I enjoy the warm sun on my face as I play with my two younger brothers and talk with my two older sisters at my beige-colored house. The slight breeze feels good and so does the soft, luxurious neon green grass in between my toes. The tulips in the garden were just sprouting and flowers from the blossom tree also began to bud. The smell of fresh air and the electric colors making their way. I had came home from school that day thinking everything was going to be normal, but it would actually be my last day attending school for a year. I was enjoying myself, the weather, my family, my life. I was told the Coronavirus that started in December 2019 was nothing to worry about and it wouldn’t affect the United States; but my mom had news for us.

As I relaxed outside, my mom came to tell us that we had school off for the week, March 2020, due to the virus. I was exhilarated to have no school and no homework for a week. Next thing I knew we hadn’t been in school for two weeks when it was declared a worldwide pandemic. I would have to finish the rest of my eight grade year in online school and no graduation or party. I was surprised but didn’t think it would last too long.

It has now been a whole year since these events and although the pandemic has affected me negatively, I’ve changed more positively. I remember when the pandemic first started and I of course didn’t think much but realized cases were growing in extreme amounts by the day. For the first few months, I didn’t go anywhere, not one time. The first time I did go out it was so different and felt weird. Because my seven person family was constantly in the house, it got annoying and cramped, but we grew more connected. Always being together, we learned more about each other and we are now closer than ever. Always in the house and always wearing masks. This is our new normal.

I’ve realized that I’ve done so many things during this pandemic and when I think back it feels so long ago. As a teenager and a student, what’s most challenging for me is having to learn through a screen. Learning in an environment you’ve never learned before and not having a teacher to check on you and interact in person. This type of situation for me and any other student can vary because people may prefer staying at home or at school to learn. For me, remote-learning has challenged me and my grades. When I realized my grades were dropping and I was slacking, I knew I needed to focus and manage time better.

This month, March, in my opinion, is what was the most important time in the pandemic to me because I realized I need to get my grades up. The month of July was also important in my development as a person through the pandemic because I realized there is fun even through a dark time. I had fun during the summer all at home and realized kids and teenagers don’t need to go to the beach or a carnival to have fun, but rather spend time outside in their backyard and with their family. Even if you can’t hug your grandma or grandpa, you can still facetime them every week. We are all starved for physical contact with our loved ones, who must distance like their lives depend upon it. Because of course they just might.