It is time to open our minds to change for the better. Okay God we are listening !