by Lydia Signorello, 06/10/2020, Gaylord, MI

Middle School 6-8 Category

We were going to take a break from school for about 3 weeks, but everyone knew it would be extended. A deadly virus like this doesn’t just come and go. It originated in China, but it’s still not clear how. This started mildly: spreading across Asia, but it finally came to the U.S. Michigan wasn’t even the first state infected. But the numbers climbed from 1, to 10, to 100. We now have 26,000 cases, and over 1,000 deaths.

As school was extended, so did quarantine, restrictions, rules ,and more rules. We can’t go anywhere but our homes. We can go for drives and go outside. If you do go to the store, you need to wear a mask.

I miss my friends so much. We did a big group face-time last night. Everyone’s parents are encouraging their kids to face-time and call and text, but it’s not the same. All the restrictions, rules, and facetimes are weird. My parents keep telling us this is the new normal, but the truth is , none of this feels normal.

However, despite all the things going around our homes, things are ok. Sure, the coronavirus, or COVID-19, is spreading like wildfire, but inside the homes people are safe.

Things could be worse.

2 days later

Do you remember how I said things could be worse? You probably saw this coming, but things got worse.

People are now protesting the stay at home order by gathering in large groups without masks. their views on the quarantine are it’s against our right to assemble.

I’m a little worried. Since they are going out without masks, what if one of them is sick? They could spread it even faster, and that’s the scary part. What if one of my family members gets sick?

You know, I’m getting really tired of those words. Coronavirus, COVID-19, and viruses in general. When this whole thing started, It was probably weird to say those words.. Now they are embedded in our dictionaries. They are tossed around carelessly.

There are now 32,000 cases, and 2,500 deaths.

April 23rd

The stay at home order was supposed to be lifted on April 30th, but now its extended to
May 7th. I want to say it’s not fair. But i think it is. Staying home is keeping us safe and healthy. Besides, even if it is lifted, my parents would want us to stay home longer anyway. They’ve been watching the news closely, and have been taking extra precautions. They go to the store with masks, and when they come home they wipe down all the groceries with clorox wipes. If a package comes in the mail, we can’t touch it for three days. And our freezer is stocked with food.

It’s nice to spend more time with my family. We have always been very busy during school, so we don’t get to spend a lot of time together. But now we’ve been going for bike rides and playing games all day. We do get sick of each other sometimes though. But that’s normal.

Lots of families have been going outside more. When we can. It’s the end of april, but it’s still snowing! Now THAT’S not fair. But the point is, we’re getting off our screens more and Talking to our relatives. It’s nice to have time to do those things.

May 7th
I was telling my mom last night, it really doesn’t feel like anything is going on anymore. Maybe because we aren’t watching the news anymore? I don’t know. It’s all just old news, and all the same old stuff. It just feels like summer vacation, and all my family and friends are busy, so i can’t see them.

I hope in the future, schools are still a thing. Like actual buildings where people get together to learn, Because online school is NOT FUN. There is so much you have to figure out without the help of your teachers. You don’t get the Same experiences like walking down the hall between classes, talking with friends before class starts. If you think school is boring, wait until you do online class.

There are days when I don’t want to go to school, for lots of reasons. But I would do anything just to go back for a day. I miss my friends, teachers, the cafeteria french toast, and playing volleyball at lunch. Lots of people don’t realize it, but going to school is a gift. I don’t know how to explain it. But you have to believe me.

May 10th

I don’t know who to believe! There are so many theories on how this virus started, but it’s not clear which is right. There are so many lies on a vaccine, how we are doing on it. And so many other things are just lies. I just want the truth.

May 23rd

Hey, guess what? I bet you can’t guess. Things got worse again.

A fire burned 130 acres in grayling. And 3 dams in midland and stanford county broke. Busted. Whatever. The flooding is awful, and people are being forced to evacuate. And it’s challenging to help one another when we have social distance.

Speaking of social distance, the stay at home order was extended. AGAIN. To june 12. It was supposed to end may 28th. I was supposed to have a sleepover with my friends after that. Guess not. I think we were all supposed to do things.

. All these problems have added up, and this year, 2020, will always be remembered.

May 26

I have never been so happy to get a blizzard from a dairy queen. It was chocolate with brownie chunks. Yummy…

May 29th

There are deadly protests breaking out in Minneapolis. But not because of the stay at home order. A police officer killed a man. And now people want justice. They even called in the national guard to help!

So I’m watching the protests on the news and the police just released tear gas on the crowd. They have an 8:00 pm curfew. I wonder if they will obey it.

It is now 8:03 in Minneapolis , 8:57 here. Some people have left. Others have not. On one side of a street, there are people peacefully protesting. On the other, people are violent.

A CNN reporter is now running from tear gas released on a crowd.

Multiple cars are on fire.

I’m going to stop writing.

May 30th

The protests are now in detroit. A 19 year old was killed.

On a different note, the space launch was today! The first one off of U.S. soil in 9 years! It was pretty cool. It’s amazing to think we have technology to do that.

June 2nd

I witnessed my first protest today. It was peaceful. About 10 people standing on the corner holding signs. Although they were doing nothing wrong, I still felt uneasy about it. It could progress. It could get bigger, and more violent.

I don’t know what will happen in the future. But after whatever does happen, things will get back to normal. lots of things are going to change. But we’ll all be ok. eventually.