High school experiences are inspiration for life ahead

straight. I saw the strength in my dad, my mom and siblings, and knew that I had to move forward and not give up.

This all happened within a matter of months, and spring break was a much-needed break from being so involved at school. After spring break, I thought I would be rejuvenated, and it would be easy sailing for the rest of the school year.

Then another hurdle came along — COVID-19. Schools extended our break (and we initially thought, “Yay, free time.”) Then life changed forever. I felt lost, scared and trapped with no real answers of what tomorrow will hold. What am I supposed to do and feel in such a situation? My whole senior year ended on such short notice. No “real” graduation, prom, decision day, senior walk, senior skip day, no last theater performance or last day at school. These were the last moments of high school that I was supposed to have with my friends before we let go of our childhood and move into adulthood.

Where do we go from here? As all these thoughts rushed through my head, I had to put the disappointment aside because we may have thought our world stopped, but reality never did.

My learning environment was not the same outside of a classroom — no teachers, no friends — just me and my computer. To tell you the truth, I became uninterested and unmotivated. I am an extrovert and could not connect or feel that one-to-one relationship with my teachers or my classmates. I am a lover of real conversations with real people.

Now that this has become our new norm, it has become more manageable. I have begun to efficiently get my work done and used my extra time to help my dad get back to his new and improved self.

I have committed to go to Texas A&M University. It is my dream to major in marketing and business at Mays Business School.

Over this long break, I have actually had the opportunity to find a great group of friends virtually from the university to really connect with and get to know. I am working toward being the first college graduate from my family, and this pandemic will not deter me from my goal.

I have begun preparing myself physically and mentally to be away from home. It’s not going to be easy for me to be away, especially after my father’s stroke. But it is something I must do.

This pandemic is just a roadblock in my overall destination. I have grown to strongly believe that life is short. We shouldn’t live a day with regret, and we should surround ourselves with people who care and support us.

My years in public education have taught me the skills I need to further my education. But COVID-19 has taught me that no matter what is thrown at you, you can still succeed; your visions and goals just need a little rearranging.

As author Patrick Ness once said, “It’s not how we fall. It’s how we get back up again.”

Courtesy photo Marc Mendiola: “This pandemic is just a roadblock.”