June 8, 2020
So much has happened over these months in quarantine. There have been so many ups and downs, and there has been so much uncertainty in the world. As the school year comes to an end, the United States has less sickness and more chaos. We have not seen chaos like this since the 1960’s. When I look back over this crazy time, I realize just how mind-blowing all of this has been. However, throughout this time, everything had an odd sense of normalcy to it. Even in the beginning, when all the stores and restaurants had signs on them saying “Closed due to COVID-19”, it almost felt normal. It was almost as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Now, as I am writing this, it has been 89 days since March 11, 2020. 89 days since one of the key dates in this pandemic. 89 days since stepping foot in Cal Young. 89 days since seeing my teachers and classmates. Over 89 days since eating inside of a restaurant. 89 days since being able to go places without worrying about risks. 89 days since normalcy, or something close to it. 89 days of quarantine.
This pandemic has had so many negatives come out of it. However, there have also been so many positives. I have always been very grateful for school, especially for the teachers and other faculty that work so hard to give us an education. However, I have become even more grateful for school during this time. I have seen how hard all of the teachers and staff have worked during this time, and they have done an incredible job creating a new environment for us to learn in. I am forever grateful for them. This pandemic has also made many people more grateful for the simple things in life. Such as, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, medicine, etc. I feel like we never see the significance of something until we almost do not have it. Sometimes, we have to lose something just to realize how much we appreciate it. This also applies when talking about school, friends, family, restaurants, stores, etc. In some ways, this pandemic has provided us with many positives. Some of which, we may not have realized without COVID-19.
Now that the school year is winding down, I am realizing that I am ending my time at Cal Young, and that I will be a freshman at the end of this week. It still has not fully sunk-in. I never thought my 8th grade year would end like this. However, I am excited to see what next year will bring, and I am forever grateful for all of the amazing staff at Cal Young who made this strange year, and the other years, possible. I am excited, and nervous, to be starting high school. But, I am excited to see what the future holds, and to see what will happen next.