Covid has affected us all in one way or another. I would like to be writing about something as trivial as how to organize your junk drawer. I am trying very hard to keep a good balance on a blog that was meant to show you just that.
I think it’s so important though that in times like this, each generation understands what another is going through. Maybe then we will know how to help each other. So a few weeks ago, when I saw a post from my daughter on Facebook, I decided to share it. It gave me a window into how she’s feeling and it cemented my faith knowing she has a handle on things. She will get through this and she will flourish on the other end. You can find her post here in A Millennial’s Point of View.
With that in mind, I thought about the next generation. Up until a few short weeks ago, their focus was exactly where it was supposed to be. They were focused on friends, school, sports, and where they would be the following weekend. This made me think about my great niece who just turned 18 last month. The “great” part is not just a generational designation, there is that, but it is also a description of her. This was to be an amazing year, her senior year. Prom, graduation, parties. My gosh how things have changed! I wondered how she was dealing with all this. What was she thinking? What was she feeling? So…I sent her a text and I asked her. This is what she said:
My thoughts on Covid 19 – by Madalyn Smith
Never would I have imagined in my 18 years of life, that I would be living during a time period that would someday be taught in a future history class. For the past month I have woken up to both my parents sitting on the couch listening to the latest news concerning Covid-19. Along with a majority of people, I didn’t expect this to turn into what it has, and I didn’t take it very seriously either. That all has changed.
My mentality on this virus all changed when I heard the news that all my college classes would be moved to online, my friends who were home for spring break would not be going back to their universities, my mom was out of work for 2 weeks, and my sister’s soccer season was cancelled, all due to this virus.
While I am technically still a senior in high school, I actually finished my time in high school in December and have been taking classes at my local community college since the beginning of January. But, like all the other seniors in my class, I was still anxiously awaiting the moment I would get to walk across the stage and receive my high school diploma. It is now uncertain if the class of 2020 will receive a graduation ceremony, a senior prom, or even a senior sports season. While it’s hard to believe that such important events of a high schoolers lifetime can be taken away, it can happen, and sadly the class of 2020 has to live it. During times like this I believe it is important to be positive. My school administrators and staff are hard at work doing everything they can for us, and while it may not be on our time, I believe the class of 2020 will get to experience all the momentous events seniors fantasize over.
The last few weeks have definitely been a challenge for me since I enjoy seeing my friends. I’ve only been allowed out of my house to go to work, and you’re probably wondering how I still have a job during a time like this. That’s because I work at my local Food Lion as a cashier. During the six months I’ve worked at this job, I have never been scheduled for so many hours. Working during a time like this has made me perceive how selfish and discourteous grown adults can be. Yes, it can be alarming that our state was just put on lockdown, but the fact of the matter is grocery trucks aren’t going to stop delivering and grocery stores aren’t going to shut down. Come to the grocery store for essentials and when you do come get everything you need so you don’t have to keep coming out, or even take advantage of online ordering your groceries, especially during a time like this.
During this time, I would say I am losing my patience, and getting bored notably quicker than usual. I still ask to have my friends over, I still ask if I can go see my friends and when I get told no, yes, I get upset with my parents. Now, sad to say the reason this virus is still spreading is because of people around my age. Yes, I am not proud to say that, but this is something my generation has never had to go through and I believe a number of us are in shock and don’t know how to understand or grasp onto how serious this virus truly is. When the governor came on the news and gave his speech on how he was shutting everything down until June 10th, I knew something was going to have to change. So to my generation and everyone else still going out, please stay inside. Even though it sucks that we can’t see our friends, go on vacations, or even go out to eat, it’s for the best. The sooner everyone does their part, the sooner we can go back to living our normal lives and we can go back to physically seeing our friends and loved ones rather than seeing them through some sort of video call.
So there you have it. Generation (Gen Z). This brought tears to my eyes, partly just because I love her, partly because I feel so bad that she’s not having the perfect senior year that she deserves, but mostly because I’m relieved. I’m relieved because despite all the things that her generation has had to deal with…born just after 9/11, growing up with active shooter drills a common thing, and now this, all without a road map that we couldn’t possibly give them, they’ve got this! They’ve thought it through, struggled a bit to get there, but they’ve got this!
Every generation is great in their own way. Every generation has something to say. They are still young, and they are still learning, but they’ve got this. And it’s comforting to know that should we face another terrible time like this, they will take what they’ve learned and they will do it better.
So to this beautiful girl, I say thank you for letting us in! I hope you get everything you’re still dreaming of. You deserve it, but if you don’t, I know you will be alright because…you’ve got this!