The Gifts of a Pandemic by Emma

The Gifts of a Pandemic by Emma - January 2022 Scholarship Essay

At 14 years old my great-great grandmother arrived at Ellis Island from Poland, leaving her family behind in search of a better life in the United States, the home of freedom and opportunity. Setting foot onto New York City ground, she never saw her home or family again. Her history has been passed down through generations, acting as my family’s story.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, lost in the days of isolation, I remember my great-great grandmother, who lost her first husband to the influenza pandemic in 1918. Influenza brought heartbreak to my family, but it created a path to regrowth; my great-great grandmother met my great-great grandfather, who had also lost his wife to Influenza. If it were not for the 1918 pandemic, my family would not exist.

My great-great grandmother’s story was one full of hope and determination; inspiring me to make the best of an unfortunate situation. With the looming virtual 2020-2021 school year inching closer, I stood at a fork in the road. One path was easy terrain: slacking off in school, no teacher there to make sure I was focusing, listening, and participating in class. But there was another path; one filled with twists and turns, not easy to travel. But on that difficult path I saw a road to becoming an increasingly independent, self-driven student, who could steer their own destiny. I am proud to say I was able to take the difficult path. Junior year, notorious for its high workload, especially virtually, was a challenge. However, I set two main goals for myself for the approaching school year.

Number one: build connections with teachers. I knew that the screen would be an obstacle in building relationships with teachers, so I worked to be a participatory student in class, attend office hours, and communicate with teachers when I needed a little extra help. In achieving this goal I learned not only professional communication skills and how to advocate for myself, but that building personal connections with mentors and others is important to not only your own success, but theirs too.

Number two: complete all assignments on time and to their fullest extent. This was the more rigorous goal to accomplish. With a schedule full of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes, I held a demanding workload. I learned to keep a detailed agenda, keeping track of all assignments and deadlines. Waking up at the brink of dawn, I made time for studying and homework before school, while my afternoons were filled with me-time and extracurricular activities.

Reaching the last day of school in June 2021, I was exhilarated to see the outcome of my dedication. Honor roll and an excellent transcript was proof of the many hours I spent studying, reading, and learning. It reflected the time, effort, and energy I poured into each and every class, lesson, and assignment. I beam with pride knowing I was able to fight through and succeed in a daunting situation such as online school. Even now as I head back to in-person learning, the skills I gained in a virtual school year continue to help me succeed.

As society slowly gains ground on the path back to normal life, I look at that student I was before and after the pandemic. I see myself in the mirror and see a goal-driven, independent, and determined woman who can take on whatever challenge is given to her. I could have focused solely on the normal high school experiences I lost to COVID-19, like homecoming, but because of my great-great grandmother's story– my family’s history– I was able to see the gifts and lessons that came out of the lost school year of 2021.