Finding the Bright Side Amid COVID Darkness

Will Lieber, 17

Students fired question after question at their teachers in the times spent waiting for the changes due to quarantines. One of the most memorable responses was from my high school English teacher, Mrs. Altman who said: “Journal your thoughts and experiences, we are living in history being made”. Reflection upon these words reveals their truth: state-wide school shutdown, global pandemic, and mandatory quarantine are words from a dystopian sci-fi movie we never thought would confront our seemingly untouchable American society.

But now Coronavirus is here, and it has shaken Americans in a profound and undeniable manner. Both of my parents have either worked in healthcare or are currently, and I have felt the tension and nervousness caused by the virus. While fortunately no one I know personally has contracted it, the fear of it is ever-present.

These qualms are shared by many; in a matter of weeks, the busiest individuals on the planet suddenly lost all of their obligations due to shutdowns instituted to prevent the spread of the disease. Groups of people who always complained of a lack of time were finally given what they so desperately craved: time in the form of weeks of non-punitive solitary confinement isolating them from all social distractions.

While many students have used this time to relax and take a break from the crushing weight of school, others have chosen to use this newfound time to target projects or skills they have always wanted to accomplish or hone. Additionally, quarantines have provided ample time to reflect on one’s self. Blessings previously taken for granted have had their true values elucidated as friends are longed for, sports are missed, and events are canceled nationwide.

While quarantines have been responsible for the loss of experiences like prom that have upset many seniors in high school and college alike, I cannot help but wonder if time away from the business of everyday life will reveal a remedy for the never-resting nature of the American lifestyle. Whether we asked for it or not, we have been handed more time than we know what to do with, allowing for a reevaluation of priorities, values, and the allocation of our time in normalcy. Perhaps once the quarantine period is over, we will emerge more in-tune with ourselves and aware of the good in those around us.