Living Through the Coronavirus
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.
3rd Place – Create
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.” . . .
RIDING OUT THEPANDEMIC
by Kathleen Stocking, 06/18/2020, Traverse City, MI. Adult Category
History in the Making
by Catherine Meyer-Looze, 06/16/2020, Traverse City, MI. Adult Category
3rd Place – New Tricks for Old Dogs
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 . . .
The Day the Clock Stopped Ticking
by Penny Green, 06/12/2020, Traverse City, MI. Adult Category
The Pandemic, or How People Are Like Butterflies
by Kathleen Stocking, 06/05/2020, Traverse City, MI. Adult Category
Dear Suitcase – A Love Letter for my Luggage
by Courtney Bierschbach, 05/22/2020, Lake Leelanau, mi. Adult Category
Unprecedented Times
by Valerie Winans, 05/20/2020, Traverse City, Mi. Adult Category
1st Place – Pandemic Percussion
by Athena Gillespie, 06/30/2020, Traverse City, MI
High School 9-12 Category
As I lay in bed, the natural light from my window slowly dwindling, I hear them. A cacophony of drums, maracas, pots, pans, and more. I glance at the clock. 8:00 PM on the dot. I wasn’t expecting a tradition that started in March to last all the way to May, but it was something I had adjusted to and learned to appreciate. Every night, my neighbors stood on their porches and banged on drums, etc. for one full minute. No less, and (usually) no more . . .
Our New Normal
by Jäeger Griswold, 06/30/2020, Central Lake, MI. High School 9-12 Category
Our Fight
by Sophie Nickel, 06/16/2020, Traverse City, MI. High School 9-12 Category
19 vs ’20
by Lucy Stiebel, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, Mi. High School 9-12 Category
2nd Place – Taken for Granted
by Alyssa Masiewicz, 05/07/2020, Traverse City, MI
High School 9-12 Category
Before this global pandemic occurred, I never realized how lucky I was. I had two working parents. I got to go to school and be with my friends. I got to go to class and ask questions to teachers in person . . .
Curve Ball
by Haley DeLoy, 04/23/2020, Traverse City, Mi. High School 9-12 Category
The World Put on Pause
by Erin Evans, 04/22/2020, Bellaire, MI. High School 9-12 Category
A Blessing in Disguise
by Jordan Lesperance, 04/21/2020, Grawn, MI. High School 9-12 Category
Living in the pandemic
by Jamie Corn, 04/16/2020, Cadillac, Mi. High School 9-12 Category
3rd Place – Create
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.” . . .
See you in June
by Bella Rumbel, 06/02/2020, Gaylord, Mi. Middle School 6-8 Category
waking up in a pamdemic
by Piper Banks, 06/18/2020, gaylord, mi. Middle School 6-8 Category
Quarantine on crutches
by Tyler Hawley, 06/01/2020, Gaylord, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
1st Place – La Ventana Cerrando
by Ella Kirkwood, 05/24/2020, Traverse City, MI
Middle School 6-8 Category
La Ventana: Climbing term used to describe the perfect window of opportunity for an ascent; Also, “the Window” in Spanish.
Cerrando: closing.
We had great expectations for 2020 . . .
Thunder in the Time of Virus
by Adelaide Fitton, 05/13/2020, Lansing, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Stuck In Space
by Olivia Farrington, 05/13/2020, Boyne City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Thunder in the Time of Virus
by Adelaide Fitton, 05/11/2020, Lansing, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
If Only
by Kayla Macnowski, 05/11/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Life in the Time of the Virus
by Austin Stehouwer, 05/03/2020, Traverse City, Mi. Middle School 6-8 Category
The World is on Pause
by Madelyn Leete, 05/01/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Stuck
by Paige Schillinger, 04/29/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Special Mention – How The Corona Virus Impacted Me
by Savannah Wells, 05/13/2020, Boyne City, Mi
Elementary K-5 Category
Hi, my name is Savannah Wells and, well, I’m going to be telling you how my life has changed because of the Corona Virus. My mom is a flight attendant so she is considered an essential worker but according to the CDC guidelines, she is at high risk so she cannot work but she is still getting a portion of her pay so for a family of 5 we can barely make a living, but because of our wonderful schools and city, we can have snacks and a full meal . . .
Covid-19 took over my life 2020
by Ava Hissong, 05/13/2020, boyne city mi, Mi. Elementary K-5 Category
3rd Place – Internal Drama
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 . . .
Thoughts
by Evi Mar Danielson, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category
2nd Place – At Home
by Mae Schillinger, 05/07/2020, Traverse City, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
The deer are running across the backyard.
I am six.
Will this Corona virus ever stop? . .
Odd Times
by Giuliana Dercole, 04/30/2020, Suttons Bay, MI. Elementary K-5 Category
Scared
by Cora Schillinger, 04/29/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category
1st Place – Nelly Thinks
by Issabelle Brooks, 04/17/2020, Beulah, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
“Oh hey! I didn’t smell you there!” My name is Nelly. I am a German Shorthair Pointer. I’m almost a year old but I am the queen of my house. I love to help clean dad’s toes.
My sworn enemy is kitty the cat. She is as black as your nightmares . . .
Staying Home
by Morgan Runyon-Wierman, 04/17/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category
