Happy one-year anniversary!! Often during this time, loneliness is a universal feeling. There are over 7 billion people globally, and somehow, there is not one person we can relate to. No one expected this. That's all that crosses my mind when trying to articulate my ideas. No one expected this. 2020 was supposed to be a fantastic year. Trying to remember all the predictions for greatness at the start of our new decade shows how much hope we had. Is the hope gone? Possibly, there are not too many people who can see a positive future coming out of this pandemic. Between teachers, students, and business owners, it seems the happiness that once filled the air has been drained away. Not just due to this pandemic, but what came along with it. The lifestyle change, state of grief, economic depression, confinement, and practically a war. Which leads our community, country, and the world into a state of emergency mentally, emotionally, and physically.
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March marks the month where last year the majority of the nation's students began virtual learning. Some schools report an increase in higher grade averages but a decrease in attendance. Other schools have reported no changes at all during this whole year. Tik...Tok….Tik…..Tok, the time seems to go by so fast but yet so slow. I will be honest while writing this paper, I have five assignments due, a quiz I have yet to study for, and still trying to comprehend how my next school year will look, but I do not have any drive to complete anything. According to Edutopia.org, concerning Covid'19's Impact on Students Academic and Mental Well-being: it is stated, "adding to the damage to their learning, a mental health crisis is emerging as many students have lost access to services that were offered by schools." I believe that this direct quote is partially correct but wrong as well.
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No, not at all; it is an understandable decision; after all, there are so many other things to worry about in someone's life than a disconnected student. Why should teachers worry about a student who refuses to interact in their class? Why should teachers worry about students who refuse to do their work on time and constantly have an excuse for why it's done late? Those are questions that most likely fill every teacher's mind without any answers to follow.
One of the most significant problems educators face is how to teach during this pandemic. Besides, how to adjust their curriculum to catch the students' attention through screens? Which is a question that can't be answered. A teacher can't be engaging and figure out a method to teach if their students aren't participating. We see how important the teacher and student relationship plays such an essential role in the disconnect taking place. Undoubtedly, educators whose personalities shine through the screen and open up the students to interact. Those educators deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Understanding teachers' dynamics is one tricky thing to do, but tackling private business owners' state of mind is a whole different ball game. Mom and Pop shops, another name for private business owners, had the most diverse outcomes this year. The country repeatedly watches private businesses close down due to the outside interaction restrictions placed on their community. Community-based barber shops, hair shops, small clothing shops have closed all around, leaving multiple closed stores in small towns. This has become such a hard blow for those towns to overcome because the in-community revenue has lessened. If there is no in-community revenue, the chance of the community picking itself up after the pandemic is slim. But there is a bright side to all of this, which is online shopping!!!
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The way I have wasted all of my money on clothes from Forever 21, Shein, even Amazon is such a horrible thing. But this isn't about my horrible addiction to online shopping. From food to clothing, even art entrepreneurs worldwide can sell their products online and make an enormous profit. On the other hand, online shopping is very dominated by Millennials and Gen Z's. It is complicated to find the same store that's been in your community for 20+ years online, and that's where the disconnect comes in yet again. Communities are excited to welcome in a new form of revenue, such as online shopping, but still saddened by the long-term businesses that closed.
Everyone has experienced some loss throughout this year, making it very hard to compare which side had it worse. Though happiness and hope are hard to find in the air, I hope in due time we can find it in our hearts for the future and each other. Beyond all the divisions in the past 13 months, it is time to understand our peers' feelings and hardships. Once we take that first step in being empathetic, we will feel less lonely in the world.