Reality

Never did I predict that I would live through something as monumental, as life-altering, and as globally impactful as what is happening in the world right now.

In a matter of days, my day-to-day routine, everyone's day-to-day routine, was flipped upside down and thrown out the window. Over a span of 48 hours I packed everything I own out of my college dorm and flew back home to Chicago...in mid-march, I haven't even done half of my midterms.

I remember months before reading about the Coronavirus and not giving it much thought. I tried to go with the out of sight out of mind approach. I figured that if I didn't read up on it, it wasn't as real as everyone said it is. I found security in ignorance. But no longer can I turn a blind eye to what has become a global pandemic now affecting every person on this earth.

I have no words of knowledge or advice to anyone reading because what can you say to everyone in the same boat floating upon a basin of uncertainties. But what I can say is that there is comfort in the communal fight, the communal effort. All of your frustration, confusion, fear, is not to be felt alone. It's strange but I've never felt more a part of society than I do at this moment.

Life continues to prove the element of surprise and that change is as inevitable as aging. What we must do is persevere and care for others around us. We must remember that nothing should be taken for granted, you never know how soon something may come to an end. But this also doesn't mean to live in anticipation for everything to turn around and leave, just to appreciate all that you can in a moment. One day this will all just be a spec in our lifetime, and that itself makes each day easier.

And an enormous thank you to health care workers and everyone else doing their part to bring this pandemic to an end, we appreciate you, we support you, we love you.