COVID-19's Impacts on Many

The Covid-19 outbreak is currently a detrimental and horrid time that we are all facing. It has created mass hysteria and fear of this unseen virus and the fact that there is still no cure. The worry of this virus comes with the hard truth that it could take as long as 18 months similarly to the Measles outbreak to find a vaccine. With this outbreak comes major restrictions such as quarantines, curfews, limitations on groups, etc. The beginning, as we know, consisted of world-wide compliance from country to country, but just over a week or two ago, it was as if the world was full of defiance towards these limitations. What had caused people to just stop listening to the order by hanging out with all of their friends, traveling all over, going past curfew, etc? That's the question that boggles my mind.

I try to understand the mindset of most people who I see hanging out or going out as often, but to me it is hard to understand their mentality of risking their life for a social life. The sad truth is that all of these people seem to have forgotten that there are others who are more susceptible to this horrible virus such as Crohn's patients, asthmatics, diabetics, cancer patients, cerebral palsy, and many more. Everyone is in the same boat at this moment, but you don't see us willing to risk our lives to hang with our friends. Think of it this way. The amount of technology that we have is incredible and how we can constantly be in contact with each other at the touch of our thumbs. I know I sound like a parent, but there comes to a certain point where enough is enough and maybe this time we should actually listen instead of being stubborn, rebellious teenagers. The selfish generation we are currently growing up in and currently feeding will be the end of us because no one has compassion anymore or sympathy for anyone but themselves. It's sad that people only started to care about this virus when it affected them. Shouldn't we try and put ourselves in other people's shoes for once and take one second to show support and compassion for someone other than ourselves?

The sad truth from the perspective of people susceptible to this virus is that no one cares about this virus anymore. It was like a trend that phased out over a course of 2 months that won't come back. That's where people are wrong because this virus isn't even remotely close to being done. We have seen the wrath of this virus and it is proven from history that with every virus comes a second wave and I think that's the wake up call everyone needs. People think that their life is over because they didn't graduate live or they won't have a summer, well think of it this way...by you refusing to comply you are not only stopping yourself but the rest of the world from gaining normalcy again. There are way more serious things, and granted everyone has their different aspects that they struggle with, but in reality there are more serious things than not getting to graduate on stage.

Mental health has been a growing idea as social media had grown throughout the world. This topic has been neglected to be brought up in every conversation regarding the Covid-19 outbreak and it is a topic that in my opinion needs to be brought up. People who suffer from mental health get away from their thoughts by going outside, walking through nature, and/or being social with friends and because of Covid they haven't been able to escape their thoughts. I can speak personally from this because I myself suffer from anxiety and for those of you who don't know or understand anxiety I'll give you the breakdown. Anxiety is when you can be fine one minute and then all of a sudden when you get a moment of peace your mind races with thoughts causing you to have an attack. These attacks are different for all, but they are absolutely terrifying because you feel as though your breathing is limited, the room is spinning, and you start to shake uncontrollably. When people who have anxiety, depression, or bipolar, etc, they feel trapped and when we are in a quiet room with just our thoughts, who knows how bad it can get.

I ask of you, the audience, to take into perspective the point of views of others during these hard times. Everyone has a common enemy, but it has turned it into a war between our fellow peers. The next time you go out for recreational purposes, try and think of others who have it worse and make smarter decisions when it comes to it. Everyone has the right to their own opinion and this just so happens to be mine, so as I respect the world’s opinion please accept mine as this is how I feel and how I am allowed to feel. The last thing I will leave you with is, “Think of every person around you as part of your immediate family and think of everything you would do to make sure they stay safe and healthy.”