My perspective...

COVID-19

Covid is the most terrifying thing I've witnessed in my lifetime. The past year has been really dark for pretty much everyone I know and love. This virus, coupled with the lack of political stability and leadership throughout 2020, showed me that our world is much more fragile than I thought growing up. Our collective grief, fear, and confusion is exhausting and dejecting. 

 

I lived through the pandemic primarily with my grandparents. We spent every day scared for our lives, trying to simply survive. We never left the house. For almost an entire year, we remained inside to protect ourselves and each other. The only places we felt comfortable going were the local park and to pick up groceries (we never went inside any buildings or socialized with any people). 

 

This strict isolation was extremely difficult, but it was also our only option. Our mindset from the beginning has been to avoid getting covid at all costs. The fact that nobody knows if they'll get hit hard with this virus is what makes it really scary. My grandparents were definitely at a higher risk, but there was no saying for sure whether me or my brother would be okay if we contracted it, either. 

​

The pandemic taught me a ton about life and people in this world. As far as life, I learned that it is too short. We often get stuck going through the motions, failing to stop and smell the roses or take in the fresh air. Covid was a huge wake up call; it showed me how easy it is to take life for granted. Every second that I'm alive and breathing is the ultimate blessing. The pandemic has given me the chance to really slow down and enjoy the little things. When I go outside, I actually notice the nature around me. It almost feels like there's too much to take in, probably because I never really took the time to notice it before. I've learned to truly appreciate every beautiful and happy moment in life, and I hope that I don't forget this lesson as life moves on to a new normal. 

​

For people, I've learned that we are easily divided. Our values are very different, even between loved ones. Some people in this pandemic valued life and health, while others valued quality time and living in the present. While I want to truly believe that we were all grounded in a common will of loving each other, it's hard to really see it that way. Too many lives were lost. Too many people were ignorant and selfish. The divisions that already existed in our country were multiplied, amplified, and exigent. Moving forward, I will always wonder which side of history people were on. I will wonder if this pandemic created a divide so sharp that it prevent us from ever coming together again. I will wonder if this experience will live on in the history books, guiding our children and our children's children to avoid the same mistakes that were made by us. 

​

While I've been disappointed in many people during this time, I also want to acknowledge how many people stepped up and truly kept the light alive in our world. Recently, my nana had to go to the hospital for the first time since covid hit. She was scared, but she masked up and got through it. When she got home, she called me in tears, describing the scene she witnessed. There were no receptionists working, the ER was full of sick people. Most of them had covid. One person was throwing up, another little boy was crying because his head hurt so badly. The hospital was severely understaffed. The doctors and nurses were exhausted.

 

And still, they were there. They showed up to work for another day, having to witness and treat hundreds of infected patients. The strength, compassion, and resilience that they have shown truly makes them heroic. The same goes for all people that have continued to show up in the face of this constant pain and grief: the people working in grocery stores, restaurants, healthcare, and more. All of these people kept going, even in the darkest of times, just to keep the world running in some capacity. They are truly heroes. So are all of the people who were diligent, trusted the science, and did their best to keep everyone safe. Sometimes it's a lot more difficult to take the hard road, but in the long run, it makes things better. To everyone that stayed home, followed guidelines, and did their best, I thank you. ​

​

In the present, I am a week away from being fully vaccinated. I was able to safely visit my mom and have a change of scenery (which greatly benefitted my mental health.) Most of my family members are about to be fully vaccinated. The hope that allowed me to keep going is growing stronger. I feel excited to wake up in the morning. The grief and fear I once felt are beginning to subside, although I'm not sure if they'll ever fully go away. I still have many questions. It may take years to truly understand what happened and why it went so wrong. At the end of the day, each day, I am eternally grateful that my loved ones have remained healthy and alive throughout this wicked year. I am thankful that I am standing here today, able to write about what I went through. I will never take my life for granted, and I will thank God for every second I have here on Earth. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the people impacted by this pandemic, especially those who lost loved ones.

​

FUTURE

I don't really enjoy talking about the future. It scares me if I think too hard about it. I don't know where I'll be or what I'll end up doing. My ultimate hope is that I'll be happy, healthy, safe, and surrounded by my loved ones. I plan to get my MSW at the School of Social Work at UM. I want to use my experiences, knowledge, and passion to advocate for children and youth in need. My dream is to make a positive impact on people, no matter how big or small. I also hope that I'm able to fully support myself at all times. I want to travel, meet new people, and start a family.

 

My dreams are probably the same as most others, I just want to have a happy and full life. I am not concerned with being rich or famous, although those things sounded nice to me growing up. I have learned that the most important thing in life is happiness, which is usually achieved through love. Whether that means loving yourself, or loving others, it's the reason we all live. Laughter, too. You gotta be able to have a good laugh now and then.

 

I hope that I'll keep creating and using my voice to spread kindness, positivity, and hope. I'm excited for the future because I know that no matter what it holds, I have the strength, determination, and love for life that will get me through whatever obstacles I may face. There are so many good times ahead, and I have a feeling that the best is yet to come.

​