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The pandemic has made me realize there are many things I can't control, but there are also many things I can. I can’t change the outcomes, or the past. But, I can change my outlook on them. I can better my mindset and focus on the future. I can focus on building deeper, more meaningful relationships with my family and friends. The pandemic has also made me recognize how important having a routine and purpose for the day is. Waking up late, doing online school, scrolling through my phone, then going to sleep is not a routine. When the pandemic hit, my normal routine was disrupted. I could no longer see my friends, go out to restaurants with my family, or even go to Publix with my sisters. My whole life was turned upside down, but as I said before, it was an outcome I couldn’t control. Watching the Anne Frank movie as I’m writing this, I can’t help but notice similarities in the situations. Granted, their situation was much more serious because their lives were on the line. But the comparison comes with feeling as if we were not in control. We similarly felt cramped by being with the same people constantly. I’m sure we both wanted nothing more than to see friends and go out in public. We both listened apprehensively to the news, waiting to hear something hopeful, something other than thousands of people dying. Although the pandemic is/was a global disaster, it changed my outlook on life for the better.

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When I first heard about Covid-19, I really didn’t recognize it for it’s seriousness. At that time, there were only about ten cases in the U.S (crazy now that I Iook back). When I first began to realize its seriousness was when they cancelled school after I had just come back from a retreat in my sixth grade year. I look back and I can’t believe I was thankful for a break off school, given what would entail in the future.  Shortly after, I started online school, which started at 9:00, and went until noon. I loved the extra sleep and the fact my whole day was free. Shortly though, I realized having nothing to do is not all it’s cracked up to be. I soon became tired of doing the same thing everyday, tired of living life on repeat. Little did I know I would have online school for another year. Soon enough, quarantine started (I think? I don’t really know, everything is kinda jumbled together), and I wanted more than anything to go back to school (crazy?! right). But I have learned it’s best not to look back and focus on what was missed, but to look forward to the future, and be thankful that I could’ve missed out on more, like a year of college, or a year of studying abroad. As cringy as it sounds, I learned to look at the bright side.

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I can’t believe such a landmark decision is looking to be overturned. I mean, Roe v. Wade has been around for nearly 50 years, and I just find it incredibly mind blowing that it might be overturned. 😧😳

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Thanksgiving dinner with my cousins!! Because spending time with my family was so limited, I have learned to appreciate every second of it.

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This is a picture of Jamaica in the summer of 2021. We usually go every summer, but the summer before, we couldn’t (we all know why). It was refreshing to visit my family and the beautiful beaches.

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Attack on the capitol!! I guess they all woke up on the wrong side of the bed. It’s safe to these past two years have been absolutely crazy. 🤭🤭

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This is me with my friends at a football game. Definetly a highlight of the school year.

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These are my two German shepherds, Zara and Jax! There’s never a dull moment with these two.

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This is me scoring the winning point at one of my volleyball tournament. :) rip knee😪

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These are all the injuries my team had this season. Three of us got injured in the span of three months.😳😳

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Ouch!! Bye-bye acl! Not gonna lie, that hurt really bad. It’s crazy how life can change in just a few seconds.

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May 11th, 2022.

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I feel like everyone feels joy from getting packages. I KNOW DOOOOO.

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Leah Harris, my cousin, age 22
• Would you say your life has changed for worse or better since Covid-19?
“I would say the pandemic definitely had many downsides, but overall I feel like I grew as a person. I built a better, more deeper relationship with my family, I started many hobbies I would have never been interested in before. I did miss out on college, though. That is the only part I feel sort of a reminiscence towards.”
• Do you feel the pandemic could’ve been dealt with better?
“Oh yes, for sure. But there’s no sense in looking back because we can’t change that fact.”

Amy Baugh, aunt, age 40
• Would you say your life has changed for worse or better since Covid-19?
“For my life, there were many positive aspects of quarantine. But I think for the populations as a whole, that’s just not the case. My heart goes out to all the people giving out, you know, Covid tests, for instance. Potentially putting your life on the line for others in really admirable.”
• Do you feel the pandemic could’ve been dealt with better?
“Yes, of course. I feel like the pandemic got too political, when it shouldn’t have been.”

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The Met gala recently passed. The theme was “gilded glamour”, and in my opinion, these are some of the best dressed! STUNNAS!!

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I feel like everyone can definitely relate to this LOL. It was most definitely sad catching Covid over winter break. 😃😃

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This is one of the breakfasts I prepared for my mom. During my beloved time in quarantine, I cooked A LOT. I’ve always loved to cook and bake, and quarantine helped turn that it into a hobby.

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This is my drawing of Drake’s 4th album cover, “Nothing Was The Same”. Some of my favorite songs are on this album. I’m sorry, but it has to be said, old Drake music > new Drake music 🤭🙈

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Many new albums have come out this year. One of them being “I NEVER LIKED YOU”, by Future.

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It’s safe to say we all felt this every morning of quarantine. I had never been more excited to go back to school.

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Another hobby!! During quarantine, I started helping my mom with her gardening. The fact that it progresses from seed, to plant, to plate is extremely wholesome. It’s fascinating, really, the circle of nature.