The summer of 2020 was special. One reason for that was the COVID-19 pandemic that gripped the world, leaving the human race disoriented, confused, and anxious. This coupled with the fact that my tenth ICSE examinations had not gotten over yet gave me enough to worry about in the days that we spent locked down. The day before my Geography exam was scheduled to be conducted, the examination was postponed due to the pandemic. Soon after this, a national lockdown was announced.
The lockdown seemed like an impromptu vacation I had not asked for. I started longing to go back to school, for life to be normal again. And yet I was not bored at home. I read, sketched, and wrote. This time showed me how things we consider necessary are not really that important, and how the even the virtual presence of your family and friends can instantly lighten up one’s mood. One of the books I read left a profound impression on me- ‘Daughter of the East’ the autobiography of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. In it, she describes the years she spent in imprisonment, and how she kept herself motivated during that time. Reading her struggles showed me how much I have to be thankful for. I watched movies, helped my mother in the kitchen, and participated in a few online quizzes. My exams were rescheduled to be conducted in July. Unlock 1.0 was pronounced. The country started venturing out again. I wore a mask and sanitized my hands every fifteen minutes the one time I had been out, but it felt good to feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin again.
The days passed. Due to the extreme situation across the country, the students had been given a choice about whether to write the examination or not. I wanted to write the remaining papers. And then one day we found out that our area had been declared a containment zone.
A lady, who lived about a stone’s throw from us, had tested positive. This put me in a dilemma. Would it be correct to write the examination now? I had never come across this lady, had never seen her. I had barely stepped out of the house. Would I be risking the health of my friends if I went to write the examination? Then I found out that the remaining papers could be canceled.
I was perplexed. What would happen if the examination was canceled? What marks would I receive if that happened? The days leading up to the judgment were truly some of the most stressful days of my sixteen-year-old life. My friends and I tried to keep each other’s spirits up. My parents told me it was going to be alright. Their motivation was crucial to me in these trying times. It also helped that my teachers, during their revision classes, always kept our hopes up. When I heard the examinations were canceled, I felt relieved. The period of trepidation was over, but a new worry took over- how would my marks be calculated? The Council of Indian School Certificate Examinations had promised to reveal a formula, which would be used to award marks for the papers not written.
The next week was spent by devising all sorts of formulas the Council could adopt in my head. When the formula was finally published, I felt happy. I could now think of my results in peace. My area was declared safe again. Things were turning brighter, albeit at a slow pace.
What has the pandemic taught me? I would say it has taught me three things- one is that we all need a little time every now and then to reflect. This helps us answer the doubts hovering around in our mind, and decide on a better plan of action. The second thing it taught me about was the power of hope. This power, simple yet so powerful, sustains life. It is the expectation that we shall see a better tomorrow that enables us to survive today’s challenges. It is the hope that the pandemic shall pass that helps us go through these difficult times. The third thing the pandemic has taught me is the power of a good word. It brightens two lives, and that too in a millisecond. It can take billions of charges to charge up a mobile phone; it takes liters of fuel to start a car, but a good word is all it takes for a human to change the world.
My examination results will be declared in an hour. As I sit here waiting for it, several questions run through my mind. What will the new normal be? Would it be a happy normal? When will the pandemic end? When could I see my friends again? I don’t have an answer to all this, but I do know one thing- this too shall pass.
Anagha K Babu,
Grade XI,
St. Paul's English School.
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