My Realizations During this Pandemic

It was days after my birthday, March 11, when they implemented the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. I remember we went out for lunch on a buffet restaurant during that day. I had a good time with my family, until things got worst. The COVID-19 turned into a global pandemic.

I’m writing this right now without any internet connection, hoping it will be back later this afternoon. I still have hope that things will get better, even if most of our deadlines are due today, May 30, 2020. I was about to have a breakdown, but I told myself, “I don’t have time and room for that”. Even if the chance to have the internet connection back this afternoon is quite low, I still need to persevere in finishing what I can do today. Things don’t end when hope is the last grain of sand in an hourglass. We need to keep going, no matter how hard and what we’re going through right now.

Back to the topic, everything happened so fast. The number of COVID-19 cases increased within a week. The economy of various countries started to collapse, while Mental Health and online classes got on trend that time. I was one of those unfortunates who experienced the lack of equipment and had no internet access on online classes. It was a painful experience, not physically but mentally--I got drained and burnt out. Privilege was the hottest topic after a few universities in the country announced to still pursue online classes during the pandemic.

In the middle of this mental-draining global pandemic, one university in our country stood the most—Ateneo de Manila University, my dream school. According to the post on their social media account, they will be passing the grades of their students, and refund their tuition fees. Amazing, right? Or as we, Filipinos, would like to call it “sana all”. Multiple students from various universities around the country gave their reactions and started a petition to end online classes.

Amidst everything that is happening right now, the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones recently announced that the start of enrollment for public schools would begin this June first. President Rodrigo Duterte later opposed, stating that there will be no classes this school year until they find the vaccine for the COVID-19.

As a student who has experienced the lack of equipment and no internet access, I must agree with the President. First of all, education can wait. We can’t risk our lives to attend physical classes and sacrifice our mental health on online classes. If they must implement an alternative for online, blended or flexible learning, it should be for the betterment of both the privileged and unprivileged students. We can’t leave behind those who can’t afford to pursue online classes; it would be unfair. Education should not be for the privileged only; it must be accessible for everyone—one of the 17 United Nations goals to achieve by 2030.

Moving on, May was Mental Health month. Various non-profit and youth-led organizations started a week-long campaign on how to treat mental health and break the stigma. “Ironic,” I told myself. We’re on a middle of a global pandemic where anxiety, depression, and stress arise, and the students’ mental health is deteriorating due to online classes. But I was thankful for these hardworking individuals, who still continue to break the stigma and remind everyone to keep their mental health healthy. Somehow it motivated me to keep going. I know I will get through this. We will.

We, Filipinos, are known to be sailors of all waves, as we’ve experienced most of the typhoons and other natural calamities compared to other countries around the world. Recently, a typhoon hit the country, leaving houses destroyed and families with no shelter and food. It’s in times like these that we must unite, or “magka-isa at magbayanihan”. More people are in need of our help.

Right now, I don’t have a choice but to finish all my requirements for the sake of passing my grades. I feel bad for those who don’t have any equipments at all. “How are they coping?” I asked myself. With the poor internet connection that we have in our country, I’m sure that even those who are privileged are having a hard time coping with this pandemic. Adding their responsibilities in their own homes.

For some, this pandemic is a blessing. They can stay at their homes binge-watching their favorite shows on Netflix, order scrumptious foods, and have more time with their families. Unlike other families, especially the poor, who are not worrying about their online classes but where will they get food, since their families don’t have work. It’s not a bad thing for the privileged, you know? What’s bad is priding their privilege on social media.

Next thing I’d like to discuss is motivation. When the lockdown started in our area, I thought I was going to be productive, not until weeks passed and found myself cramming with my assessments. I signed up for various online courses and conferences that picked my interest. I know you’d say it’s ironic because I have time for those but not for my online classes. Truth is, I can learn more without academic pressure. I can learn on my own pace and not worry about the deadline.

I became unproductive as days passed when my mental health was deteriorating. I was stressed with this pandemic, my assessments, and my future. It’s not a joke to worry. In fact, we should be prioritizing our health (both physically and mentally) in the middle of this pandemic.

Lastly, I’d like to talk about learning and how to appreciate the small things in life.

This pandemic shouldn’t be a reason to stop our learning, be it academic or in life. Education can wait, but learning cannot. For those who are privileged, take this time to learn as much as possible. You already have an advantage. So, don’t waste too much time, but also remember to prioritize your mental health first.

Appreciate everything you have right now. The small things you have right now might be a great blessing for others—a lesson I learned on our concluded 300 Youth Sojourn last January. Nothing lasts forever. Make the most of what you have today. Don’t look on other’s plate when you have yours full. And most importantly, pray to God. Keep your faith strong, especially in times like these. Ask for protection, for shelter, for knowledge and wisdom, for good health, and for this global pandemic to end soon.