Wow! It’s been a year since this global pandemic happened to all of us. A year since our school board extended spring break. A year since students and teachers had to adapt to online teaching. This global pandemic has posted thousands and millions of milestones. It has affected lots of people in many ways. There have been more cases, deaths, stress, and everything else you can think of.

When I look back at the memories I’ve made with my best friend during the little quarantine we had, it’s nerve wracking. Being “locked up” in the house. Only leaving for essential items. Fear of living under Marshall Law because people don’t know how to follow orders. This whole Covid thing has been crazy! The masks, the hoarding thinking it’s about to be the end of the world, when in reality it’s not. I am here. I turned 16 years old. I am experiencing a pandemic. I haven’t caught the virus nor has anyone in my family or anyone I’m close to.

As I reflect, I never thought any of us would be in this position. I wouldn’t have thought I would have passed to make it to my junior year. This pandemic has taught me a lot. It has taught me I can do anything I set my mind to. It has taught me a worldwide disease won’t set me back. It has taught me I am healthy, and I am here today living history.

Everyone has come far in their own way from families who have lost loved ones, to hospitals accommodating the catastrophe, and from teachers who are learning how to teach to students having self discipline to learn online. It seems every day there is something new in the world, and no matter how big or small, people find a way to deal with it.