As I stare at the wall countless times each day, I try to think of a new way to occupy my time. The only thought that seems to be on my mind is all the activities I would like to be doing and all the friends I miss seeing. This feeling isn’t exactly boredom, but sadness and anxiety for what the immediate future may look like. The only thing getting me through is thinking about what life will be like after the pandemic.

Right now, it may feel like the world as we know it is coming to an end, or maybe like it has already ended with no hope now of returning to school this spring. Up until this point, it has been so hard to realize the severity of this virus, since it appears that leaving our house puts us in no immediate danger. However, with the school closure announcement, it’s easier to see how real all of this is becoming. 

This situation is so hard because it is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. No one has a backup plan for what to do when all the activities that used to get us out of bed in the morning get cancelled. It’s even harder to understand that there is nothing immediate you, or anyone, can do to fix or undo this. On the upside, however, no one is going through this isolation alone and no one person is responsible for what is happening right now. Try to take comfort in the fact that while this sucks for you, it sucks for all your friends and family too. At least we live in an age where technology is such that we can stay in contact with everyone we would normally see on a regular basis. That is just one aspect we have to be grateful for.

It is so easy to think about all the experiences we’re missing out on and be sad. Trust me, I know the feeling. Especially for all that the seniors are going through, I and everyone else truly feel for you. Missing all these lasts, I’m sure, is hard to swallow. I promise that one day, though, you will not measure your high school experience based on the second half of this year. You will remember all of the memories that you made before this and how you occupied your time during this very strange epoch. 

In the grand scheme of life, this time won’t seem like that much. For every single experience you missed, make sure other moments count. It’s the only way to make this time pass easier. With that being said, don’t let this time go to waste, whatever that may be for you. Take care of it now so that you can fully enjoy whatever the future holds. The only immediate day we can look forward to right now is the one where this is over and we can enjoy our normal lives again. I know it’s hard to think about the future and try to make any plans whatsoever because there is so much uncertainty. If anything, now is the time to invest in your future so you don’t miss out on any more opportunities.  

In a time where no one seems to have any answers, we must hold on to the absolutes: everyone will still have a future and there are still so many experiences down the line that we will no doubt take advantage of. We must hold on to routines and work ethic now so when a sense of normalcy returns, we will be ready. COVID-19, like everything else, will not last forever.