There are many things I miss as we endure the Covid-19 pandemic.
I miss going to school, attending classes physically and the fun activities in school. I would then spend the rest of my free time having a blast with my dorm mates, who are also my besties.
Those beautiful moments, often taken for granted pre-Covid-19 days, were just pure bliss and happiness.
When the government, in March last year, announced the nation’s first lockdown due to the pandemic, I was dumbfounded and confused. I did not know what would come next. And just like that, in a blink of an eye, everything changed.
The usual bustling neighbourhood turned eerily quiet. I was at home with my parents and younger brother – away from the outside world. And I’ve been at home for over 10 months throughout the whole of last year. Ten months!
I did attend school for a month or two, when the cases dropped and the rules were relaxed, but things weren’t the same. We had face masks on all the time and kept our distance from each other.
It meant no more hugs and handshakes, no more hanging out in groups or seeing each other’s faces. It was a stark contrast from the fun, colourful and interesting life I once enjoyed.
I was just so fed up with being locked up that I started feeling down, not being able to see my friends for such a long time. I cried myself to sleep almost every night.
My heart was filled with a strong desire to head back to school. Yet, all I could do was to watch helplessly as the number of daily Covid-19 cases kept going up.
Deep down, I felt hopeless and disappointed. I knew very well that the lockdowns would continue, and that nothing would change.
Those long days I spent at home weren’t exciting either. I attended online classes and did assignments on the Internet. I killed time by playing games and scrolling on social media and the Internet.
I listened to music on Spotify while lying in bed. I chatted with friends on WhatsApp and, occasionally, voice-called them and had a good talk.
Yet the cold, smooth and slippery surface of my mobile phone just isn’t enough to satisfy my strong desire to experience those wonderful moments filled with tears and waves of laughter before the pandemic started.
I can still remember my heart breaking when my friends reluctantly said ‘goodbye’ to me and left on the final day of school before the lockdown was enforced. That was the last time I saw them. I just sat there, watching them leave until they were completely gone from my sight.
Because of this pandemic, my last few months in elementary school before graduating were spent at home. My graduation trip with my classmates had to be cancelled and I lost the opportunity to say my goodbyes because there was no graduation ceremony either.
My first year in high school was no fun either, due to lockdown. I had only spent 33 days in high school. Yes, only 33 days! The government’s reassurances that we no longer needed lockdowns, sounded hollow.
Those months flew by, meaningless and empty, as I missed out on all the fun I could have had. If only this pandemic had never occurred in the first place!
Oh, how I wish that once again I could carry my schoolbag, walk into my school, and be greeted by the laughter of my friends.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.
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