Name of Participant: Sherry Anne B.

Alenton Year level: Third Year

Local Chapter: University of San Jose-Recoletos Date: February 16, 2021
Theme: Take Me Back to 2020

“I’d Give a Dime Just to relive my 2020 without COVID”

December 31, 2019, at eleven fifty-nine in the evening, everyone in the world, from children to
adults were excited to welcome the year 2020. Fireworks from different places started displaying their
lively colors as they paint the night sky with mesmerizing shapes and images. Sounds of plastic horns, car
honks, and joyous greetings from neighbors were heard. We were cheerful, and excited to start a new
chapter of our lives, as we look forward to realizing our planned itineraries and schedules for 2020. We
were ready to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, attend weddings and wear lavish dresses as we cheer
for the bride and groom, attend graduation ceremonies, wear witty Halloween costumes during a
Halloween party, prepare gifts and attend countless parties during Christmas, and wear our best attires as
we welcome another year. But all of these excitement for 2020 had been replaced by fear, anxiety and
uncertainty brought about by the sudden presence of an unexpected, unplanned, and unwelcome
pandemic-CORONA VIRUS-19. We were robbed, robbed of our anticipated trips and celebrations and
we became desperate, desperate enough to wish for another COVID-free 2020. We wanted to turn back
time and go back to 2020 and make our plans for the year come to life.
I was one of the many people who had plans for 2020. Many of my plans were canceled, three of
which were so important to me that I wished to be taken back to 2020, if it would mean those plans could
have happened.
First, the third week of February was scheduled for a long-awaited trip overseas. I was thrilled
when 2020 came because I knew I just had to wait for a month and a half until my trip. I had already
organized my things and even bought new shoes and clothes just for the trip. I even practiced my poses
for the different places I was supposed to visit. Yes, I was that excited. February 20, 2020, I still
remembered how anxious I was while watching the news about the restrictions imposed by our
government regrading local and international travels. I knew then that the trip would have to be
postponed. I just didn’t expect for it to be canceled completely.
Second, the 18th of May was scheduled for a grand reunion among our relatives from Cebu and
Davao, a reunion that was planned since 2019. I was so excited to meet relatives whom I haven’t
personally met yet. My cousin, who was my childhood playmate, and I was supposed to be in-charge of
ushering our relatives, and the task itself awakened my inner desire to contribute to the success of the
reunion. However, the reunion did not push through because of COVID-19.
Lastly, June was supposed to be the start of my classes. Pre-pandemic, I took for granted the time
I spent in school. I even wanted to go home early once my last subject finished because I hated staying at
school for long. It was too late when I realized how much time I wasted just sitting on a bench at the
hallways during break periods instead of going outside and exploring the school grounds. I missed school
and I regretted not attending many events in and out of school.
If wishing upon a shooting star or throwing a coin on a wishing well would grant me a ticket to
relive a COVID-free 2020, I’d bet on it, with my life on the line. COVID-19 had taken my plans away
from me, it crushed my dreams for the year 2020.