Virus diaries - Annette’s first days
by Annette Rooney
This has most definitely been one of the most interesting times in my life!
I go to Judge Memorial Catholic High School – well, online now – and recently my life has been pretty crazy. In my community, there have been 63 confirmed cases of coronavirus, so life here is almost like a zombie apocalypse.
On the flip side…
I’ve been spending more time in nature and going for runs every day.
Rudy Golbert and Donovan Mitchell, two of the players on the Utah Jazz basketball team, have been diagnosed with the virus which makes it seem even more real. This could happen to anyone, so it is important that we follow the social distancing rules in order to slow the spread of the virus.
Restaurants are closed, sports games have been cancelled, malls are shut down, and everyone is going to school online. In a million years I never would have guessed that this is where I was going to be; it is definitely an adventure!
Last week, as I sat at the dinner table with my dad talking about the overreactions from many people about the virus, did I ever think that it would become something serious to me. As long as I washed my hands, ate good foods, and went to bed at a reasonable time, I was untouchable. I was living in a bubble, a fearless and ignorant teenager, just waiting for that wake-up call to slap me in the face.
Thursday morning was when everything turned upside-down. Just in the blink of an eye the only word I heard around school was Coronavirus, seriously the only word. Every conversation at lunch had to do with something about the virus, and panic filled the entire student body. This was the moment when I realized that it was more than an overreaction. This was real, and I did not want to acknowledge that. I spent my weekend doing the things I normally do, hanging out with friends, and trying to live a normal life as best as I could. Even though I was pretty upset about golf season, spring break, and my college visit to Vanderbilt being cancelled, I had my friends, family, and phone, so I was happy. Everything was bright and sunny, until yesterday.
After spending three days inside, consumed by schoolwork and rid of social interaction, I realized that my life wasn’t going to be so great these next few months.
On the flip side, I have been spending more time in nature, going for runs everyday, and boasting the fact that I am currently living in a future history lesson. I have come to terms with the fact that my life is going to change for a little while, and I have been trying to make the most of my situation because that is the only thing I can control right now.
