Our lives have not changed as drastically as most people make it seem; this is true for me, at least. Most of my assignments from school need to be submitted or worked on online, so it honestly isn’t much of a change. The biggest change is the absence of a school environment, which I believe is making me more comfortable while working. Not having to stress about waking up at an ungodly hour, getting dressed in four minutes because I’m already late, having to sit through a bumpy half-hour bus ride, arriving hoping I’ll be allocated a few minutes to settle in, only to be bombarded with information, assignments, and deadlines.
Working at my own pace has increased my happiness, and even though my routine is relatively identical each day, it feels more like I’m living my own life, and less like I’m just part of a system. It’s almost as if I am a young adult who is in college, who will get his work done if left alone to do it. The phrase “less is more” is seldom applicable, but in this case, less guidance and hand-holding and looking over my shoulder and suspicion definitely equals higher productivity.
I do miss my teachers, though – and their brilliant lectures which remind me why in-class learning is useful. I had been observing this virus since December 2019, and it has been fascinating watching it spread from country to country and seeing their reactions. It is important to take into account that history is being written right in front of us. Students will read about the events currently transpiring in textbooks years from now. This is the biggest health and financial crisis the United States has ever faced. It is shocking to think about that.
Watching people clear the shelves of stores has been a bit unsettling, but the time I spend feeling scared is far less than the time I spend laughing at middle-aged women claw each others’ eyes out for a box of toilet paper. I’m glad the members of my family are intelligent and educated and take the time to learn about what is going around them so they don’t become those middle-aged women in stores who believe this is the apocalypse. We did buy a surplus of things like food, soap, and water to be safe. Both my parents are now working from home, which I’m sure must feel odd for them. We are following the stay-at-home order issued by Hidalgo County and we also aren’t interacting with anyone outside of my family.
Sometimes I think it’s a little much, but I understand why they are taking these precautions. It requires a great amount of focus and self-motivation to get things done, but it doesn’t come with too much difficulty for me. I am waking up relatively early in order to keep my body accustomed to school and to have as much time as possible to finish my work in the morning. Having a three-year-old roaming around my room doesn’t make it easy, but I manage.