Dear Future Self,
Wow, what a crazy year it has been. 8th grade has been one of my favorite years so far, and I cherish everyone who has entered my life. From amazing teachers to loving friends, I never thought this was how I would end my year. This saddening virus, COVID-19, has spread across the world, causing many people to worry and fear for what’s to come. My experience throughout this time has been an interesting one, and I believe documenting this journey is important. At the very start of this virus, I didn’t really understand and absorb what was happening yet. However, as the virus progressed, I saw the damage it had caused. I soon began to worry once school was canceled and when doors began to close. Quarantining for two weeks didn’t sound so bad at first, but once it grew longer and longer, I was itching to go back to school. Going to the grocery store was easy to do before the virus hit our country. Now, many people are struggling to keep a good amount of food in their pantries. I took a trip to the store with my mom one day because I just wanted to get out of the house. When we got into the building, I saw a number of naked shelves. I looked around in astonishment. I was not expecting to see this much of a change in so little time. My family tries not to stock up on groceries, and we only get what we need for that week. It has been hard to find everything, but we’ve been managing so far. It was also sad hearing Universal Studios close for spring break. Our family had to cancel our trip, but we were glad to hear that we could reschedule it to a later date. I was very disappointed to hear that the school play, Alice in Wonderland, was canceled. It was going to be my first real play, and I was excited to perform in it. It was just announced that we will no longer go back to school for the remainder of the year. My heart sank at the thought that I will not be able to say all my goodbyes in person. We now have to continue school online. It has been an interesting change for me, and there are pros and cons to this situation. I like being able to jump ahead on assignments, but I learn better when I have a teacher feeding me the information rather than trying to learn it on my own. However, it has given me a lot of extra time for myself. Although I get bored at times, I try to occupy myself by practicing on my ukulele I bought not too long ago. I have also been getting some physical activity in each day by playing tennis with my mom. I’ve recently been interested in baking as a new hobby, and I’m excited to start learning some new recipes! I have been struggling most with being unable to see my friends. I used to see my friends over the weekend all the time, and now it’s hard adjusting to the new changes. At first, I thought this was not a big deal, and it would pass soon. However, as the weeks went by, I saw it get worse. I’ve heard heartbreaking news and stories about this virus, and I hope a cure is coming soon. Being quarantined, I have learned to be grateful for everything. My view on the world is changing too. I’ve learned to not take my education for granted. You never know when you could no longer have access to it. Everything could completely flip in a matter of days, and cherishing every second is important. Spending time with loved ones is a vital factor at this time because it bonds you closer together. My family has never experienced anything like this. As of now, we are making history, and that is why it is important to document this. My family is taking precautionary measures to keep us safe. However, my dad had to go out of town recently. We are worried about him because of the virus, and we hope he is safe and healthy. I’m very grateful my dad still has his job because many people are losing theirs, but no one that I know of has lost their job. Although my dad has a lower chance of losing his job, he needs to work in labs in order to fix machines that are needed in hospitals. He is an engineer, so hospitals will need his help for a while. He is at a greater risk for contracting the virus, but we are crossing our fingers, hoping he stays safe while working. I personally don’t know anyone who is sick as of now, and hopefully, it stays that way. However, the virus has touched my neighborhood, and there is at least one case somewhere located in my neighborhood. I hope it doesn’t spread much further, and I am also taking precautionary measures to ensure that I am healthy. Overall, this virus has impacted the world tremendously, and I can’t believe how much damage it has already done. I longed to go back to school ever since I heard the announcement of its closing. I just wanted to walk through those halls one last time before heading off to highschool. I wanted to say farewell to my amazing teachers and classmates. There was so much I wanted to do before my middle school journey came to an end, but I know I could always come back and visit when I’m in high school. I will miss everyone and all of the teachers I have grown close too, but I will always cherish the memories that were made in the building where I found my closest friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment