When most people think of something unprecedented, they might think of Charlie Brown finally kicking that football. However, there is another, much more serious unprecedented occurrence happening all around us, which is living with the constant threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus has affected us all in many different ways. It could be anything from being forced to work from home, to staying at least six feet apart from others, to feeling the constant effects of great amounts of isolation and stir-craziness. Whatever comes next with this pandemic, one thing’s for sure: the world won’t be the same.
I have been very fortunate compared to so many others over these last few months, but that doesn’t mean that my life has not been impacted negatively at all. I have, along with many others, graduated from high school this year and coronavirus means that we can say so long to large, in-person graduation parties/ceremonies and say a big hello to a hindered job market. The way I see it though, the reason that this pandemic has been and will continue to be so impactful and bizarre is that close to pretty much everybody living today has not experienced anything like this before. The last widespread pandemic to occur was over one hundred years ago in 1918,— the “Spanish flu.” Thankfully at least in today’s world, we have infinitely better hygiene and cleaning measures than back then. Although, it is important to remember that the only way to reap the benefits of those cleanliness advantages are for everybody to do their part, and embrace them by wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, and engaging in regular hand washing, but I digress.
My utmost sympathies go out to the coronavirus’ victims and their families. If there is any good that can come out of all of this, it’s that people may finally realize once again that petty everyday little “grievances” like one’s looks, and social standing are nowhere near as important as they can oftentimes seem. It’s somewhat interesting, to me anyway, that in the majority of situations, it takes a full-blown, widespread catastrophe to bring human beings closer to one another. At any rate, it’s nonetheless comforting to know that sooner or later, the virus will come to an end, and the human race will overall be able to power through. If there’s one huge take-away from everything that’s been going on, it’s that this pandemic will certainly be one for the history books.