QUARAN-THINK: 3 Things I Learned During This Pandemic by Ashley Santillana

The Coronavirus has taken a toll on everyone. Whether you’re rich or poor, in one country or another, you’ve felt the effects of this pandemic. While most are definitely affected negatively, there still is light at the end of the tunnel so to speak, such as the lessons to be learned and how we can apply them to our lives after the quarantine.

1. Cherish Friendships

Image from gettyimages

As the saying goes, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” This could not be more aptly used than for this period of time. We’re all stuck at home, in quarantine, and the only way we can talk to friends and distant family is through our electronic devices. You may hear their voices, or see their faces, but it still feels as though something is missing.

It is during times like these especially that we should cherish our friends, lest we are separated by something as drastic as this again. Talk to them, have fun with them, don’t push them away. We all need a little sunshine from our treasured friends.

2. Treasure Teachers and Learning

As a student, I’ve always had my teachers to rely on when lessons were too hard. I could ask a question in class, have it answered, and I would understand the lesson immediately. When I got home, I would still remember what was said in class, and I could answer the homework given. However, with the self-study program, some students found it more challenging without the usual presence of their teachers. Solution: meet virtually! We appreciate even more our teachers for doing all that they can to impart learning to us, even remotely. Teachers do so much for their students, and yet their efforts are rarely realized. Their efforts should be praised and brought to light, especially in times like these.

With the gift of technology, students are able to continue learning online. While it came as a surprise that schools had to immediately adapt to the need to observe social distancing, the provision for a device, internet connection, and committed teachers who tirelessly worked from home, learning carried on.

Ms. Davila holding her online consultation via Google Meet for her Chemistry class

3. Don’t Take Frontliners For Granted

Image from Paymaya Facebook Page

Doctors and health workers are not the only ‘frontliners.’ I am also talking about the nurses who go underpaid, the police officers who come into close contact with people at the checkpoints, the fast-food workers who continue to work through this pandemic. They are all on the frontline of our society, and while all deserve credit and praise, some get overshadowed as more ‘menial’ jobs. That is simply not the case. All our frontliners are the backbone of our society. Without them, things would certainly be more difficult. They should all be thanked and appreciated for the work they do to keep us safe and healthy.

Overall, there is much to be learned during this pandemic. While some may be hard pills to swallow, they must still be realized. Hopefully, by the end of this pandemic, we will all have changed as people, and it will be a change that lasts for the better.