Obviously, we all had high hopes for 2020.
It showed promise, carrying the being of a new decade and giving people hope. Even saying “twenty-twenty” seemed to have a lovely ring to it.
I had entered high school as a wide-eyed freshmen, ready to take on the challenges that would hurdle toward me as I prepped for the coming years, and college. After winter break, the year seemed hopefuL, especially after the terrifying California fires the end of 2019 had brought. I was enjoying my classes, made many new friends, and was finding new interests and skills.
But it seemed that the year itself decided to defy these expectations and contradict any hope that we prayed for.
When the news about the beginnings of a new virus rolled around, none of us were prepared for how quickly our everyday lives were going to change. And just how much we were going to lose.
I don’t want to recap everything that’s happened this year because I’m sure that the majority of you are aware of each event that’s led us up to these points. And I’m sure you don’t need someone else repeating the numerous things that we all read or witness in the each news coverage or article.
But I’m not gonna sugarcoat it either. Because-lets be honest- it has been hard, and sad, and just scary. And there are moments where I’ve felt weak and hopeless and wondered “Are we fighting hard enough? Can we come out of this unscathed?”
Before, we didn’t think about whether or not the grocery cart we were pushing around would have germs, or if walking the packed school halls was a potential danger. But now, staying inside and covering our faces is a norm and we must pertain to those rules in order to keep ourselves safe and away from the eager clutches of indisposition.
But enough of all this depressing talk!
Let’s all stay positive and hope for a fresh start in 2021 because we all know we need it.
Speaking of being positive, I want to do a little recap on the good things that I had learned this year, because(believe it or not)this year wasn’t just shrouded with darkness. Because there were little specks of light poking through and making sure all of those storm clouds didn’t take over.
- Nothings permanent.
When Covid-19 found it’s way to America, the numbers increased day by day, and before I knew it, I was attending classes online and writing my final essays from my bedroom. Everything had changed so rapidly and quickly that I almost couldn’t believe it. It was surreal in a way, as if I was in a hyperrealistic dream.
But of course I couldn’t wake up.
Quarantine itself isn’t as bad for me, mainly because I spend a lot of my free time at home anyway. But one of the things that hurt me the most during the first few months of Covid was when it was announced that our library was being torn down for good and being replaced.
Of course, the news was well known in our town, plans for renovation and rebuilding circulated for about a year an a half-maybe more-but people protested against tearing down the old library for a long time. But to no avail.
I’ve visited that library since I was little, and it was such a crucial part of me, the smell of books, complete silence expect for pages turning, the big glass windows bringing in streams of light, and the hidden corners in various portions of the building where you could curl up and be with yourself.
The library was there for me when I raged over Algebra homework.
The library was there when I craved a new novel to read and savor.
The library was there when I seeked inspiration for a new contemporary art piece.
The library was there when I needed comfort after a difficult exam.
The library was always there when I needed it most and I will always cherish the countless hours I had spent there.
But the tidal waves of change that this year brought taught me that I shouldn’t be too comfortable in my way of living now, because it can change so fast that your head will spin. But learning that nothing was permanent also brought me to the realization that those little moments from each portion of our lives is like a little gift. A little spark that is shown through our persona and I will forever be grateful for my past experiences, and the fresh starts I’m gifted.
Of course my heart is heavy over the end of our beloved library, but I’m excited for the birth of a new one, and the new experiences it will bring.
2. Take care of yourself physically and mentally.
Now that I’m a sophomore in high school, I have roughly two years before I’m off to college, and this year and next year are crucial times where I have to keep my grades top notch, and take classes that reflect my abilities. So I’ve decided to take classes that are more advanced than the standards. And it’s safe to say that distance learning has made these classes even harder.
My workload for each of my classes has increased substantially. So most of my week is usually spent attending Zoom meetings, suffering, working, and studying for all of my classes.
Each day the teachers assign more assignments than I can keep track of(thus my planner comes to save the day), and by the end of Monday, I have over 15 assignments to finish by the end of Wednesday. And then I get so caught up with all the work that I have to do that I end ups neglecting basic needs, such as eating, drinking water, and taking breaks.
And this bled into mentality as well; what with all the work and zoom classes I’m under, my mood sours as the day progresses, from mental fatigue to stress. So much so that I craved the weekends and off-days.
So I’m learning to relax a little and take it slowly rather then put too much pressure on myself.
But like I said before, I’m working on it 🙂
So those were the two main lessons I had learned this year, there were many many more things I had learned but these were the things that really effected me.
Anyway, I hope you all had a lovely holiday and lets hope we have a lovely 2021.