Hope is like a life raft. It is good to hold onto, but don’t forget to keep your eyes wide open.
In March 2020, the entire world was introduced to the most frustrating and contagious superstar. COVID-19 became the fastest growing celebrity to hit the scene and no one was happy about it. Soon, It seemed like all we were talking about was COVID-19, online learning and whether or not we would be able to find toilet paper. There were some distractions during the pandemic like the rise of Tiktok and the release of Tiger King, but nothing of substance.
During that time, I remember sitting on my bed hoping none of my family members would get sick and praying for a cure. Now a little over a year later, we have multiple vaccines, but it seems like we are taking steps backward.
The highly contagious Delta variant is racing across the world as if it is trying to beat its predecessor’s spread speed, and again I am starting to get emails regarding the future of my semester. I can’t believe this is happening again.
Before news of the Delta variant broke, I was more than a little excited to start my senior year. I was excited to go to football games, dances and to be able to see my friends smile from across the room. I was thrilled to be able to walk on the sidewalk and have the luxury of someone being able to read the emotions across my face fully. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that I would finally be able to sit next to my classmates, and I would soon be able to whisper in class asking if my neighbor had any idea what the professor was saying.
I understand why we all needed to mask up and do our part to slow the spread, but I still missed those little luxuries I had growing up. Today I find myself sitting on my bed hoping my family doesn’t get sick and praying that we will be able to get ahold of the Delta variant before we would need to go into a second lockdown.
I have chosen to cling to hope so tightly I am scared I may pop a hole in the only life raft I have found comfort in, but I refuse to let go. I will hold onto the hope that we will not have to go into a second lockdown because we will get a hold of the Delta variant. I am flushed with hope, but I will not close my eyes to all that is happening around me. I will not let hope lead me blindly, but I will let it keep me afloat during these ridiculously unprecedented times.