Searching for the Silver Lining During the Pandemic

My heart aches for those who have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). My heart aches for the students and teachers who wish to get back into school mode. And my heart aches for the doctors who are risking their lives everyday. Although I wish COVID-19 would end, I can not say that quarantine has had a negative impact on my junior year.

APs are only 45 minutes long. More and more colleges are becoming test-optional. No more classroom tests, annoying science labs or waking up at 6:30 a.m. every morning. Who would of thought my junior year would become so easy? The year that is supposed to be known as “hell year” is so far from that, for me.

Since I began quarantine on March 13, aside from logging on to virtual school, I have read over 20 books, learned that I know how to draw, watched a lot of Netflix, started learning Hebrew, gone on runs everyday, cleaned my room and most importantly, began to appreciate life, school, my teachers, family and everything much more than ever before.

I may have lost the ability to see my friends and teachers everyday, say my final goodbyes to my senior friends and “have a good summer” to other friends, go on a once in a lifetime trip to Disney World with my peers, participate in a history competition that I prepared a year’s worth of research for, volunteer or spend the holidays with my extended family, but I am grateful for a break in my crazy, hectic life. I am involved in a lot, normally getting home around 7:00 p.m. each night. I love my extracurriculars, but getting the chance to relax is not something I am complaining about.

As my whole family is healthy, it is easy for me to remain positive. I am sorry for those whose loved ones are sick and cannot have this same outlook that I do. In time, however, we will be back in each other’s company and, for me at least, every hug, kiss and conversation with another will be cherished and not taken for granted.