I HAVE BEGUN TO SEE THE JOY IN EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES

Brampton Libraries celebrated National Youth Week (May 1-7) in the midst of the global pandemic by sharing inspiring connections and uncovering ways to cope. 

Here’s a  selection of youth reflections on COVID-19:

Pallavi Ahir: We often complain about not having enough time, but now we have so much time that many of us don’t know what to do with it. I decided to use this time productively by keeping a journal, practising my French, playing guitar and learning how to code in Python, to self-reflect and continue expanding my knowledge. The most amazing thing that I did during this time was uncovering a bunch of my old poems that I’d written a few years ago. Discovering those poems inspired me to start writing again and be more imaginative in my daily life.

Fatima Ahmad: The COVID-19 quarantine made me realize that our lives revolve around us and us alone. As a society, we slowly have become detached from each other and I believe that COVID-19 has made us take a step back and take time to acknowledge the people we have become. Individually I have done a lot of self-reflecting over the quarantine and by doing so have become more organized and have been striving to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Ruhaim Ali: This quarantine has given me ample time to try new things and it has also given me time to be healthier and more relaxed. I believe the most amazing thing I did during this time was to reorganize my brother’s room, my parents’ room and the house overall.

Tamanjot Baraich: I, for one, call my friends every day and discuss humorous personal matters. I also pass my time creating DIY objects incorporating baskets, picture frames and pillowcases to decorate the house. Surprisingly, this break has motivated me to become fit as well (boy, oh boy, Chloe Ting workouts really kill). On a positive note though, I get to spend much more time with my family. This time has made me realize that no matter the circumstances, there is simply no treasure more beautiful than friends and family.

Khushleen Bawa: During this crisis, I had lots of time to spend with my eight-year-old brother who I rarely had time to even talk with. I learned many new things about him which made our bond even stronger. In conclusion, though COVID-19 may be a terrible crisis, it has lots of positive side effects as well.

Imandeep Bhullar: During this period, I’ve had so much quality time with my family, at home. We’ve been going on walks, playing board games, and most importantly, bonding together. During this time, I have realized how honoured we are to have such an amazing team of front line workers from grocery clerks to doctors. This uncertain time may feel endless, but it truly is an unforgettable learning experience.

Kareena Brahmbhatt: Something I learned about myself while social-distancing is that I really enjoy doing makeup. This is an odd way to pass time, but I have always found doing makeup and trying out new techniques really fun. Furthermore, learning how to cook is the most amazing and interesting thing I am doing while at home. I have always wanted to learn from my mom how to make some of the curries and delicious dishes she makes for me regularly.

Tanveen Chane: We can take our time at home to better ourselves, learn more about the world and relax. I’ve immersed myself in the world of poetry, my creative outlet. I’ve been learning how literary devices convey themes, and about famous poets and  Shakespeare’s poems in my free time. Although our time is unfortunate, I’ve never been more interested in my creative side and branching out how I feel during this time. As the famous poet Edgar Allan Poe said, “To elevate the soul, poetry is necessary”.

Rashaun Chohan: I am able to spend more time with my family and stay healthy. As for activities, I have learned that I have a great passion for exploring different types of technologies. Being isolated in my house, I have a lot of free time, which I spend on exercising and learning new types of workouts. Hopefully this virus passes swiftly and everyone gets back to their normal lives.

Krupa Dave:  I’ve begun to see the joy in everyday activities, and I’ve allotted more time to spend with my family. My uncle, an ICU emergency care and pulmonary doctor in the current epicenter of the pandemic (New York), has been fighting for the lives of other patients and his. All in all, it’s a difficult time for everyone, and everyone is suffering in their own way, but I think we humans can overcome this. Right now, I think it’s necessary to maintain our responsibilities as a responsible citizen, keep faith, and most importantly, take a deep breath. We can do this.

Dev Desai: The situation currently outside our homes is honestly scary. People are losing jobs, struggling to get their next meals, it’s a worldwide pandemic keeping millions of kids out of school. This situation also gives us time to learn new things about ourselves. We also have time to try new things and the most amazing thing I’ve personally done is manage to play sports with whatever I can in the house, whether it’s a toilet roll used as a ball or a tape roll as a hockey puck.

Sanvi Duggal: I had so many positive intakes with this. The biggest one is that your life can change in one moment. My take from this is to smile more and appreciate more.

Peri Gandhi: Just a few weeks ago, my business teacher posted an article by Bill Gates on what the coronavirus can teach us and I feel like it taught me a lot about our situation. One of the main things the article focused on was how this pandemic was bringing a sense of  togetherness because everyone was being affected. I’ve learned to adapt to new situations and I know that once all this is over, these memories will never truly leave us.

Ashni Gandhiram: When the quarantine hit,  I was waking up at 11 am and felt like doing absolutely nothing. There was no argument to be won, there was no big test I was studying for, I was battling an emptiness I never knew existed in the first place. Around the second week I tried to implement self-discipline in my life. I forced myself to wake up at 8 am every morning.  Everything I had assumed about discipline was wrong, it pushed me to seek creativity, it challenged me to accomplish a goal, and it helped me grow as an individual. I’ve learned that, more than an “exaggerated politeness” discipline served as a tool to measure oneself with.