Levelling Up

5/26/2020

You might not realize it, but social distancing has been our own version of the Hero's Journey, with which we started the year. We left our status quo to the special world, battled several obstacles, and are hopefully returning to our status quo, but upgraded. With that in mind, what are some aspects, either personal or societal, that might/should change as we emerge from this pandemic? Explain your reasoning.

67 Comments

Kendra

5/26/2020 04:37:58 pm

I feel like I have learned a lot from this experience. It truly has been life changing. I have learned a lot of things about myself, like I am more of a social person than I thought. I’ve always been talkative and wanted to share my opinion but not having that for a while really showed me I am. I love that it has brought people together. I have seen people going out to buy groceries for their elderly neighbors and calling their relatives more than usual. I think overall it has been a positive and negative experience. I think people have realized that we need to help people not just in a time of need but all the time. It has made me realize how much good is in the world and I think we are going to come back stronger than ever.

Lizzie

5/27/2020 10:17:11 am

I agree that this truly has been a life changing experience that will forever be remembered. I hope that we as a world do come back stronger from this.

megan

5/27/2020 02:11:19 pm

I think it's really cool that people are reaching out to their community and offering help to the people who need it most.

Trishelle

5/27/2020 02:52:47 pm

I agree with you about being talkative and e opinion thing.

Boaz

5/27/2020 03:52:38 pm

Ya it has definitely been life changing and I am glad that it seems you have used it to change it in a better way.

Sienna

5/27/2020 06:08:18 pm

I sure hope we come back stronger. It everything that’s happened was all for nothing

Erik

5/28/2020 11:09:08 am

I have also learned a lot from this experience and it has been eye opening. I am also glad to see people coming together to overcome this problem.

Jonah

6/1/2020 09:10:34 pm

You know I consider myself more of a listener, until I have an opinion, then I speak up. So I haven’t been affected as much, but I also don’t have anyone to listen to and give advice to in quarantine so🤷‍♂️

Myah

5/26/2020 08:22:32 pm

This pandemic had taught me in ways I wouldn't expect. First of all I'll now forever be aware of germs, and I now have a great habit of washing my hands recently. I also have learned to be prepared for this kind of thing. When I'm older, and have my own house, I know that I will have a decent food storage just in case something like this happens again, and if we have food shortages like we had a month ago. I'll make sure to have extra supplies for things too. I also learned that I don't like not being with people. I realized how much I like being out of the house. Maybe its because sometimes I just don't get along with my family, but I'm not sure.

Lizzie

5/27/2020 10:19:23 am

I also realized I was hardly ever home before all of this and at first it was great having more time to be home but I quickly realized that this was going to drive me crazy. I think that when this is all over than we will all be going and hanging out with our friends because texting and calling them isn't the same.

Kendra

5/27/2020 11:04:19 am

It has also taught me the importance of food storage. I will now forever do my best to have food storage just case of an emergency.

Dakota James

5/27/2020 12:48:51 pm

You probably aren't the only person that is thinking about stocking up on food and supplies for the future disasters. I have always washed my hands frequently, even before this whole pandemic happened. I find it hard to believe that this many people have just realized the importance of cleanliness.

Sienna

5/27/2020 06:07:40 pm

That’s a good idea

Lizzie

5/27/2020 10:16:04 am

This pandemic has been a life changing event for me. I have learned a lot things about myself and my family. I reestablished in my mind how social of a person I am and I have realized how many little things I have taken for granted such as hanging out with friends, competing in sports, and even going to school. It has been a hard struggle for me because I am not even used to being home this much. I think that when this pandemic is over that a lot of people may have changed for the better or the worse. I think when we finally start emerging from this that we will be a different society and hopefully if this happens in the future that we will be better prepared for it. I think this has been a hard experience especially for teenagers because we are so used to being able to do pretty much what we want but now there are a lot more rules so some of us might go a little crazy when quarantine is over.

Kendra

5/27/2020 11:03:03 am

I agree that we will be better prepared if something like this happens again. I also agree it has been very life changing.

Dakota James

5/27/2020 12:44:24 pm

I couldn't agree more. We will definitely be better prepared for the next pandemic. I also like how you made the point of taking things for granted, we should be thankful for even the simplest things. I believe we learned that lesson.

Dakota James

5/27/2020 12:40:44 pm

I believe that as this pandemic comes to an end and eventually fades away, the impacts will linger. I think people will be more concerned with their health and continue taking more precautions than they did before the virus hit. Since it has been brought to everyone's attention that events like these do happen, some things should change. We should be better prepared for the next tragedy like this. We will also be more technologically advanced. On a personal level, my life has taken many different turns because of this pandemic. I have learned to be thankful for everything, because you don't realize how much you'll miss it until it's gone. In this case, it was my life of normalcy. I also figured out what real boredom was, I can't believed I ever complained about it before. Overall, this has been an unforgettably experience for everyone and we have all become better because of it. Oddly enough, I am grateful for the experience, the good and bad.

Dakota James

5/27/2020 12:42:07 pm

unforgettable*

megan

5/27/2020 02:10:23 pm

It really has been an unforgettable experience. No one will forget what happened this year but I am grateful as well to have been apart of this madness in some sort of way.

Erik

5/28/2020 11:12:06 am

After this there will be lingering effects and being concerned about you and the people around you It can make the world a safer and more clean place. I am also happy that this is all over but I hope it only gets better from here.

megan

5/27/2020 02:05:06 pm

This pandemic has us feeling that we have been set back from doing stuff that we love or that we've looked froward to. Things such as sports or graduating are the most typical missed out events this school season. Even though some of us are feeling down and like it will never go up from here we have to realize that the people closest to us are going through the same situation and we need to find ways to make it better. Something that should change coming out of the quarentine is a better understanding of how close everyone is and a better understanding of how to deal with surprise situations.

Trishelle

5/27/2020 02:54:21 pm

I agree with you on how to deal with surprise situations thing. And it is also a setback on us all.

Eliza

5/31/2020 10:36:07 pm

I like how you have a positive reponce.

Trishelle

5/27/2020 02:51:49 pm

This pandemic has been a life changing for me and many others. But also I think that some of the people have took this way to serious. Yes this is a real thing but the flu is just as bad as this covid thing. I do hope that we can face this and it gets over soon because the whole “new normal thing is annoying” I hate it. While being home and not at school I have learned that I miss seeing and talking to people that I don’t talk to over message or other social media.

Eliza

5/31/2020 10:24:56 pm

It really has been life changing.

Boaz

5/27/2020 03:50:53 pm

I have had a lot of time for self reflection so I have definitely changed a lot, hopefully for the better. The biggest thing that will change for me is appreciation for classmates and for the connection that I have with teachers in having them right there. I think my work ethic has improved quite a bit as well. My last year kind of ruined my work ethic at home because my school in Colorado was the easiest thing ever. I might have needed to do homework a total of 5 time over the year. I have relearned how to deal with distractions when I need to get work done. I think that as a population, we will be a lot more considerate of each other. I think that this time has brought many groups and individuals together so I am looking forward to how that translates to after the pandemic.

Micah Tolman

5/27/2020 04:19:27 pm

Doing school work at home seemed to have a lot more distractions than it did while at school. This is because there was no structure, so I kept procrastinating my work to go and do other things which were more enjoyable.

Hailey

5/27/2020 09:58:59 pm

My work ethic has also improved. Online schooling has been much more difficult than I was expecting it to be. I’ve had many frustrations regarding this “new normal”, but in the end it has encouraged personal growth. I appreciate the struggles I have faced during this time, but I hope that we don’t have to experience these difficulties again anytime soon.

Olivia

5/28/2020 12:44:18 pm

I agree that this pandemic is bringing us all together, because as a society we're all going through the same things during this time.

Nathan

5/31/2020 12:19:13 pm

Your right I have found that with learning with little structure it can be very easy to get distracted. It has been a struggle to over come that.

Sienna

5/27/2020 06:06:54 pm

I’ve learned that you can’t rely on teachers, that parents don’t understand what’s happening, and that if someone cared for me they wouldn’t put themselves in a position to lose me. I have upgraded into someone who doesn’t rely on what others think or do. I have learned that teachers are struggling and that parents will not understand grading issues and ground their children for it causing more stress and hate between parent and offspring. That the world is now more corrupt than it seems. That people will really use a sickness to their advantage. And that apparently school wasn’t an essential job but the stress of school was. But hey, all of this was at the expense of our knowledge right? It’s all for us.

Olivia

5/28/2020 12:43:24 pm

I feel like you should @ your parents. Lol. I feel like we're all doing what we can in this situation, though. Everyone's situations are a lot different.

Cade

6/1/2020 11:15:26 pm

I too feel that parents don't understand what happens with grading and assignments.

Micah Tolman

5/27/2020 09:10:41 pm

I think that a big change in society will be the types of jobs which will be sought after. I perceive that the young adults who will soon be deciding on a career have realized that when disaster strikes, not all jobs will get you what you need. They may be more inclined to choose a career that will allow them to keep working even during tribulations. A change which I can make in my life is to be more appreciative when things are going smoothly. Having time to be by myself has also taught me some of my weaknesses, and I have been able to grow as an individual.

Hailey

5/27/2020 09:52:07 pm

I really like the insight you have concerning jobs. I agree that going into “essential” fields of work will become more popular. On the other hand, I’m sure that “nonessential” businesses are concerned about a future pandemic or global disaster.

Boaz

5/29/2020 03:29:52 pm

This time has definitely allowed us to see what we have normally which will allow us to be more appreciative

Hailey

5/27/2020 09:49:04 pm

This worldwide pandemic, although frustrating and devastating in many aspects, has influenced great personal and societal changes. For myself, this stay-at-home order has given me time to appreciate the important people in my life. Being suddenly separated from friends and loved ones has shown me the true effect of their absence, and has made me yearn for their presence. I’ve begun reaching out to relatives that I formerly did not stay in touch with because, now more than ever, tomorrow is not guaranteed. This pandemic has also given me time to try new hobbies and discover things about myself that I previously did not know. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to grow closer to the Lord, as well. In a societal aspect, COVID-19 has brought out the good in many people. Younger people are aiding their elderly neighbors. People are staying home to prevent harming themselves, but also out of respect for others. Many are developing greater compassion and understanding, and patience is growing. This virus is certainly not a good thing for many reasons, but it has encouraged many positive changes throughout the world.

Nathan

5/31/2020 12:15:35 pm

I agree many things that we took for granted before this we now long for as our reality.

Ele

5/31/2020 08:02:00 pm

I agree, and this has also helped me discover new things about myself and I am thankful for that.

Keely

5/28/2020 10:47:17 am

The light this experience I have learned that I am a worse procrastinator than I thought I was. It has taught me how to put away distractions and just get my work done. It has me more aware germs and how important it is to pay attention to the seemingly small things in my life. Not only has it changed the outward appearance of things, it’s changed my emotional side. I’m so glad I have a big family that I can connect with. It’s made me realize that even though I’m a relatively shy person I’m way more extroverted then I thought. This will change the world for the better. And with time this will dissipated.

Jonah

5/30/2020 08:58:34 pm

I am thankful for parents who allow me to do the majority of the things that are what I want to do. We have a fairly low amount of rules in our house, because they’re kind of just an unspoken expectation. So when the rules do get broken, they expect us to know what we’ve gotten ourselves into. They have taught us to be hard working and independent. They don’t push us to get good grades, they taught us at a young age and we have become self reliant and learned for ourselves the importance of that. Maybe as a result of learning from our mistakes. Parents who have taught me to be grateful for what I have. I know they were raised differently and so they want to be better parents to us then theirs were to them.

Erik

5/28/2020 11:07:41 am

One thing that has had a positive impact is the environment has been getting better. There has been a positive impact on some people’s minds and they have used this time to become a better person. Many people have been negatively affected by this but it will show us how much we really have and they will learn not to take what they have for granted. The economy has been effected badly but soon I hope it will get better again. I am glad I live in this small town because I still have the opportunity to work and be able to go places and I’m sure being locked inside has made some appreciate what is around them.

Anthony

5/31/2020 01:28:14 pm

You are right the earthly environment is getting better and we are very lucky to live in a small town with space, countryside, and mountains to appreciate.

Ele

5/31/2020 08:00:43 pm

Yes! We are very lucky to be in the town we live in right now, having the ability to go outside in the mountains and also work.

Olivia

5/28/2020 12:41:37 pm

I have found in myself that even though I am an introvert to the extreme that I still enjoy having the option to be social and see everyone. I love talking to my friends in person, and I took that for granted. After this is over (whenever that may be), I feel like people will finally realize that we're lucky to live in the world we do. We have the technology to connect with people, when in the past pandemics we didn't have any of that. The mortality rate of this pandemic is so much better than say the Black Plague, which took almost everyone. I think our society is fairly spoiled, and we don't really get that until we put it in perspective.

Micah Tolman

5/28/2020 02:11:39 pm

I agree with you that the technology which is available to us is very useful in times like these. We have so many wonderful gadgets that make our lives easier and more pleasant.

Jonah

5/30/2020 08:53:10 pm

In consequence of recent news, I would hope that as a society, we take another look at running more just policing systems. Throughout the country, police are being given new powers to enforce social distancing—and that can only mean one thing for Black people. Covid Is About to Become the Newest Excuse for Police Brutality. There are varying reasons why COVID-19 is killing black people at six times the rate of white people. Associated with living in an environment that has more police violence, and the threat of that force on its residents.

Nathan

5/31/2020 12:13:31 pm

This experience has changed me greatly. Because of extra time without distractions I have been able to do more self reflection. I have better learned my strengths and weaknesses. I am beginning to understand who I am. There have been other positives because of corona. It has brought me closer to my family, we are closer than we have ever been and I am so thankful for that. But because of not seeing my friends for 2 months I have started to loose some friendships that were really strong before this, I feel like I slowly drifting away from my social life.

Anthony

5/31/2020 01:25:28 pm

It is good that this pandemic has brought you closer to your family. Family is the one thing that will always be there throughout the rest of time.

Tyler

5/31/2020 07:08:06 pm

I don’t think it has affected your friendships as much as you think it has. I miss hanging out with you bro and can’t wait till we can again.

Anthony

5/31/2020 01:22:19 pm

During this time I have realized that I am more of a social person than I thought. I don’t think this has brought many positives to my life. As I emerge from this period of social distancing I value my social life more than ever before. Aside from my personal growth or depression, I don’t think life will ever be the same.

Anthony

5/31/2020 01:24:07 pm

Life as we know it is over and as much as I wish it would return back to normal I fear a new normal will also emerge from this pandemic.

Tyler

5/31/2020 07:15:14 pm

Quarantine has really taken a tole on me and my social life, I know that this pandemic has strengthened the bond between me and my family but with being quarantined I really have missed all my friends and the fun things we did together. After all of this is past us I feel like if anything the bonds between us and our friends will strengthen and we will grow to be more appreciative of the time we have together.

Beth

5/31/2020 08:10:57 pm

Yeah the hanging out with friends has definitely been missed.

Ele

5/31/2020 07:59:07 pm

This worldwide pandemic taught me a lot about myself, people around me, school, and many things about life. I never thought we would go through such a thing, and in a way I thought it would be close to impossible its crazy. During this time there was so many "what if"s and if I think about everything that happened before this I cannot think of us doing half of the things we did then now, for a while and some might never be the same. During this, I have realized how important my friends are in my life and the activities we were able to participant in. I never knew how lucky we were to have that social interaction with everyone we were with and seen everyday was. This showed me that I would way rather be outside and have that constant communication and ability to not have constant limits. Having that stuck feeling and just that thought of what if, always on my mind is not fun. This has definitely changed our society and its way of life. After this, I know now to not take any day for granted and to many the most out of it. To continue to grow your friendships and to strengthen them and yourself everyday. This pandemic has changed the world and the society in many ways, and has reshaped us.

Beth

5/31/2020 08:10:11 pm

Yeah I definitely agree that I learned how important friends and family are.

Ady

5/31/2020 09:26:58 pm

I think it’s pretty cool that the whole world will be shaped by one event together as a whole.

Beth

5/31/2020 08:02:11 pm

I don’t think I will ever take the little daily interactions for granted again. I definitely won’t complain about school again. And I won’t ever make jokes about homeschooling again because it absolutely sucks. I think that this will really just make me appreciate all of the little things in life that I wasn’t able to do during quarantine. It’s also been nice to spend more time with my family and get to know them a little better. I think that with this I have really had the opportunity to grow as an individual and that is something that I will definitely take with me.

Ady

5/31/2020 09:26:11 pm

Haha, I definitely agree with not being able to complain about school.

carson

6/1/2020 01:19:06 pm

I like your opinions but personally I prefer doing online school. It gives me more time in my day.

Ady

5/31/2020 09:25:36 pm

I have learned a lot from this experience I’ve learned to be grateful to family to friends and to be grateful for the fun times. Going forward from this experience I will definitely treat seeing people and going to do simple every day tasks in town as if they were the most exciting part of my year. Personally I think everyone will smile a little more when they’re in public and be a little more happy doing every day things. It’s kind of funny how events and plans which seems so normal and non-special to us on our now looked at as a privilege. Personally I think everyone will smile a little more when they’re in public and be a little more happy doing every day things. It’s kind of funny how events and plans which seems so normal and non-special to us on our looked at as a special occasion.

carson

6/1/2020 01:18:14 pm

I also learned to be grateful for family and friends.

Eliza

5/31/2020 10:33:37 pm

I think people have come to appreciate their family’s. The pace has slowed down and I really like that I can spend more time on what I want. I hope that the fear doesn’t stay, but prioritize our time better. I hope that if people are sick they’ll stay home but I want to go back to a scheduled life but still spend time with family and what we want to do.

Madeline Sapp

6/1/2020 02:59:09 am

There are lots of things that people should be realizing from this pandemic. Some things are very simple such as just washing your hands more often and giving people their personal space more often. Some aspects are more complicated such as now we should pay more attention to mental health. Mental health is seen more now than ever as something that we should care more about. Sometimes in our world we only care about a persons physical health but mental health, if not more important, is just as important. I think now more people should be invested in finding out how to help people with things such as sleep disorders.

Cade

6/1/2020 11:14:19 pm

I agree that having personal space is very important.

Cade

6/1/2020 08:53:09 am

I've learned many lessons from this pandemic. One is that I never realized how much I love being around people and how much I hate being away from friends. I didn't think I'd ever hate the quiet. I also learned that washing your hands and just being clean in general is an essential key to staying safe. Something I think that should change as society reopens is how much more cleanlier people are being than before. I also think people will be more prepared in case something like this happens again.

carson

6/1/2020 01:17:26 pm

I think there are a lot of things we can learn from this. We have learned not to take life for granted. Also to not take our friends and people around us for granted. I think we can also learn that we need to be safer in public so things like this do not happen again. I think this virus has taught a lot of people things about themselves that they otherwise would have never known.

Levelling Up

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