What the pandemic has taught me, by a high school junior

By Meg Jernigan

That’s a statement I never thought I’d be qualified to write. But as it turns out, I am one of those 2020 high school students who is learning to cope because of some crazy twisted convergence of events. 

I am a Junior at Sonoma Valley High School. I attended Sunshine Preschool, Prestwood and Adele Harrison Middle School. I love school and I love our community. I must say, if you are going to have to SIP (shelter in place) anywhere in the world, this is probably one of the best places to be: a caring and safe community, with nice weather and beautiful scenery. Our town has people from many different walks of life and endless opportunities to get engaged. 

One thing most high school students don’t usually have much of is time. Homework, sports, school activities, clubs, family life, more homework, a job, and an occasional party (wink wink), keep us busy, maybe too busy. Well, the brakes have been slammed on, abruptly. All of a sudden, without much notice, we have time, something so many of us may not really know what to do with, including the adults in our lives. 

Our society often encourages us to stay busy by telling us to do this, do that, sign up for this, go here, be this, try this, achieve this, etc. The result leaves us with wheels spinning in too many different directions. Add being a junior in high school to all of that. A year that is historically wacky already. The pressure and excitement of college prep, testing, and deciding what “direction” to walk in.

I’ve had to manage my expectations throughout the last seven weeks and look at this free time, this pause, as a gift. One that allows us time to breathe, to refocus, to sleep, to reflect, to accept what is, to feel sad for what isn’t, and time to recreate a present that I didn’t expect.

Even though I am learning to find peace and sanity, I am also reflecting on the awful and difficult time that this poses for so many. 

I believe that it is as much my responsibility to navigate my education and my future, as it is to take lessons from my teachers, my mom, and my community. How I approach this time may be a lesson for how I prepare for my future. 

Already in my life I have experienced an earthquake, wildfires that caused us to evacuate from our home in the middle of the night, power outages that meant I had to go to local hotel lobbies to complete important homework assignments, my grandmother’s passing, and growing up in a single-parent home. These events have all helped me to gain tools and what my mom regularly calls “resilience.” I feel that with each experience, you grow stronger, wiser, more trusting, and less devastated by being derailed from what you thought would be. 

Having a routine during these unsettled times has really helped me, as has maintaining physical activity and healthy sleep habits. I have also benefited from connecting with my teachers on Google Meet a few times a week. It is so obvious how much they all care about students’ well-being and stability.

This is not only a difficult time for students, but also for teachers and administrators. Their dedication is another reason why I believe I need to show up and take time to grow and learn from this experience. I want to thank those in our district and at our school who have worked tirelessly to adapt. I also want to wish them continued strength in navigating what education looks like during a pandemic.

Volunteering in our community has helped me stay realistic about what is going on around me. Handing out meals weekly has had an impact on me and is eye opening. No one is untouched by what this crisis. 

I am a proud participant, and have been for years, in Broadway Bound Kids. I love to sing, dance, and act! This group has so much to do with who I have become. Even though our production of The Wizard of Oz was canceled/postponed, I managed my disappointment by continuing to dance. I also love sharing dance with others, which is why I started a 30-minute Zoom dance session twice a week for younger kids. It’s been fun and also helpful to parents that just need a little break from their kiddos right before dinner. 

I enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces twice a week. Doing this has instilled in me a sense of purpose and helps me stay motivated. 

I have also been participating in the virtual college tours kindly offered by the Boys & Girls Club. Although it is by no means ideal, it has allowed me to keep college at the forefront of my mind. I must include a huge shout out to all of the senior Dragons. I think of you every day and can’t wait to watch you embark on your bright futures. I have loved being in school together over the years.

I understand that I can’t control so much of what is happening in the world right now, so I am going to try to be the best author of what I can do and can control.