Abigail Tobis ‘20, Editor-in-Chief
2020 has presented the world with something that society has not seen in a hundred years: we are undergoing a pandemic. Nobody in the world could have predicted that something like this would be occurring in the year that everyone hoped would be a time to complete those resolutions and better ourselves. Now everything has been put on a halt as people are required by the state to stay home, non-essential businesses have closed, and people wear masks out of fear of contracting the virus in the state where it is one of the worst infected: our very own Michigan.
In this time people have begun to realize the importance of life and the little things that, before this pandemic occurred, we took for granted. “It’s definitely teaching a lot of lessons right now,” senior Kelsie O’Connor said. Something as simple as going out to eat is now something that is unheard of and longed for by many.
People are only allowed to leave their homes for essential travel like and doing outside activities like going out for walks, runs, or bike riding is encouraged. “We have been going on a lot of walks,” O’Connor said. Kensington Metropark has even allowed free access until April 30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Through this experience, people have begun to appreciate these outside excursions more and have even started to use this as a time to bring people together with messages in the form of sidewalk chalk. The same everyday concrete has been repurposed as a canvas to give messages of hope and encouragement, showing passerbyers that we are in this together. It has provided a sense of unity in a time of uncertainty for many.
Senior Anjelina Barton said, “It has been hard not being able to see all my friends, especially because it is the last summer that a lot of us will see each other.” A lot of people have similar feelings as Barton and use the only opportunity to reach out to families and friends in forms of video chat, mainly using the popular platform Zoom. Families meet together to keep each other updated and stay connected. Friends have had social distancing Netflix viewing parties, playing multiplayer games, and more. This quarantine life has shown the importance of friendship and of being connected to those around you.
We are all in the same situation together, and we all are trying to get through this one day at a time. It is scary and nobody has a real idea of when it will end. The best thing for us all to do is look out for each other by staying home, wearing the masks and making sure to practice that dreaded social distancing. It may be hard, but they are the steps we have to take now in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and have life return back to normal, whatever normal really means.
Photo courtesy of theaustralian.com
Lyon Life 