March 13, 2020 is the life-changing date where almost all the schools in the world shut down in lieu of an outbreak that spread throughout the globe. Nearly one year ago is where everything unraveled and took an unexpected turn. The global pandemic became a serious issue that affected the lives of many human beings. Months prior to this date in 2020, there were various reports of an unknown disease that was rapidly spreading. Health officials were working diligently to discover what the source of the problem is and the solution to stopping this ongoing occurrence. Covid-19, as it came to be known, came to the United States and all of the subsequent events snowballed from there. 

Schools were closed indefinitely, supermarkets were packed with worried people in addition to running out of supplies, and wearing masks became the new norm. It all came suddenly and a myriad of individuals didn’t know what to expect in the days, weeks and even months to come. Everyone was unaware of the extent to which this pandemic would go on for and most are still skeptical about what the future holds. One thing that is for sure, Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon. The aftermath of it all will still be lingering. Covid-19 has truly been a wake up call for many. It has taught some to not take for granted the things that we love most. From my perspective as a senior in high school, that statement couldn’t be more true. Leaving that school day on March 13, without having the slightest idea of what the next months would bring, I took for granted how much school and life means to me. 

It’s really the little things in life that matter and mean the most. Walking in the hallways, seeing your friends after your favorite class, getting to talk to your teachers face to face, connecting with your guidance counselor in person, and getting involved in extracurricular activities and events are just a few of the memories that are deeply missed. Not having the chance to relish those moments are what makes this whole experience exceptionally hard. It is unfathomable to think that it has been a year since the whole world has been able to do normal activities without having to worry about socially distancing or wearing masks. 

Now Kearny High School has been remote ever since that last day we left. Learning from behind a computer screen has definitely been a challenge and hard to adapt to at first. Continuing in this environment makes me nostalgic for the good times being in the school building. No amount of time virtual would make up for the time that was lost. Students and teachers have missed so much since remote learning commenced. As a senior, my class has missed a good portion of our junior year and nearly the entirety of our senior year. We missed many important events such as junior and senior prom, sports events, and the list goes on. It’s saddening to see it all end so soon. I don’t say it often, but I truly do love and miss how life used to be. You don’t really know how much you love something until it is all gone. It is a moral lesson that I would carry with me for the rest of my life. From this experience that has been placed in all of our hands, I know now to enjoy the finer things in life and cherish it no matter what.

Even if the world starts to open up and things lighten, that uncertainty that has been created and placed since the beginning of the pandemic won’t fully go away for potentially years to come. That scary fact is unavoidable to say the least, but if we stand with one another, we can all get through this together if we just have a little hope.