Just Like That
It’s currently nearly 6 PM on March 16, 2020. In less than five hours, I’ll be boarding a flight to New York. No, it’s not like move-in day back in August. No, I didn’t decide to cut my spring break short to spend more time in a city that has quickly taken over my heart. I’m flying back to New York today, with my mom, to pack up my entire life as it exists there. And maybe that sounds a little dramatic, but it’s how it feels.
Let me start by saying that obviously I will see my college friends again. With luck on our side, in less than five months. Of course I will be back in New York again, for another three years at least. Of course I’ll make more memories and live in new places and go back to living independently, or at least as independently as a 19-year old in my position can be.
This whole situation is just a little stress-inducing because of the variables. There’s currently a global health pandemic with a huge presence in both parts of the country I’ve ever lived. My university just mismanaged itself so badly that I’m being forced to fly back to New York to pack up when I came home for spring break a mere three days ago. I’m flying back, but I’m one of the lucky ones who can. Thousands of students are in other countries or are from other countries, and won’t be able to get back in time. Starting tomorrow we’re supposed to be staying indoors for pretty much everything except emergencies, and honestly, I’m a little scared. I think I’ll be fine. I think I’ll find ways to entertain myself and spend the hours of the day. But I also know nothing definitively. I also will start taking classes based on an east-coast time zone despite living on the west coast. I also know that sooner rather than later, I’m going to start spiralling a little bit. You don’t realize how much you go outside for just random things like getting a coffee or taking a walk around IKEA until you can’t.
In some ways I, along with my peers, mourn the loss of our first year of college. Personally, I was really looking forward to seeing the cherry blossoms in Washington Square Park, and finally going to a broadway show, and generally just exploring one of the best cities in the world with some of the best people I’ve met. But I have three more years to do that, so it’s alright, I guess. I feel bad for seniors in college. The seniors who had last recitals, capstone films, internships, jobs, and even the people who just wanted to spend their final semester in college chilling with their friends. I have three more years but they don’t.
I hate not knowing what’s going to be on the news tomorrow. I hate how gravely we all underestimated the seriousness of this situation. I hate that I’m finally a five-minute drive from my best friends and I can’t see any of them in person.
But, whatever. At the end of the day, I’m lucky. And I’m privileged. So I’ll stop complaining.
And at the end of the day, we’ll get through this. Humanity, that is. We always do. But only if we take it seriously. And that means practicing social distancing as much as physically possible. It means washing your hands thoroughly and regularly. Drinking lots of water. Keeping your immune system up. Keeping your spirits up.
We’ve got this. We have to have it. See you all on zoom. ⬥