My church has started a front porch pantry, where we donate food and goods to be washed and then put our for families in need to take. It has helped a lot of people in the community who may have lost their jobs or have children home to feed. This should be a given, but I have tried to social distance the best I can to contain the spread of COVID-19 for myself and others.
As we have already seen from this pandemic, there is a very high death rate and the economy has taken record setting hits. Many people will take time to get back on their feet and things like sporting events and festivals that normally bring people together and cheer people up will not be available for some time. Thousands of people have lost family members and thousands of people have lost their jobs which many need to support families.
This coronavirus pandemic has put everyone on edge as they try to go about life in a way that is very new and scary but once things start to go back to normal, life will be very different. After this pandemic, I, along with many others I assume, will be much more cautious about hygiene and the spread of germs. This might include keeping wipes/ hand sanitizer in the car, washing hands more regularly, not sharing food or drinks, etc. I have never been much of a germaphobe, but that might change now.
I am unsure about exactly what will happen in the future but I do know that it will be different. School will most likely be formatted somewhat differently to avoid the spread, which will affect my daily life. My parents have been talking about what they are going to do going forward in terms of jobs and how we are going to live considering my dad’s job will probably not re-open. It is hard to imagine things ever being the same again.
Other than the setbacks that everyone is facing, such as being kept home from school or work, life has been very different for me. My parents are home, which is a big difference given that they both worked full time jobs before the pandemic. My life has been centered around trying to get as much done as I can while also staying safe. Living on a farm, being home has meant being isolated from most people, which can be depressing in itself.
One of my biggest fears at the moment is about what life is going to be like moving forward. My dad works at a restaurant which will most likely not re-open, and while he can get another job, it feels like the world is falling apart some. With everyone unsure of the future, even leaders, I feel hopeless that anything will return to normal. Another anxiety of mine is about school and if I will be prepared for next year since the way we learn has changed so much and will most likely continue to change.
There are many things such as the olympics and elections that are large scale events and have been affected by the coronavirus. It will take a lot for things to go back to normal for everyone from jobs to public gatherings and so much more. The government needs to evaluate how ready they are for another life changing event like this and make changing accordingly. As for society as a whole, hopefully we have learned some things about what is important and that we need to appreciate the role of every person in keeping our lives going.
In the beginning, right after school got let out, I was consuming much more news than I am now because things were constantly changing. Now, there is a fragile balance that has settled over society and the news is more repetitive than anything. My parents continue to put the news on at night so I listen to that. News in a time like this can be hopeful or depressing, but I haven’t been watching enough to feel the effects of either side. This is most likely good for my health since it helps me focus on other things.
I have been meaning to read more since school got out, but it is hard to find time in between school and my other responsibilities. Another thing I want to do during this time is try new food. It seems weird but I have been buying ingredients from the grocery store and cooking and/or baking new foods to keep up my spirits since it's easy to fall into boring patterns at home.
I believe that the government has handled COVID-19 very poorly compared to other countries. The president denied that it was a problem until it was too late to get a handle on the situation and has been making bad decisions since, along with other government figures. He and the vice president have set a bad example by providing incorrect information to the public and not wearing masks to crowded places such as factory tours. As for the local governments, their rush to reopen the states could have drastic repercussions such as a spike in COVID cases and deaths. I understand their need to improve the economy, but at some point you have to weigh what is more important, people or money.
The pandemic has made me realize a lot of things about myself and what I am grateful for. Primarily, I have realized how grateful I am for human contact, specifically with my friends since the only way I can see them is online now. Other things are conveniences such as grocery shopping which are so hard and dangerous to do now. School is admittedly not my favorite place, but having to learn from home and figure things out myself is so much harder than being able to ask questions in school and see my teachers everyday. Lastly, I am grateful for phones, which are now the only way I can communicate with people outside of my family, including my best friend.
My days during this pandemic have been fairly consistent, although I don’t fashion it that way. I wake up around nine and get ready for the day, and then I get back in bed and start working. My school work takes up most of the day, maybe until around four, but I try and get as much done as I can during the day. Getting exercise has been hard because of school, but I try and at least walk outside for an hour everyday. These things are getting easier with time, and as much as I hate to say it, are becoming the new normal.
My mom has struggled a lot during this time because of her job. She works for a medical journal as an editor and they have had an influx of articles as a result of the coronavirus which is very stressful for her. My best friend has also had a rough time being isolated because she is a very social person who has a history of anxiety and depression. I am sad that I can’t be with her at this time when she needs me the most.
I have actually started to exercise more during this pandemic since I am home during the day much more than before. Usually, I will go for a walk or a bike ride a couple hours a day to get in my exercise. It is something to look forward to in this time and has helped my mental health to know that I am being productive.