COVID was vivid by Angelica

COVID was vivid by Angelica - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

"The end is nigh". Plastered over a sign on tv, I had been watching gravity falls for the 3rd time. The two week break from the sudden outbreak of "coronavirus" was just what I needed, or so I thought. Plans were out the window and I was in the coziest space: my bed. I was bed rotten, enjoying my days off. Times were amazing; However, I came across my first problem: boredom. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. There was nothing to do and I was actually eager to go back to school.
Boom! I encountered my second issue: the extended break. I sulked in my bedroom as my zooms were taking place. I had no motivation to learn, nor listen. In turn, I rarely ever completed my classwork, nor homework. Times were boring. All I did was stare at the screen, wondering when the zoom would be over. My mind was telling me “there’s no point”, and because of that, my body and lifestyle faced the consequences. I was giving out, my stomach was either echoing its emptiness or groaning in pain, gorged beyond comfort. I was just a wretched blob sulking in the corner of my room.
Ahem. Perhaps my worst issue had arrived: COVID. My father had been working during the pandemic as he's an Uber Driver. It all starts with a cough. Quarantining my father was a decision made a little too late. Our temperatures dropped and we were all under the weather. Times were frightening. We had no idea how severe this new outbreak was, fearing for our health. Thankfully, that excruciating week of no taste and fatigue passed by.
6/25/22. I was painfully wrong. The worst had not arrived then, but was in motion now. My grandmother fell ill. Soon enough, she laid in eternal rest. Time stopped. It felt like the end. The agonized wails faded into a bitter, unrelenting buzz. It was my turn to throw a rose into her casket. My grandmother was like a rose too, a white one matter of fact. She was the embodiment of all that was pure and graceful.
Time continues. All I can reminisce now regarding that unfortunate event was the world around me. It just kept turning, as it was not aware of or unbothered by any tragedies that took place in it. Then, it hit me. Death is only a part of life: some may find it dreadful, others peaceful. But death is inevitable for everyone. So before you find yourself facing death, live your life to the fullest. You won’t know what you’re missing out on until time’s up.
Currently, I find myself reflecting the upsides and downsides of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how far I've come since. Thankfully, COVID wasn’t quite the disaster people made it out to be. I recall a CNN story, stating the first COVID patient in a hospital had turned into a zombie. Of course, it was proven false. Still, my journey from the height of COVID to now gave me meaning and pride.
I was once a sulky, apathetic 12 year-old with no sense of self worth; but I have transformed into a healthy, laborious young woman with a passion for community and academics. As of now, I stand on the brink of becoming salutatorian or valedictorian.
All the love and appreciation goes to my grandmother, who showed me life is a privilege, and to my support system for believing I could reach for the stars and come back acquiring the moon.