Quarantine

I'm back at school and spring term has commenced. Just one week ago, I was sitting at my desk in my house and now, I find myself 30 miles away from home in a dormitory of 40 girls. Perhaps this is another testament to the fact that so much can change in just one week. 

I'm excited to be back at school in a dorm. While I haven't seen many people my age since I'm prefecting in a freshman/sophomore dorm, simply being around so many other people is exciting to me. Being at home for a full year has definitely skewed my perspective on social life. At home, it was just my parents and me so it almost became normal to see just 2 people regularly. Yet at school, I'm surprised by the fact that even though we're in quarantine, we can still see other people. The dorm eats meals together, which provides a sole, precious hour of socializing. More importantly, being with other people has reinstilled who I am in the broader world. Being at home for a full year with just my family has shrouded my ability to remember the person I become in larger groups, as everyone fills a different "role" in social circles that's unique to them. I believe we lose that sense of ourselves, that context of our identities, when we don't interact with many others regularly. 

And finally, I'm pleased to say that quarantine has greatly surpassed my expectations. We have three opportunities to go outside every day, allowing plenty of time for fresh-air and walks. This has been critical to helping quarantine pass smoothly. To be frank, I go out about that many times per day at home anyway, spending the rest of my time in my room working. So the only major change is when I can go out. And I've also been fortunate to be able to continue exercising in my dorm room, having brought a yoga mat with me. I've continued my high-intensity workouts and pilates routines which have helped me feel relaxed and stay productive throughout the day. 

While quarantine is certainly not the most ideal circumstance and campus feels vacant because of it, from what I've been told, it is totally worth it. Reconnecting with friends will almost feel normal afterward, as the sports program will continue in the afternoons along with in-person classes. More importantly, I'm hoping to find outlets to reconnect together with the rest of the senior class. Senior year is a precious time. It's one where people begin to let their guards down, slow the pace of life, and where the class can cherish our final moments together. Because of the pandemic, this level of bonding hasn't manifested in our class, but I'm optimistic that it will in the upcoming weeks once lockdown ends. The countdown is surely on. We're already 50% through, so just 5 more days!