Never been done before. That is the one word repeated over and over in recent television advertisements, newspaper articles, and radio show discussions. If you had asked me three months ago what 2020 would look like, I would've painted a very different image. Last quarter I learned to surf, got into both of my majors, signed the lease on a house with friends next year, and I was accepted into CHID's Prague Autumn 2020 study abroad program. I expected Spring Quarter 2020 would behold more sunset runs with friends, sunny weekends in the quad surrounded by cherry blossoms, and late-night study sessions with classmates. Instead, I was suddenly whisked back home to Oregon, taking online courses, and only seeing friends via the internet. My remote classes soon resembled endless amounts of homework, my eyes burned every day after 8+ hours of computer time, and I was quickly forced to learn the art of a Zoom call. And then there were the news reports, state quarantine rules, and social distancing etiquette. It was surreal to hear of the hundreds of thousands of people who succumbed to the virus, nevertheless to walk into my local grocery store and see everyone wearing masks. The craziest part is thinking about what the world will look like in the future, if this will ever really be 'over' one day, or if human interaction will be changed forever. It is also weird to think about reading about this pandemic in history books or telling my children about it one day knowing that I lived through it. 

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Although school was extremely challenging, it was scary to think about the effects of the virus on the population as a whole, and I mourned the loss of 'normal' college life with friends, classes, and the bustle of Seattle, this pandemic has provided time for reflection, growth, meditation, and the exploration of hobbies outside of school. I read more, played more piano, cooked more, journaled more, spent more time with my immediate family with whom I was quarantining, and thought a lot about what I want my life to look like in the future. I also sought ways to help others, including donating blood for the first time. My study abroad program may have been cancelled, but there's still hope that we'll be attending in-person courses in the fall, which I am grateful for. Overall, I think that this remote quarter taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond challenging for myself and everyone else, but I also think that it allowed ample time for intrapersonal growth. A time for life to slow down for a moment, to acknowledge and express gratitude towards all of the individuals who now risk their lives every day to help others, and to reflect and dream about what life may look like in the future. While I am anxious about the future, I am also extremely hopeful, especially seeing how far we've come as a population in just four short months. If you think about it, all life is unprecedented, for no one has ever walked the path that I or anyone else will walk in their lifetime; therefore, this may be one of the scariest parts of my unprecedented life, but I know that we will all get through it and we will be better prepared for numerous 'first time' catastrophes that will eventually hit humanity.