By HARPER WISELOGLE
Sheridan High School Student
Editor’s Note: The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
By now everyone has been made aware of the current global epidemic: COVID-19. It is affecting everyone no matter the age, race, social standing, or ethnic background, and it’s something that many people are panicking about. Schools have closed, sports canceled, workplaces closing, stores shelves emptied, and thousands of people in panic mode. Even full states, providences and countries have shut down to quarantine themselves from the spread of COVID-19. This is my view of the current epidemic.
A few weeks ago, no one thought we would be where we are today. People from the U.S. were making and laughing at coronavirus memes thinking that something so far away could never make it halfway around the world and affect us the way it has. I personally didn’t even think our school would close due to there not being any cases in our area. Although, as soon as Avon had its first closing, everything started to feel unreal. My track team started planning for what we would do if we were to have a school closure, teachers began to prep us for weeks of eLearning, giving us schedules and packets of work, the store shelves slowly lost more and more merchandise, and we prepped ourselves for at least a two-week self-quarantine.
At that point, nothing truly felt real and nothing truly did until about a week ago. I live alone with my dad and have for the past few years, therefore we are a one-income household. We are normally good at stretching funds, but we do tend to have to live paycheck to paycheck. I figured through this whole thing we would be financially okay due to my dad working for a big company that produces and sells signs all over the U.S. But, about a week ago, we got the news that his work was closing. This had been a fear in the back of my mind since the day I found out about everything closing, but I tried to keep good faith in the fact that it wouldn’t happen.
When I got the news, it was as if a giant boulder was placed onto my shoulders. I’ve never had a very wealthy family, and I’ve dealt with tough financial situations before, but this was something I hadn’t been afraid of in years. I had lost my only source of steady income; we have bills to pay, food to purchase, and a car that needs gas. It’s terrifying seeing your whole life slowly fall apart at the seams, everything you once knew and trusted pulled out from under you as if it were a loose rug.
This is one of those situations where you have to find any faith you have left in the world and hold onto it as if your life depended on it. We are all going through this together, and as long as we stick together through this whole situation, we will make it through it. Please donate to your local food banks or churches; there are people in need everywhere you turn and even the littlest things help. Keep those struggling in good thoughts or in your prayers. We will make it through this together.