You might be asking yourself, "When? When did I ask?" and the answer is simple: You didn't, but I'm going to tell you.
Earlier this month I turned 18. I'm a legal adult. I couldn't wait to do everything I had been waiting to do. I'm graduating this year, and I can't wait to go to college. Well, enter COVID-19. My school is closed until April 20. President Trump just announced social distancing measures will last until April 30, so I'm sure my Governor and school district will announce the extended closure of school. To be honest, there's no way in hell that we're going back to school.
This is my senior year. This is the year everybody talks about, what everybody looks forward to. I remember last year, we were all talking about planning a trip to somewhere like Cancun or Jamaica for spring break our senior year. Start of senior year, I started to realize I didn't want to shell out $2,400 for a trip with people I didn't even really like. But that was fine! I transferred schools in October, now finishing high school in a public school. It was the best decision I made. I started taking dual-credit classes online. I finished the first semester with an unweighted 4.0 GPA, which was the best I had ever done. I was acing college courses and breezing through my actual high school courses. I figured I'd go on a cruise with my best friend for our spring break, it'd be fine. Those plans fell through, so my family decided we'd go to Disney World as our last family vacation before I graduate. I went to Disneyland this summer, it sucked. Disney World is better. I wanted to see how Galaxy's Edge was updated since I'm the biggest Star Wars fan you'll ever meet.
Am I going to Disney World? No. I'm staying inside for my spring break. I'm sitting in my bed on my laptop writing this right now. My greatest source of entertainment is just driving across town and back listening to music. I'm exhausted of laying around and watching TV all day. I made a huge mistake by not getting my full license immediately when I was eligible. Instead, I waited to do the online course some time last week, drove to the DMV, and found out they're closed until further notice. Because I don't have my full license, I can't drive for DoorDash or Postmates. I had planned to bring in some good cash because people are using those apps to order food now more than ever. Well, I can't do that now.
I'm going to be going to college about 30 miles away from where I am right now. I'm going to get a 1 bed/1 bath apartment for myself (lying and saying I'm "living at home") and be truly independent. I was literally so excited. Now, I'm sure I won't be going back to school to finish my senior year. But I'm also worried that since nobody is taking this seriously enough, there won't be a traditional start in August. If that's the case, I'm not going to pay full price for tuition to take online classes at a school that isn't meant to be taken online. If this is the case, I can't move out, and I'll stay at home and take online courses at an online university that I already take some courses at now.
My biggest worry is summer employment. I'm supposed to work in a management position for Parks & Recreation and the pool this summer. It pays VERY well, and it's easy work. Our interviews got cancelled, and nobody really knows what's going to happen. If the pools are closed this summer, I won't have a job. I don't want to have to work at fucking Kroger, Walmart or Target this summer - or worse, Amazon. Hell no. But, I'll do what I have to do.
This is how COVID-19 is impacting me, an upper-class white kid. I'm not starving. I'm not struggling to survive. I'm just tired, bored, disappointed, and exhausted. I can't stand people who gatekeep disappointment, like we're not allowed to be upset about not graduating this year because seniors had to go fight in the Vietnam war. Yeah OK Karen, I may not be going to fight in an illegal war and kill non-combatants and ultimately lose to fucking rice farmers, but I'm still allowed to be disappointed that I won't have a senior prom or graduation.
So yeah, you all didn't ask, but here's how COVID-19 is impacting me and my senior year of high school. How is it impacting you all?
Earlier this month I turned 18. I'm a legal adult. I couldn't wait to do everything I had been waiting to do. I'm graduating this year, and I can't wait to go to college. Well, enter COVID-19. My school is closed until April 20. President Trump just announced social distancing measures will last until April 30, so I'm sure my Governor and school district will announce the extended closure of school. To be honest, there's no way in hell that we're going back to school.
This is my senior year. This is the year everybody talks about, what everybody looks forward to. I remember last year, we were all talking about planning a trip to somewhere like Cancun or Jamaica for spring break our senior year. Start of senior year, I started to realize I didn't want to shell out $2,400 for a trip with people I didn't even really like. But that was fine! I transferred schools in October, now finishing high school in a public school. It was the best decision I made. I started taking dual-credit classes online. I finished the first semester with an unweighted 4.0 GPA, which was the best I had ever done. I was acing college courses and breezing through my actual high school courses. I figured I'd go on a cruise with my best friend for our spring break, it'd be fine. Those plans fell through, so my family decided we'd go to Disney World as our last family vacation before I graduate. I went to Disneyland this summer, it sucked. Disney World is better. I wanted to see how Galaxy's Edge was updated since I'm the biggest Star Wars fan you'll ever meet.
Am I going to Disney World? No. I'm staying inside for my spring break. I'm sitting in my bed on my laptop writing this right now. My greatest source of entertainment is just driving across town and back listening to music. I'm exhausted of laying around and watching TV all day. I made a huge mistake by not getting my full license immediately when I was eligible. Instead, I waited to do the online course some time last week, drove to the DMV, and found out they're closed until further notice. Because I don't have my full license, I can't drive for DoorDash or Postmates. I had planned to bring in some good cash because people are using those apps to order food now more than ever. Well, I can't do that now.
I'm going to be going to college about 30 miles away from where I am right now. I'm going to get a 1 bed/1 bath apartment for myself (lying and saying I'm "living at home") and be truly independent. I was literally so excited. Now, I'm sure I won't be going back to school to finish my senior year. But I'm also worried that since nobody is taking this seriously enough, there won't be a traditional start in August. If that's the case, I'm not going to pay full price for tuition to take online classes at a school that isn't meant to be taken online. If this is the case, I can't move out, and I'll stay at home and take online courses at an online university that I already take some courses at now.
My biggest worry is summer employment. I'm supposed to work in a management position for Parks & Recreation and the pool this summer. It pays VERY well, and it's easy work. Our interviews got cancelled, and nobody really knows what's going to happen. If the pools are closed this summer, I won't have a job. I don't want to have to work at fucking Kroger, Walmart or Target this summer - or worse, Amazon. Hell no. But, I'll do what I have to do.
This is how COVID-19 is impacting me, an upper-class white kid. I'm not starving. I'm not struggling to survive. I'm just tired, bored, disappointed, and exhausted. I can't stand people who gatekeep disappointment, like we're not allowed to be upset about not graduating this year because seniors had to go fight in the Vietnam war. Yeah OK Karen, I may not be going to fight in an illegal war and kill non-combatants and ultimately lose to fucking rice farmers, but I'm still allowed to be disappointed that I won't have a senior prom or graduation.
So yeah, you all didn't ask, but here's how COVID-19 is impacting me and my senior year of high school. How is it impacting you all?
