Living Through the Coronavirus
… the conversation continues
When COVID-19 shut down the state of Michigan, we knew we needed to stay connected. We needed to hear each other’s stories to process the strange new world we were living in. That’s why the National Writers Series created the Life in the Time of the Virus competition, offering awards in various categories to writers who expressed the challenges, heartaches, confusion, and even silver linings of the pandemic. Read on to hear from the writers of northern Michigan during one of the most turbulent moments of our lifetimes.
by Emma Laible, 04/02/2020, Traverse City, Mi
High School Category
“Oh my gosh! No school for three weeks! This is gonna be great!”
“Ugh, that means I have to turn in all of my late assignments by tomorrow.”
“Girls, this is serious. This isn’t something we should be celebrating.” . . .
by Akyedzi Acheampong, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
Hi, my name is Akyedzi but you can call me Chez and this is what is going on in my head. Wait can pigs fly? When did I get a cow? Oh, I don't have a cow. What's the difference between a potato and a potato? Why am I doing this anyway? Oh yeah it is for a prize. Now I am . . .
by Robert Brintnall, 06/13/2020, Buckley, MI
Adult Category
New Tricks for Old Dogs
At a staff meeting earlier this year the principal demonstrated a teaching tool where kids held up a special card to represent their answer to a question. Then the teacher could scan the whole room with an app on their phone and instantly project the results on a screen . . .
by Alex Reynolds, 04/08/2020, Traverse City, MI
Middle School 6-8 Category
Let’s go for a bike ride,” my mom said.
“Ok,” I replied. “But let’s go to the library this time.”
I had been out of school for 3 weeks because schools were closed due to
COVID19 . . .