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Artwork by Ji Soo Lee
Nostalgic for NormalcyBY VERONICA YANG | WRITER
March 2020 was, without a doubt, a significant month for everyone. Now that we’ve surpassed an entire year of quarantine, we’ve all had that feeling of nostalgia for things we never thought we’d have to miss. Every little thing we took for granted: whispering in the classroom, waving to people in the hallways, even writing on the blackboard. No matter how small, there will always be those moments from physical classes that would put a smile on our faces.
Walking into the gates of Woodrose was something that felt so mundane, just a simple route we had to take every day. If we were told before the lockdown that this would be something worth reminiscing, it would sound unbelievable. You’ve got to admit though, don’t you wish you could greet the guards “Good morning!” again? Do you remember how it felt when you realized that they knew your name, that they recognized you? Do you ever think back to how they would hold their umbrellas out towards us on rainy days? Even if we weren’t feeling all too happy about going to school, these small acts of kindness were a sincere and wholesome start to the day.
As the school day would continue, we’d often find ourselves wandering aimlessly in the hallways during our breaks. Navigating through the school was only something to pass to the time, something most of us did on autopilot. Despite being away from Woodrose for so long, I’m sure we still know the layout like the back of our hands. As we walked through the halls, it was always a pleasure to see teachers from years prior. Waving “hello” and even exchanging words would bring back memories from when you used to sit in their classrooms. That small bit of pride knowing that they remember you would only spark brighter the longer you’ve known them. Finally, you part ways with a wave of “goodbye”, maybe heading back to your current classroom as the bell rings.
Artwork by Ji Soo Lee
Surely, we can’t forget the things we miss that occurred in our own classrooms. The desk-filled rooms hold many of our precious memories. That very room is where you end up spending the majority of your year, with people you never expected to get along so well with. The bond you have with your classmates just grows stronger for every term, and before you know it you have a million memories with them. Coming to school early and talking with the lights off, passing notes and tiny drawings, even forming study groups as Long Tests or Term Exams creep closer. Though it’s possible that you’ve known these people for years, there is still so much you can learn about them in the 9 months you’re together in the same room.
Those 9 months together can end up going by in a blur, but class parties will always leave a clear-cut memory. Your advisers discuss the details with your class and suddenly everyone is excited about their classmates’ most popular dishes. Everybody helps pitch in and do their part, whether it be making the decorations or sending out invitations. The chalk is usually all gone the day before the party, as the artists of the class fill up the blackboard with calligraphy and doodles. Someone connects their playlist to the speaker, and if it’s Christmastime, you already know you’re going to be hearing carols all day long. The party itself is filled with chatter and good food, so much so that you start seeing people from other classes start to filter in. The day eventually ends with everyone tidying up and bringing home leftovers. As tiring as it may be, class parties still leave us with the cutest photos and videos for us to commemorate the day.
Ultimately, this quarantine was in no way the best-case scenario, but without it, many of us wouldn’t have learned to appreciate these small moments from the past. Recalling these memories gives us a chance to cherish the little things, and to continue to value these when we’re able to experience them once again. Even if they only used to be minor occurrences in our daily lives, we’re all lucky to now have things to look back on and to look forward to.
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