Finding Hope Amongst the Chaos - Nikhil Desai

COVID-19 has impacted me in many ways. Initially, like most Americans, I did not understand the severity of the virus and downplayed the potential impact it would have. As transmission rates and cases began to increase, I realized that the virus was much more serious than I had imagined. As time passed, my frustration grew; politicians were not listening to expert scientists that have dedicated their lives to understanding and handling national health crises. Instead of empowering experts, we decided to turn this pandemic into a political matter, and unfortunately, Americans have paid the price. In addition to incompetent leadership, our country has failed frontline workers who risk their lives every day as servants to their community. We sent doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals into high-risk situations without providing them with the necessary PPE and safety equipment to stay safe and do their job effectively; this is like sending front line soldiers into battle without guns and ammunition. Unfortunately, fatality is inevitable.

Despite these downfalls, I have tried to utilize quarantine to the best of my ability. As an out of state student, I cherished the time I was able to spend with my family and utilized quarantine to address mental health issues I had been suppressing for years. I started therapy, and I can confidently say that I am in a much better place than I was six months ago. If the quarantine did not happen, I highly doubt I would have taken this step! Additionally, I utilized my newfound free time to start passion projects that turned into a social media platform and successful business. While quarantine has been objectively difficult, I urge students to be creative and think about how they can utilize this unique situation in a positive way!

Over the past six months, the biggest lesson I have learned is to be grateful for everything and everyone you have in your life; it can be taken from the grip of your hands at any moment. This pandemic has forced me to recenter my priorities and to think about what truly matters. Often, I would get unnecessarily consumed with my personal issues and drama and ignore the multitude of positive influences and opportunities that I am blessed to have. I hope that I will continue to learn from this pandemic and be more appreciative in the future!