Class of 2023, the class that never got an ordinary high school year. March 12, 2020 was my last normal school day. I jumped with excitement once my mom received the school closure phone call. Spring break came early that year, but I had no idea how much of an impact the pandemic would have on my life. A month into the break wasn't so bad, but as the COVID-19 cases increased, we all had to abide by a number of restrictions. No parties, no trips, or family reunions. Suddenly we were all aliens on a planet that didn't belong to us.
With the pandemic going on I wasn't able to properly wrap up my freshman year. It was my first year of high school and it was already off to a bad start. I'm the type of student that is so determined and driven to do well in school. Doing the bare minimum just doesn't cut it for me. The first thing I would do as soon as I got home from school was homework, school work that I didn't finish during class, and I would even start looking into the lessons and work for the next day. My entire life was focused on school. School provided structure and routine to my life. Following the routine of getting up early, going to classes, and coming home at a certain time provides a sense of normalcy. COVID-19 took that away from me.
After the summer ended, we were unsure of how the new school year would work with some of us taking classes online and some in person. All of us were terrified to return to school. Social distancing techniques made us feel uncomfortable and made us think that everyone in our vicinity was a danger. Left and right there were big bright posters, signs, and stickers on the floors reminding us to stay 6 feet apart. Masks were required to wear, just like a seatbelt. They partly covered our faces, which limited our ability to express our emotions.
I stayed home the first semester of school and I just couldn't get myself to feel motivated. I didn't have the support I needed from teachers. For most of us school isn't just about academics, it's also about social interactions.
I was experiencing challenges one after another in 2020. My father spent a full week in the hospital a few months after the initial COVID wave. Life as I knew it came crashing down. I took care of my siblings, ran the household, and managed school while my mom spent the majority of the day with my dad when he was in the intensive care unit. I desperately wanted to give up. Why was this happening to me? I had so many questions and felt so lost. Coronavirus has battered the world, with millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of cases. It has left survivors with long-COVID-19 symptoms, and it has overwhelmed health care systems and caused burnout among health workers. Covid has left a permanent mark on the way we live our lives, but at the same time, it has taught us a lot, especially to be with those we love. The world is a different place from what it was two years ago, and we are still learning to live with all the changes the pandemic has brought.
I experienced anxiety and depression. I felt so worn out and absolutely unmotivated during Covid, especially for school. Through this struggle, I’ve come to understand just how much I’m capable of. I learned and gained many new academic skills and coping strategies during the pandemic. I am now stronger as a result, and I can confidently claim that I will be able to overcome any challenges that come my way. From something that seemed to have pulled right out of Pandora’s box to leaving such a pleasant impression. Although the epidemic affected everyone, I firmly believe that each person’s narrative is distinct and displays them or herself as an individual.
Yes, it may be outdated to write about Covid-19, but I genuinely believe that everyone has a unique story that reveals who they are as a person. I decided to write about this topic because it continues to have a significant influence on my life now. I've grown up, discovered new things about myself, and gained new strengths.