COVID-19, the global pandemic that has taken the world by storm, changed daily life as a collective community once knew it. From once partaking in gatherings and festivities with at least 50 people, to now only seeing such functions on the news, the world flipped upside down.

Every single person right now, whether newborn or one hundred years old, is living through an eventual history lesson and possibly life changing event for future generations. The idea that all daily routines had to change in order to accommodate one’s safety, which people possibly disregarded prior, creates a permanent image of COVID-19.

Telling the saga of experiencing quarantine, with an immuno-compromised father and an extremely cautious family, will bring back the memories of how life changed in order to maintain similar qualities of previous daily activities and impending events, such as school, AP exams, and socializing with other people, besides one’s family.

The week prior to school being canceled, all teachers either began spreading information about how all assignments would get turned in and how to reach them in order to prepare for whatever could happen during the pandemic. It took a couple of weeks to get adjusted to using the new programs and learning how to work efficiently at home, as well as getting accustomed to speaking to teachers via email and other sites in order to further understand instructions and answer any questions. Soon the school’s closing extended until the next school year, and even then, we are unsure of when or what school will be like. Looking back on the academic perspective, learning in quarantine and achieving milestones, such as completing final and AP exams and finishing the current grade one is in, became somewhat anticlimactic and will grow the appreciation for being in a celebratory and encouraging environment in the future. 

The terms “social distancing” and “stay at home order” are constantly repeated in the world today, in order to ensure people’s safety and protect the well-being of society. As soon as the number of cases in the United States, specifically Florida, began to increase, those phrases became much more impactful than what they were in the beginning of the spread of COVID-19. Soon, socializing in person came to a halt and switched to communication over the phone, texting, FaceTiming and Zoom, a group meeting platform that allows large groups to be on a call together, but in the comfort of their own homes and areas. Throughout the progression of quarantine, restrictions in states lift and now people have the ability to spend time together in groups of 10 or less, but under certain circumstances with masks and remaining at least six feet apart. 

People have continuously made the most of the past 11 weeks although this period of distance came as a surprise. Society will persevere until the world comes up with a solution or way to help improve the entire population’s safety.