What I Miss The Most

The Covid-19 pandemic has made me appreciate all the little parts of life that I always took for granted. I forgot how privileged I am to be able to go to school or hang out with my friends. Many of the things I now desperately long for were invisible to me because they were always within my reach. Simple activities like hanging out with friends, playing sports, going to school, and having dinner at restaurants are activities that I never appreciated, but now I see how important they are to me.

I have always been an introvert: I don’t dislike being around people, I just find it more comfortable to be alone. Therefore, I thought it would be easier for me to stay at home. At first, I didn’t feel lonely, and I believed that this was a great opportunity to relax and spend more time with myself, but as weeks turned into months, I became desperate for human interaction. I sometimes have conversations with my friends over the phone, but it's hard to make connections. I was shocked to see how important facial expression and body language are in understanding someone else. Shockingly, I also desperately miss school; I miss the experience of learning, having a schedule, and feeling productive. School has always been important to me, but I never understood why until now. I truly enjoy learning and challenging myself. I also love to have a schedule, and school is a huge part of my day. It dictates when I eat, wake up, and go to sleep. I try to establish a schedule for myself at home, but unfortunately, nothing can replace the school.

Credit: www.glamour.com

Lastly, I miss being able to go outside without feeling like I am a danger to the people around me. When I walk on the sidewalk, I feel terrible when I see people avoiding me, even though I know it is the right thing to do. The long and devastating lines in front of grocery stores are a constant reminder of this terrible situation. I miss the days when we could go to the mall, walk freely into stores, and not being afraid of getting infected with a life-threatening virus. The following few months will be tough for all of us, but we must remain strong. No matter how isolated we feel or how much we miss going out, we must never forget our final goal. If we give up now, everything we have done so far will go to waste. We have to be patient and considerate of the people who are vulnerable to this virus. When all this is over, we will have a story to tell the future generation, so let’s try to write a story that we will be proud to tell.