ALYSSA BUMP
Life & Arts Editor
One year ago from writing this, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic.
One year later, 118 million people have gotten the virus, and 2.62 million are dead.
In my Snapchat memories today, there was a video from my last in-person class last March.
My professor had everyone wiping down the desks with Clorox wipes, and someone said in the background, “Is this really how bad it is now?”
In reality, it was worse.
When we first started hearing whispers of COVID-19, I remember not thinking much of it.
It reminded me of Ebola — too distant to affect us. It would be contained and taken care of.
But one of my professors talked about COVID-19 in December 2019.
She told us not to be surprised if campuses shut down if it got to the U.S.
You could tell she was actually concerned about it, but she’d say, “Don’t be scared, though. I just want you to be prepared for these possibilities.”
I remember thinking she was crazy.
But she was right.
A year later, the U.S. has over double the amount of cases than that of any other country.
Over half a million Americans are dead, and I think many of us are wondering how this all could have happened.
This past year, we saw how political our health became — a pawn in a game of chess.
Healthcare workers using garbage bags as PPE gear.
Influencers partying in Los Angeles without masks.
Small businesses closed.
Three stimulus checks.
Virtual education.
Shallow graves.
Racist attacks.
Food banks.
Ventilators.
Loss.
Looking back to how things once were feels strange.
We have gotten accustomed to reading emotions through just the eyes; we grab our masks to brace the outside world.
I couldn’t have imagined that I’d adjust to it, and that this would become normal.
But thinking about how we didn’t know what would happen is jarring.
None of us expected to go to college just to get sent home — or to not have a senior year.
Or to get the virus.
Or to still be dealing with this, one year later.
Despite the disruption and challenges COVID-19 has brought, I believe I’ve grown a lot this year.
The pandemic has forced all of us to deal with unexpected tribulations we never thought could have existed.
With that has come the realization that nothing is guaranteed, even things that were once constants in life. But, having the ability to adapt is extremely important.
Getting sent home from college last spring was never a part of the plan.
I adjusted.
Having to continue school online was somewhat difficult, but it gave me more time to write, and it helped me become a better journalist.
When I received a positive test result for COVID-19, I panicked.
However, I knew I could write and possibly help other students going through the same thing.
Am I disappointed that my college experience and education has been impacted so heavily by COVID-19? Yes.
I’ve learned to accept it.
And even though the circumstances suck, there are positives that underlie them.
There are always positives, and there are always things to be grateful for… even during a pandemic.