Light in This Pandemic

If anyone would have told us how COVID-19 would affect our reality, most would probably have laughed and waved it off as a joke. When whispers about a virus were making their way around, no one could have guessed how grave the impact on the world would be. At the time, our whole class was making plans for our soon to come France Trip – the favorite of all our school’s alumni. How could we have expected millions to die, millions to suffer, millions to be isolated? There was no way to predict the impact this pandemic would make, but we’ve found light in darkness.

Looking at the bright side of things, this pandemic has given us the opportunity to ameliorate our understanding for our teachers, peers, colleagues, and even families. People act differently everywhere: online, in-person, at home, or in front of their superiors; each show someone’s separate sides. During online learning, I saw teachers cooing to their infants, students running after pets and parents shouting at my friends to do their chores – forming a deeper understanding with these people. It makes me think of how much we have missed: our friends’ private lives, our teachers’ struggles, our family’s tensions; opening my eyes to a whole new view we should all embrace. Many things go on in the lives and minds of others that we do not realize – this epidemic has given us the chance to enhance our understanding for those around us, cultivating empathy.

Our situation has come with its challenges, but it has also given us many possibilities, such as becoming more involved with our communities, meeting new people, and daring us to try new things. We have discovered alternate perspectives of those around us, strengthening our understanding for each other as well. We have grasped the opportunities presenting themselves to us until we find a way to get back to normal. Yusra Mardini, Olympic Swimmer on the Refugee Team once said: “I am strong enough to make others believe in their dreams again,” – like we must be too: strong for ourselves and strong for those around us.

We've made it this far, we're not giving up now