4 minute read
Noor Beginnings, New Normal: Light at the End of the Tunnel
By: Afshan Raja
It is a cold morning. 20° F cold. Maryam’s day has started earlier than usual. With butterflies in her stomach, she goes about her routine, getting her classroom ready for the students. It is more than halfway into the school year and she has yet to meet them in person. For many of them, today is that day. Midyear school openings are interesting - the kids know each other and their teacher, and she knows them. It does not feel like the first day. It is not the first day, yet it is.
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Her head spins.
Maryam goes out to meet her students at her designated spot. The spots are marked with teachers’ names to guide students to their classes. She is holding a spray bottle with colored water, and she begins spraying the snow, marking spots for students to practice social distancing as they line up. She is out early. As she waits for her students, she starts worrying. How will the students react? Will they race up to give a hug? How will she stop them? They have had frequent conversations on Zoom about air high fives and virtual hugs. Hopefully they will remember.
One by one, the students start trickling in. As they dutifully walk up to the designated spot, she greets them excitedly. They are careful to keep their distance. She is relieved and does not bridge the gap. They look smaller. The Zoom screens had enlarged their personalities and brought them close to the camera.
They look the same, yet different. She feels the excitement in the air. She is happy to see them. Her heart is full and at peace.
“And ease my task for me.”Qur’an, 20:26
It is a cold morning. 20° F cold. Fatima’s day has started earlier than usual. With butterflies in her stomach, she goes about her routine, except it is slightly different today. She does not have to keep waking her kids. They are awake and ready. Today they go back to school. They have been in school all along, but today is the first day they get to go to school in person. It is not the first day, yet it is. Her head spins.
Fatima packs her kids’ bags with extra masks, and back up masks for the extra masks. As she drives them to school, she reminds them of all of the new rules in place. “Remember to practice social distancing in school.” “Don’t forget to change into your lunch mask for lunch and recess.” “Keep your water bottle with you.” “Keep your mask on the whole time.” They listen and affirm that they will follow through.
As she parks her vehicle, she gets out of the car and hugs her kids. She cannot walk them to their classes. There are new COVID restrictions in place. Parents are not allowed in the school building. She watches them walk up to their teachers’ lines. The kids see their friends and wave at them. They give each other smiles. The teachers look excited. They greet each other. They all look happy. She is happy to see them happy. Her heart is full and at peace.
“Do not lose hope, nor be sad.” Qur’an, 3:139
It is a cold morning. Sania doesn’t know how cold, but it feels colder than normal. She is up earlier than usual. It is her first day of school. Well, she has been attending Zoom classes all along, but today is her first day to go to her class. It is not the first day, yet it is. Her head spins.
As Sania gets ready for school, her mom brings her extra masks, and back up masks for the extra masks. She packs them in with the rest of her supplies. There are no common supplies this year. She must keep her supplies with herself and not share them with any one. On the way to school, her mom reminds her, and her brother, of all the new school rules in place. “Yes ma’am,” She exhales as she replays the rules in her mind. She hugs her mom a little tighter as she bids her goodbye. Parents cannot walk the kids to class this year. She nods to her brother as she walks towards her class line. Some of her friends are already in line. Others are making their way towards it. She waves at them. They wave back. The teacher greets her and directs her to the next spot in line. She feels excited. She is happy. Her heart is full and at peace.
“And He is with you wherever you are.” Qur’an, 57:4
It is a cold morning. 20° F cold. Asiya’s day is no different than usual. With butterflies in her stomach, she goes about her routine. She has decided to keep her kids home this year. She wonders if she has made the right decision. They were not ready to navigate the new school normal just yet. She is not ready. Asiya moves around them as they sprawl on the living room floor, working on their school projects. They are happy. She is happy to see them happy. Her heart is full and at peace.
