COVID-19: an opinion from a teenager

Jarhead713

Jarhead713

Junior Mod
5-Year Member
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Mar 21, 2019
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The county I live in has almost a dozen confirmed cases and counting. My parents stocked up on food tonight, by the time we left Walmart at 19:00, the entire store was full of people, and empty of everything else. Panic's setting in, and it's a little scary down here. They haven't closed MY school because we're our own district, but every other district around us has cancelled. Kids are getting pulled out of class everyday because they've somehow been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case. I'll admit it, I'm nervous. I know the chances of me actually dying are super super low, but that doesn't mean it's still scary. After all, I have 3 grandparents who I worry about a lot, and many of my aunts and uncles are older. I worry about them, too.

I have a cousin who's a flight attendant. She's been seeing lots of things up close. It's worse than what they're saying, much worse. They don't have the resources to be testing as many people as they should be testing. That means cases go undocumented and go out into the public. What's scary to think about is that I probably have it, or someone very close to me does, and the symptoms just haven't been showing yet.

Sports seasons are being cancelled, and knowing my luck, my final season of lacrosse will be too. Prom's gonna be cancelled, and if it doesn't work out soon graduation will be too.

I hate to stir up the worry, but when my grandfather was on his deathbed, he told me this: "You don't know when it's all gonna end. Live life like it's your last day, because one day it will be. If you have the opportunity, take it. You may never get it again." I was six years old when he told me that. I have never, and will never forget that, and neither should you.

Carpe Diem, my friends.

There's this girl in my 3rd period who I've liked since I was in the 6th grade, I think I'll ask her to dinner tomorrow night.

I know there's an excessive amount of worry, but it's just another reason to live life to the fullest.

Keep your head up, SAF :)
 
You are wise beyond your years, my friend. There's no shortage of well-versed and academically inclined teenagers on this forum, but the sense of community you have established is remarkable. This virus is scary and life is short, and I am so happy that you have the opportunity to do excellent things for your country. I wish you the best of luck at Ole Miss, and I hope to join you there if USMA doesn't work out for me. Hotty Toddy and Carpe Diem!
 
Jarhead713 said:
The county I live in has almost a dozen confirmed cases and counting. My parents stocked up on food tonight, by the time we left Walmart at 19:00, the entire store was full of people, and empty of everything else. Panic's setting in, and it's a little scary down here. They haven't closed MY school because we're our own district, but every other district around us has cancelled. Kids are getting pulled out of class everyday because they've somehow been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case. I'll admit it, I'm nervous. I know the chances of me actually dying are super super low, but that doesn't mean it's still scary. After all, I have 3 grandparents who I worry about a lot, and many of my aunts and uncles are older. I worry about them, too.

I have a cousin who's a flight attendant. She's been seeing lots of things up close. It's worse than what they're saying, much worse. They don't have the resources to be testing as many people as they should be testing. That means cases go undocumented and go out into the public. What's scary to think about is that I probably have it, or someone very close to me does, and the symptoms just haven't been showing yet.

Sports seasons are being cancelled, and knowing my luck, my final season of lacrosse will be too. Prom's gonna be cancelled, and if it doesn't work out soon graduation will be too.

I hate to stir up the worry, but when my grandfather was on his deathbed, he told me this: "You don't know when it's all gonna end. Live life like it's your last day, because one day it will be. If you have the opportunity, take it. You may never get it again." I was six years old when he told me that. I have never, and will never forget that, and neither should you.

Carpe Diem, my friends.

There's this girl in my 3rd period who I've liked since I was in the 6th grade, I think I'll ask her to dinner tomorrow night.

I know there's an excessive amount of worry, but it's just another reason to live life to the fullest.

Keep your head up, SAF :)
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You never cease to impress me. And, you’re an awesome writer.
 
To add on to the thread, my entire state just had school cancelled for the next three weeks. My individual school district now has no school for the next four weeks.

I’m wondering how this will impact graduation timings and R-day specifically. I know I will have online work, but I’m hopeful my district doesn’t try to add time into the school year because the time between when I leave high school and R-day is quite tight.
 
Jarhead713 said:
The county I live in has almost a dozen confirmed cases and counting. My parents stocked up on food tonight, by the time we left Walmart at 19:00, the entire store was full of people, and empty of everything else. Panic's setting in, and it's a little scary down here. They haven't closed MY school because we're our own district, but every other district around us has cancelled. Kids are getting pulled out of class everyday because they've somehow been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case. I'll admit it, I'm nervous. I know the chances of me actually dying are super super low, but that doesn't mean it's still scary. After all, I have 3 grandparents who I worry about a lot, and many of my aunts and uncles are older. I worry about them, too.

I have a cousin who's a flight attendant. She's been seeing lots of things up close. It's worse than what they're saying, much worse. They don't have the resources to be testing as many people as they should be testing. That means cases go undocumented and go out into the public. What's scary to think about is that I probably have it, or someone very close to me does, and the symptoms just haven't been showing yet.

Sports seasons are being cancelled, and knowing my luck, my final season of lacrosse will be too. Prom's gonna be cancelled, and if it doesn't work out soon graduation will be too.

I hate to stir up the worry, but when my grandfather was on his deathbed, he told me this: "You don't know when it's all gonna end. Live life like it's your last day, because one day it will be. If you have the opportunity, take it. You may never get it again." I was six years old when he told me that. I have never, and will never forget that, and neither should you.

Carpe Diem, my friends.

There's this girl in my 3rd period who I've liked since I was in the 6th grade, I think I'll ask her to dinner tomorrow night.

I know there's an excessive amount of worry, but it's just another reason to live life to the fullest.

Keep your head up, SAF :)
Click to expand...

Good for you man! Definitely keep us updated on the outcome, i'm dying to know!!
 
For our young readers, please don’t WORRY. Part of the ‘scary’ part of all this is the fact that EVERYTHING is in your FACE, 24/7. You need to shut it down, and take a break. For your mental and emotional health. Yes it’s serious. But you control what you can, it’s all you can do.

Much of all the cancellations, etc is trying to prevent an onslaught of illness all at the same time. Slowing down the spread. So that our healthcare systems are able to handle the impending illnesses. Spreading those that require care out over a period of 6 months, for example, instead of two. It also allows time for development of testing and vaccinations. With all our FDA processes and requirements, we are slower at all that than unregulated countries. But they will come!!

The mass cancellations aren't because it’s the end of times. Or that everyone is at risk for getting it. It’s to be proactive in providing the ability of our hospitals and doctors to care for those that (usually) are elderly and/or compromised. To slow down the spread.

It is startling. But it will be OK. Hang in there!! And turn off updates for a while. It helps!

Y’all are rockstars. If you can survive an application period of 18 mos, and wait out notices of appointments/ROTC, YOU GOT THIS TOO 💪😤!!
 
Yeah, I’m sort of in the same boat. This is our last day of school for two weeks... found out at track practice yesterday. It was really surreal, and frustrating because now track will be cancelled (at least for as long as school is out), and all of the events and trips that our school has been planning have been cancelled for good. I’m a bit worried about AP tests, and how everything will look on my resume when I apply next year.
Still, I figure that this is sort of like an earlier, unplanned spring break...might as well use it to my advantage, somehow.
 
Very much a whole lot of unknowns and questions. But honestly, this is a lot like life. And being able to manage the stress and adapt to changing situations is something that will bode well as a military officer. Or as an adult in general. Do what you can, give it your all, don’t worry about the stuff outside you ability to control. All you can do is your best!!
 
Since someone asked for updates, here's how that situation with the girl went:

I walk into calculus and go up to her desk. I literally just blurt it out "Hey, uh, let's go out to dinner tonight." My voice probably cracked, lol.

She responded with "I have a boyfriend." I said "I know, I don't care. It's the end of the world. I'll pay for dinner."

She said "Ok."

It's the end of the world as we know it... but I feel fineeee 🎵
 
So, since the big rock we are on is still spinning, I am dying to know how dinner went? Were you able to herd the ducks into submission long enough to make it through a meal?
 
Heatherg21 said:
So, since the big rock we are on is still spinning, I am dying to know how dinner went? Were you able to herd the ducks into submission long enough to make it through a meal?
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Well, dinner didn't happen unfortunately.

Both my parents and older sister were feeling sick at the time. They've since gotten better (my little sister and myself never felt sick at all, so if COVID-19 made its way through the house... hopefully it's done)

I'm in quarantine. I haven't left the house since last Friday night after school.

Back on topic:

Dinner might still be on, not sure... The ducks and smoke didn't help, but at least it wasn't as bad as when they popped out during my nomination interviews
[A brief overview of how that went]

Interviewer: What makes you a good fit for USMA?
Me: Ducks
Interviewer: I'm sorry?
Me: They've been driving me crazy for 18 years--
Ducks: *flying out of my cigarette and knocking off my red hat*
Interviewer: Yeah I think we'll have to go in a different direction...
Me: South?? You can take them south?
 
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