By: Maya Hurst
To be completely honest, I don’t fully remember the first time I heard about the Coronavirus. From what I can recall, it was most likely some mention in the news or some post on social media. I remember thinking that the outbreak would never impact my life in any way; sure, news of this far-off virus was interesting and new, but I felt so removed from the situation that I couldn’t believe that life would ever come to what it has now.
I read news about the outbreak in Wuhan with sadness and compassion, and yet in the same regard that I would my history textbook — as if these events took place long ago and were no longer something to be concerned about. I suppose that this is a naive way to view things, but I have yet to process what the world is going through. The idea that this entire situation is happening globally in this day and age is a concept that I still can’t wrap my mind around.
In these few weeks, I have found myself taking the time to appreciate and acknowledge the privilege I possess more often than I may have three months ago. Although I get constant news updates about new discoveries or the latest death count due to COVID-19, my immediate life is not all that different. An incredible juxtaposition is present in my everyday life; I am somehow completely isolated and dissociated from the world around me while also somehow living out a similar experience to millions of people throughout the world. It is as if the world is together for once, fighting against a common enemy. On top of that, I have also found that humor finds a way into hard times. I have found myself letting go of my typical angsty demeanor and laughing with my parents more than I have in years.
Having school online has worked out significantly better than I thought it would. The shortened days give me more time to relax while also providing a productive and worthwhile part of my everyday life. Our days have become more focused on learning rather than memorizing or being tested on anything. I love seeing my classmates and teachers over Zoom, and the classtimes just act as another time in which we can all connect and relate to one another in our respective struggles. My teachers have all been incredibly supportive and empathetic — they completely understand what we are going through, and consistently check up on our mental health.
I feel remarkably connected to the class of 2021 around the world — we are all confused about APs, SATs, and what is going to happen to our college admission process. My class at Greenwich Academy is missing each other more than ever, bonding over boredom, books to read, online classes, and movies to watch. While I do miss going into my job and to school, I do not need these things to survive. I have spent my days in isolation well-fed, healthy, and inside the walls of my home with my loving family. I have a backyard to walk in, and my parents, grandparents, aunt, and four younger siblings to keep me company throughout these lonely weeks.
In my experience, self-isolation involves online school, working out, trying new recipes, hanging out with my family, and FaceTiming friends. While I am concerned about my own future, I worry about the countless teenagers and children who do not have a place to be during this time, or who do not have a steady income or food supply. I feel terrible for those who have lost family members or who have lost their jobs. Yet, despite all of this, my everyday life does not change. I am unsure how to help or what influence I can have. All of this feels completely out of my control, out of anyone’s control. It terrifies me that, by being isolated, I might not actually be fully realizing how horrific this circumstance is.
I feel selfish in saying that I have enjoyed the time I have been given to relax and spend some time with myself. I have gotten to read, to write, to journal, to watch movies and TV, and to create. This has become my new normal — a new normal that everyone is having to deal with at once. In a way, I feel blessed to have experienced such a global phenomenon during my life. Living through this moment in history has forced me to engage in self-reflection, look deeper into the lives of others, and connect to people I never thought I would.
