I remember the day like it was any other, being dropped off at school with the radio on. In Washington, the first person had contracted a virus that was from China.  It was such a harmless message but for some reason it stuck in my mind. I did not think of it much of it because I was focusing on History Day. It was a great day full of laughter and fun and on top of that, we had an extended spring break because of the virus we had heard about. This seemed like the best thing ever, who wouldn’t want more time of school? I was ready to have fun with my friends, until things started to shut down. People were underreacting, thinking it would just pass away in a couple of days or weeks. Slowly one by one, all the things we planned would get cancelled making us worry what effect the virus would have on the world. The realization of the new reality became very apparent and soon became a pandemic. Regret of leaving school filled everyone and we wished for our lives to go back to normal. Instead, it was replaced with a “normal” with masks, social distancing, and vaccines. This has taken a toll on all our mental, physical, emotional, and social health.

It is very evident that life now with Covid is not what it used to be. This has affected people even like me and my family. When people used to cough or sneeze around you before Covid, we would not really get disgusted or scared, but just say “bless you.” This time has helped us realize how many germs we spread and will probably lead to more people wearing masks even after the virus is gone all around the world. My family has had to cancel going on a cruise, a trip to the Galapagos, Greece, Utah, Taos, and Cayman Islands. This was very sad because these things had been years in the making, not to mention, meeting old friends again. Cruises and planes are now considered high trafficked areas where risk is also high. It seems obvious that it is because the amount of passage can result in the transmission of diseases but we never took it so seriously. The nation has also changed due to Covid. In the beginning, and still a little bit now, the economy has suffered because everything had to be closed down. This rose unemployment with people having to be fired due to the companies not being able to pay their workers. Places that are still open, are not at max capacity to reduce exposure. No one has not been affected by the pandemic in big ways, and small ones. 

Not only has Covid shaped us all on how we react to diseases, but also on a physical and mental level. Quarantine and the whole pandemic has given me time to think and reflect back on myself, which has been very helpful. It also broader my interest in multiple things that I would have never thought I enjoyed. I have changed myself physically by working out more because of this extra free time which is one of the main contributions Covid has made. I now realize the importance even more than I already did of caring and bonding with your friends and family because you never know when you might not see them again. For some of my friends and family, it has been over a year that we have not seen each other which is not fun. This makes you think about making the most and best of each and every moment. I would explain to myself, if I could go back in time before Covid hit, to try new things and take advantage of the opportunities that are brought onto you. This way of thinking helps me live a regretless life and know I did everything I wanted to.