During this uncertain period of time, we are all sitting around in our houses, bored out of our mind, and looking for something new and exciting to happen. We’ve all found a hobby, a tv show, anything to do or watch. Some of us have even tried some very out of the ordinary things, looking to fill that empty void in our lives, and I personally have done something, facing pure disgust from those who surround me. 

Growing a mustache and beard.

I have suffered many many years without the slightest bit of facial hair. Well “suffered”, I mean at the rate at which it grows I’d rather not even have facial hair at all. Today marks one month since I’ve tried to grow facial hair, and I’d have to say it’s about halfway there in the most optimistic of terms. 

For some people, you might look at me and go, “Sivaayan? Growing a beard? Are you out of your mind?”. To those people, have you even met me? Of course I’m out of my mind. 

Coronavirus has changed people to view the world in so many different ways, and to truly appreciate what they had been given before. They never got to experience different ideas and ways of life, and they’re trying to view such a negative thing in a tiny positive way so that they don’t lose their minds locked up in their home. 

So yes, Sivaayan is growing a beard. And yes Sivaayan has suddenly transformed into 3rd person because he has started to grow crazy locked up in his house with a semi beard and mustache growing from his face. 

But in all seriousness, in seventh grade, we started out the year with numerous videos about growth mindsets. It was something everyone, including I, joked about throughout the year, and never thought twice about. I mean it was the start of a semester and they were talking to us about growing…what person seriously thought that bunch of immature seventh graders would take that seriously. But as it approaches the middle of April 2020, I can’t stop thinking about those lessons we had learned. 

We, as a human race, don’t take anything lying down. We always fight, and step up for what we want. We’re not mindless, and do the same thing everyday, hoping that something will change, and never doing anything. That’s what we’ve started to become as a society. We are adapting to the negative changes that have been forced upon us, and we are realizing that good can indeed come out of this incident. 

We learn to socialize in different ways, to have fun in different ways, to pass time in different ways, to sleep in many many different ways, and overall, we just learn in general. If there’s anything that this pandemic has shown me, it’s that no one really does like to be alone. I mean there’s definitely cheers erupting when Dan Bridges closes down school for a snow day, but this reaction has been unprecedented compared to those cheers. 

The halls remain empty, as teachers, staff, and students are forced to stay home and to think about the memories they’ve gained these past few years. Our year was unfortunately cut short. It won’t be the same being able to move on anymore. While we sit here day to day thinking how much we want to go back to school, we will always take something away from it.

I know for a fact that none of us will be able to take another moment for granted ever again. Every single new thing in our life will be appreciated, and we will come together and experience life differently. While as of right now, we may only see the rest of our class once or twice more, those are still moments that we will forever cherish, because the world has taught us that if there’s anything we need more of, it’s interactions with each other that we will truly appreciate.

I know that this blog took a completely different turn about halfway through, but that’s what happens when you write half before you find out the rest of senior year has officially been cancelled. It’s tough knowing that until May 30th we must continue doing what we are currently doing, but hey, we have officially made it through about a month and a half of quarantining. If anything, we should always keep in mind that we are closer to the end than we are the beginning. We will make it. 1 month and 5 days, that is all.