Developing Adolescents for Workplace Navigation is a program launched in the past year by Anna’s Place NOLA under the direction of Mr. Darryl Durham, Program Founder. It works with teenagers ages 13-17 in preparing them for their future. It has a strong mentoring component, developing interviewing skills, job and academic preparation. Our author is a member of this group and a life long member of St. Anna’s Church. A challenge was made to each of our age group kids to tell us what it is/was like to be at home in light of the Pandemic and Stay at Home orders. Edana won first place in the Dawn cohort.
Edana age 15 Student COVID-19 Essay Contest 3-30-2020
Isolation is not an uncommon feeling nor a word that is new to me, as an introvert most of the time i prefer to be alone in my room doing homework or watching netflix.
The choice to be alone is comforting but when that option is taken away, the feeling of comfort is taken and replaced with an unsettling,restless feeling.
COVID-19 has crawled from the Eastern continents, transferring easily from contact or bodily fluids. Corona affected many lives in merley weeks, if not physically, affected mentally; The east and the west were not ready for an epidemic. With an epidemic spreading, Officials had no option other than to shut down schools and businesses, essential stores such as groceries and convenience stores stayed open. When i got this news it was relieving and exciting, the idea of not going to school for the rest of the month, i rushed to the bus ready for my vacation. This idea soon faded when i saw how fast stores were going out of stock; i knew that china had shut down its exporting system and we would soon run out of goods. This idea added to the fear of my family getting infected, and within only a few days life has become depressing and restless. My teachers added to the stress as they made piles of online work without thinking of how burnt out their students must be. In an epidemic work is still made, due dates still exist and citizens must remain calm.
During these couple weeks I have kept myself busy by finishing assignments, anime, reading and eating. Sometimes i will go out in the backyard to help my mom tend the garden, but other than that I’m not allowed to leave the house. I text my friends everyday via Instagram, now only talking about how much we miss each other; it is so weird not being able to see them everyday. I have had many friends who have contacted me saying that they have CoronaVirus and it has caused me to feel guilty, I took things as simple as going to school or seeing my friends for granted; they could be gone anyday.
This summer I hope to make up for the time that i have taken for granted by spending my free time with friends and family. I have learned that the choice of isolation isn’t the best when it comes to ignoring the people who care.