Speech on Isolation…

The exams never bothered me, but with days counting on I had thoughts swirling in my
head. I had to face my first international exam. Idiot, it’s nothing. It’s only two subjects.
The sensible me said. But, am I ready? NO, I have so much more to do. The revision. The
arts. The notes. I was freaking out, badly! But then came the still, AFTER the storm. The
school closed. The exams got cancelled. Finally, a break. I could breathe again.
Good afternoon sir, in view of the crisis currently devastating the world I thought to voice
out my opinions on how isolation affects us.
Isolation. I fell in love with the idea. In the midst of the war raging against an unseen
enemy where thousands of people were dying, I was elated. I dropped everything, and
instead engulfed myself in story books and movies. The war was elsewhere. I was safe at
home. So, you think I am heartless? Indifferent? But the new norm was to stay home and
be a hero. So, I gladly obliged.
I haven’t stepped out of the house over a month now but didn’t feel heroic at all. Then I
realized how wrong I was. I miss going to school. I miss the petty arguments with my
friends. I actually miss the anxiety and the exhaustion that raged through me while going
to school.
Now this feeling of isolation is wrapping around me and suffocating me like a huge,
spiteful serpent. I feel like it will take my life even before the deadly virus itself. It’s
growing on me and my ability to mingle and co-exist with people around me is fading.
I always enjoyed being with my parents. Playing games together. Going out for a drive.
Though they try my patience to a limit at times it was never exhausting. But now it’s just
the three of us day in and day out. I can totally relate to Epes of the movie Croods. The
only difference is she was stuck with her family in a dark cave and I’m in an apartment.
But hey, at least I have my parents around to drive me nuts. But for the people living on
their own? Their loved ones miles apart and stuck alone at home without their peers and
friends. How depressing. So, I guess isolation doesn’t exist as a problem in my world
compared to all the lonely, desperate people waiting, praying for the airports to open to
fly back home.
But what about the others? What about the individuals who eagerly await to take a
break form all the drama around them? The ones who indulge in themselves and in
themselves alone. Consequently, for that 25 to 40 percent of the world who are
introverts, this isolation must be a blessing in disguise.
So maybe isolation is not foe nor friend to anybody. It’s just a challenge for us to stay
sane when the world as we know is crumbling down. Thus, it’s only fitting that I take up
the challenge and stay put until the day arrives for me to step outside.
Thank you.