3 Things I’ve Learned During this Pandemic Year A few months ago during winter break, I discovered a vision board I’d made at the end of 2019 illustrating my dreams for 2020. Sitting in my childhood bedroom looking at words like “adventure,” “travel” and even “friends,” it was clear that a lot of what I’d hoped for the year 2020 did not become reality. My study abroad program was cancelled, the number of friends I could see in person shrank due to COVID restrictions, and so many of the activities and trips I’d planned were limited. As my junior year winds down, it would be easy to look back and see only disappointments. Yet there are also many ways my perspective changed and that I grew as an individual that’s made this a year of silver linings.
8
1
The pandemic taught me to hold onto the people that make me feel the best. And it taught me not to be afraid to let go of the ones that don’t. As harsh as it sounds, this past year made me prioritize the friends that I want to see and also showed me the people that don’t impact me positively. As soon as COVID hit and we were forced to only see a few people in close contact, it became evident to me who was willing to put in work for our friendship. This was a hard truth to face, but ultimately one that allowed me to grow and become more aware of what I need from my friends. I learned that I’m very extroverted and thrive from being around friends constantly (which was very difficult during a pandemic). I learned that with friends I am apart from, FaceTime and texting are essential. I learned that having less is more, especially when it means that the people I surround myself with have my back 100% of the time.
Spring 2021
