Self Quarantine Brings Self Reflection
One day, I was walking from E-Building to the Cafeteria. I remember looking on my phone. I was doing what I usually did during that time, which was scrolling through Instagram, checking up on the latest news. It was then when I first encountered the news about the coronavirus. At that time, the virus was just spreading through China. I remember thinking to myself, “Those poor people!” I have been to China once because of a storm that kept our flight from continuing right away to Thailand. I knew how crowded it was and understood how quickly the virus would escalate. Though, for some reason, I thought the virus would just stay over there. It never crossed my mind that the coronavirus would escalate into the pandemic it has become today.
Now, here we are. Schools are out, and everyone is in quarantine. Everyone is left trying to adapt to the new environment and safety procedures. My family has two disabled people that have weak immune systems, so we take the safety precautions very seriously. With my mom working, we have to make sure all of us are safe from any bacteria that we might be exposed to. The outbreak has also affected my sister and my schooling. Most of our schooling is moved online or is given through enrichment packets. I am not worried about that change because I was cyber schooled from sixth grade to eighth grade. I am pretty used to doing school on the computer. Though, I am worried about the classes that I take that are based around in-class participation. For those classes, I take it upon myself to continue my learning and get ahead. I go on sites like Khan Academy and get free tutoring to continue my learning. I realize that there is only so much the schools can do, and I know that I have to take it upon myself to stay on track.
During quarantine, I find that I have a lot of downtime. I use that time to self-reflect on the last two weeks of school and find out what I can improve on. I use the time to increase my emotional awareness and gain a higher emotional intelligence. I want to rewire my thinking towards a positive route. The time that has been given to me now is basically my time to reflect and start over. I am using it to find myself and restore parts of myself that were broken down by others. Through this time, I hope I will find my inner strength and know where I stand in life. That way, I can come back stronger than ever.
I have mentioned this to others, but I think I have to say this again. Not only is this a curse, but it is a blessing. It is crucial to realize the importance of the time that has been given to us and use it to get us into an overall mindset. Right now, all of us are frozen in time with a belief. It is the belief of avoiding what we usually do to make the virus fade. Though, our time won’t stay frozen forever. Enjoy your time alone, but use it wisely. That way, you know how to continue life when time isn’t frozen anymore.
Gino Romero • May 12, 2020 at 1:04 pm
This is a very difficult time for everyone. we are all trying to understand why this epidemic is happening. This is an emotional time for everyone, people are being laid off from jobs, schools are closed, businesses are closed, beaches are closed,and parks, we have to stay at home, we can’t be with friends and most of our family. But through all this we all must continue to be strong and be there for one an other. We need to support each other, lend a helping hand and continue to keep our social distance at the same time. As for me this epidemic has been hard for me and my family, but everyday i get up and know that i’am still here, i’am still healthy and that my family is healthy and that we have each other to lean on and hold each other up. Each day we move forward the best that we can and think about our future and about when we get to go back to school and when everything will be normal again. We will overcome this epidemic together, we will continue to grow and know that this has only made us stronger.
Moanikeala • May 1, 2020 at 4:39 pm
This story was really intresting im glad that shes okay and i understand the stress that there facing. I think the wises thing i thought was,”injoy your time alone, but use it wisely.
arren hoopii {malu} • Apr 28, 2020 at 10:31 am
this quarintine sucks and i want to go back to scool because when your at school you want to go home but when your at home you want to go to school but you cant because of this dam pandemic and this is our life now THE WORLD IS ENDIND IM TELLING YOU SPEND TIME W LOVED ONES BEFORE ONE DAY THERE GONE
Maesha muaau • Apr 15, 2020 at 3:11 pm
This quarantine thing is actually useful even if we can’t go outside I can try to catch up on work. I can also take as much time as I want to finish my assignments and not rush before the bell rings. Online school is hard but I can always do it when I’m free and that’s mostly all the time. I can spend time to pull myself together like how she said.
Carla Ellaine Melchor • Apr 10, 2020 at 6:36 pm
I am having fun with my family. We make chores fun also. Even though I cant be with my friends, at least I could talk to them through phone. Although, I miss going back to school and learn together with my classmate.
Angela • Apr 10, 2020 at 7:15 am
What a beautiful reflection and positive perspective in a seemingly hopeless situation!
Isaiah Enriquez • Apr 9, 2020 at 8:10 pm
I am great and enjoying this time with my family. It sucks because i cant go beach to exercise and hang out with my friends. But its awesome that i don’t need to wake up early but i’m sad that i can’t play sports.
Kailana Miranda-Simeona • Apr 9, 2020 at 2:52 pm
After finding out that we would have to go into quarantine because of this COVID-19 i was really upset. Because we couldn’t go to school, I knew that we would have to do online school and it would make things hard because if i didn’t understand something I would have to wait a while to get an answer for my question. I wouldn’t be able to see my friends, or go anywhere and my house is boring. There is nothing to do during this time. I am going to reflect on what Emma said “The time that has been given to me now is basically my time to reflect and start over”. This stood out to me because I can work on hanging out with my family. Some of me and my household family members don’t get along to well. So I can take the time that is provided and work on bonding with them instead of arguing with them. So i’m bittersweet about this whole problem.
Xander Gueco • Apr 9, 2020 at 1:58 pm
I never thought the coronavirus would turn into a pandemic and would be just a regular sickness. But killed thousandths of people around the world. Then it came to America now we are self quarantine doing homework online. I dont like being quarantine because I cant play basketball or do anything outside. But now only I can play video games all day and talk to my friends.
Damien-Roy Delos Santos-Akui-Young • Apr 8, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Ever since the outbreak of the covid-19 everyone has gone sick but some people hate being quarantined and some people liked it because there was no school and some hated it because they can’t do whatever they want to do. For myself, I hate it only because I can’t go beach and plus what is there to do in just a house. All I do is games, chores and sometimes stating up late and eating. I want to thank my teacher for giving us assignments to do over this outbreak.
Trena Waterhouse • Apr 8, 2020 at 10:29 am
“The time that has been given to me now is basically my time to reflect and start over.” We have all gone through struggles in life, but like Emma says, we can reflect. In doing so, I have found that it’s amazing to look back at the challenges I have faced and to see where I’m at now in life. This shows me that persevering through it all has made me even stronger.
kekona laa • Apr 8, 2020 at 9:53 am
I don’t like quarantine because we have to stay home and it gets boring just staying home and doing they same think everyday until quarantine is finished. Quarantine can be fun sometimes because once in a while we like to get out the house a just drive down makaha and look at the waves and sun set. Sometime during quarantine me and my brother would have to workout and help my dad with the yard. When we are done with everything around the house we can do what ever we want and me and my siblings play on are ps4.
arren hoopii {malu} • Apr 7, 2020 at 5:01 pm
i am fine and dandy t home it is safe at home
arren hoopii {malu} • Apr 7, 2020 at 5:01 pm
im fine and dandya t home it is safe at home
Daezen Kotrys • Apr 7, 2020 at 11:27 am
” Enjoy your time alone, but use it wisely. That way, you know how to continue life when time isn’t frozen anymore.” has showed me not to waste break playing video games all day but to use it wisely because like time isn’t frozen forever you just gotta use it wisely
Malia Felisi-Enriquez • Apr 6, 2020 at 7:00 pm
awesome thanks to share this article and thank to my teacher Ms.Firestone to send this to all of the 7th grade and no i know that if we can respect the message i know that if or do we can slowly slow down the spread
Tasha Firestone • Apr 6, 2020 at 10:19 am
Mahalo Emma for your insight and wisdom. I’ll be sharing your article with my 7th graders to reflect on.
KEVIN TYNAN • Apr 6, 2020 at 9:29 am
Awesome, simply awesome! Way to go Emma. I’m delighted that you have chosen to take a bad situation and find the positive in it. It is an excellent time for self reflection and introspective, and YOU have made the decision to do that. This is why I know our future is in good hands. Again, awesome!
Monica Yasuda • Apr 6, 2020 at 6:18 am
I was very touched by your insightful and thought-provoking article. Your empathy towards people in foreign lands and people in general, shows how big a heart you have. Your growth mindset shows you are blossoming into a beautiful flower as you encourage others who read your reflection to use this pandemic to change poison into medicine; an opportunity to self-reflect and make the most out of this stressful situation. Mahalo, Emma!