I blame the quarantine
For my messed-up routine
And the missing memories of me being sixteen.
But this was something no one could’ve foreseen.
Everyday is the same mixture of boring activities.
My diet just gets worse
And I continue to lose my creativity.
Being stuck in the house seems like a curse.
But I do feel this time has allowed for great family bonding,
Like having conversations where everyone is actually responding.
We play board games, watch TV, and go on walks around the neighborhood,
And surprisingly only have a few fights from being misunderstood.
Having school online and having the opportunity to sleep in seemed like great fun,
Until I realized it had become a hardship for everyone.
It is obvious that technology can be very irritating,
The annoyance of communicating with teachers can be permeating.
I do understand the importance of staying home, however,
As these precautions protect the brave people on the front lines in their endeavors.
While it is frustrating to give up the luxury of leaving our homes when it was optimal,
This ensures life will resume as normal as it can, as soon as possible.
Once this is over, I think we’ll understand
How much we took for granted when we still had command.
From now on, I hope we learn to appreciate the present
And look back on our days with happiness and content.
–Sophia Freedman, Age 16, Clarksburg, WV