My Epic Covid-19 Experience

The year 2020 is full of many surprises, but these surprises are not positive; perhaps, it's
negative. It was disaster-related surprises that taught us life lessons. One disaster was the
covid-19 pandemic. Every one of us has not prepared for it. So, upon the spread of the virus, it
challenged the whole world, most especially the humanity. It was like turning the world upside
down. It enabled many people to change their lifestyles. People lose their jobs, some families
lose a family member, several students stop studying because of financial problems, and lastly,
most of us suffer hunger because, during the lockdown, we only depend on the government's
support.

When strict implementation had imposed, people were not allowed to go out. Only one
member of the family is allowed to do so if and only if he or she has to buy some basic needs
outside. But otherwise, the strict implementation of the stay-at-home protocol is needed to be
obeyed. So, because of these strict rules, some people, including I, are afraid of violating the
protocol because we maybe got infected by someone positive or be imprisoned by not following
the rules. There's one time that my mother got very problematic because the aid given by the
government has run out, and she had no money already. Even my father did not have money
because, during the strict community quarantine, they were not allowed to drive their tricycles.
So, I had no choice. I needed to help my family for us to have food to eat and survive. I needed
to withdraw a small amount of money I had in my savings at a remittance center. I was delivered
by my father using his tricycle since it was okay to use it as long as it was for family use. The
time I got off the tricycle, you know the feeling that everything seemed to change, everything
seemed like a dream. I was very nervous at that time because I did not have a quarantine pass,
then I could also hear rumours that the police and soldiers were guarding the highway and
would arrest those who have no quarantine pass. Because the distance between where I got off
and the remittance center is a little further, I had to walk for a while. I feel like I am crazy while
walking because I keep on gazing at my back, at the side, and straight ahead to check if there
are policemen or soldiers. At that time, I am also holding a piece of paper pretending, like it was
my quarantine pass. I also stand and walk with a proper posture so as not to be recognized that
I am still 20 years old. That was so epic. I barely can't imagine my face.

Thus, this pandemic had greatly affected all of us. From my own experience, I have
realized that the covid-19 had changed my mindset most especially, when during the lockdown.
However, even though we were pulled down because of the pandemic, but we still managed to
stand up. The experience sent us a message to be prepared physically, emotionally, financially,
and intellectually. It should be ready for everything that would possibly happen. Now, the
challenge brought by the pandemic has not done yet, but hopefully, in God's purpose,
everything will get back not to new normal but to normal.