Back in my freshman year of high school through the years of 2019-2020, I was a shy, quiet person. I was starting a new chapter in my life, and it was scary for me. I wasn't very sociable with others and tried my best to keep quiet in class. The beginning of high school was a massive challenge for me. I would struggle in class with many quizzes and homework that would stress me out. I did not have many friends in middle school and many of those went to a different high school. Then, in March 2020, COVID-19 hit the world and cut my freshman year short.
COVID-19 was devastating for many people throughout the world. Many lost family members and friends. Companies and schools shut down due to the pandemic. My brother and I were scared about what would happen next to not just us, but the whole world. March to June of 2020 was one of the worst times of my life because I was staying at home doing the same thing over and over again. Then one night it started to change for me. As we were going to bed, my brother asked me if we could do a DND (Dungeons & Dragons) campaign. That night we stayed up until 2:00 AM. After this, the days got better, and I would be excited to go to bed and continue the story. The closest friends that I made during my freshman year called me and asked if we could hang out because they were sick and tired of being home alone. We would see each other every day and became even closer during this time. Those few months were some of the best times in my high school life.
During my sophomore year, we had virtual school, and it was a vastly different experience from any school year in my life. School was much easier because the workload decreased. Even though school was easier, I was struggling because it was difficult to pay attention. During that time, I started reading manga (Japanese comic books). Reading manga kept me from becoming bored in school and I started to understand more about Japanese culture. Much of my time was spent reading, watching anime, or playing video games. I would see my friends regularly, but my lifestyle wasn't healthy. I regret my choices during this time of staying inside every day and only going outside when I had to. After the school year, I started my first job at McDonald’s, and I still work there today. Even with the struggles, sophomore year will always be one of my favorite years ever.
My junior year of high school is still my favorite school period in my life. I made new friends and became better friends with the ones I already knew. My stress died down and I started to do better in school. I tried out for the spring musical and got in with many of my theatre friends. I’ve always had stage fright, but the time I spent during COVID made me more confident. I would join more clubs and even become vice president of the Gaming Club. COVID-19 was a very tough time for many people around the world, but This was the time in my life when I stopped being shy and quiet and became more open and excited about what would be coming next. My life during this time wasn't always the best, but it was the best for me in so many ways. Now, I'm planning to go into education as my major.