This too shall pass

With the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic, it has been interesting how the world has been able to shift into a completely different way of life.

Before classes resumed this past week, I was panic-stricken thinking about how I would adapt to so much change. As it turns out, humans are pretty good at dealing with change; with our access to technological resources, we have been able to continue college from wherever we please.

Self isolation has also enabled me to take a step back and prioritize aspects in my life. School always comes first, but I have also been able to give importance to things I did not have much time for in the past.

Growing up, I played competitive piano, learned South Indian classical singing, took tennis lessons, and my mom taught me how to speak, read, and write in my mother tongue, Tamil. As I entered college, I started to lose touch with all of those skills.

With this extra “me time,” I have been able to revisit these hobbies and skills I used to have. My mom has started to reteach me how to read and write in Tamil because I slowly forgot how without enough practice. Additionally, I learned my first piece on the piano since my senior year of high school.

And most importantly, I have been able to spend time with my family. I am extremely grateful for that since I do not get the opportunity to see them so often during the school year. Many people are not privileged enough to be able to enjoy self isolation

like I am, but it is important to try to seek out the positives in a time like this. In Tamil, we say, “idhuvum kadanthu pogum,” or in English, “this too shall pass.”

This situation is extremely unprecedented, but hopefully, we can all come out of this as more unified and more informed members of our society.