A Reflection from our Youth
COVID-19 has resulted in me missing out on sporting events, spending time with friends, and not finishing out my junior year in high school the way I expected, which are all disappointing. It has also allowed me to gain a new appreciation for many aspects of my life. I can’t even express the exuberance I will be feeling the next time I see my best friends in person, or the next time I can watch a Nationals baseball game on TV or in person. I feel as though we can only truly appreciate aspects of our lives when we miss them. Before this quarantine, I would never expect me to think “I really miss school” however, that is exactly how I am feeling currently.
While COVID-19 has brought so many hardships into all of our lives, I have been trying to find the silver lining since I know God brings silver linings into every situation. During this quarantine, pollution levels all over the world have been the lowest in years. People in India can see the Himalayas for the first time in decades! So, while COVID-19 is not a good thing by any standard, it has given our planet some time to breathe, and all of us some time to truly appreciate the planet our God has given us.
Heroes from all over have also stepped up during this time. Healthcare, mail, grocery store, and Amazon delivery workers have all risked and continue to risk their lives in order for us to still be able to shop for groceries, or have our packages containing who knows what still delivered. Athletes and other celebrities from across the world have contributed millions of dollars to the cause to beat COVID-19. Some athletes who have contracted the virus have, through Instagram or Twitter, described how horrible it truly is and how we all should be taking it seriously. While we may all think that the only vulnerable population are the elderly and immunocompromised, these accounts prove we are all vulnerable.
In the end, we will all get through this. Even though all of us are eager for the day we can finally interact with each other, it will eventually come. Once that day comes, I bet the level of appreciation felt by all will be greater for each other, and for the heroes all over the country that allow us to still be moving forward at a time of such hardship.
Cailean G.
