I don’t think I treasured how life was like pre-coronavirus. I say “pre-coronavirus” dramatically as though I were in some dystopian novel where a catastrophic event marks two different time periods, but honestly, with how life has changed, it sure feels like it. I miss being able to casually go out to the store without feeling like a biohazard upon returning home; I miss being able to eat at my favorite restaurants; and I miss being able to see the people I care about on a regular basis. It’s strange, because before, I really didn’t have a plan of how my day would go. I would just go out and let whatever happens happen, because I knew that everything would turn out ok, even with all the spontaneity. But now, my days are spent at home, with the same routine, and yet everything feels less certain. Despite all this, at the end of the day, being able to “miss” these simple experiences means that I still have a lot to be grateful for. And while I reminisce on being able to go out, see my friends and do normal things, I know that these aren’t normal times, and that means having to adjust my expectations.”

– Helen Nguyen, GSU, 2nd year| Finally baked first cake from scratch!