After six hours of mindless Zoom calls, I finally turned off my computer and took a moment to get up and stretch. I had a test the next day, but I just couldn’t bring myself to even glance at my study guide or to do any of my other assignments. I was worn out and frustrated.

My mom heard my computer slam closed and walked into the room. She saw the expression on my face and listened to my complaints about how boring school was, how hard it was to focus and how much work I had left to do.

She helped remind me that transitions are always difficult and will present their own challenges, and that the global pandemic was new for everyone. Nobody had experienced anything like it before, so adjusting takes time. And I shouldn’t beat myself up for that.

My mother’s cool and collected response to my excited outburst gave me a new outlook on the situation. I couldn’t be expected to know what I was doing immediately, but I also couldn’t expect others to know. I realized that all I could control during the height of the pandemic were my own actions, which allowed me to see the situation in a more positive light. 

Patience is a virtue, and we shouldn’t forget that. Returning to school full time will pose a series of challenges for students and teachers, but throughout our return, we must remain understanding. 

Everything from navigating JDS hallways to being in-person everyday will be new to many students. Recognizing that fact brings us one step closer to realizing that it’s normal and okay to forget to complete an assignment or to arrive at school late a few times. 

If a friend is acting unusually towards you, give them the benefit of the doubt. They may be overwhelmed by the transition, fearful of the new delta strain or dealing with something else. Supporting friends, especially during COVID-19, will really benefit their mental health and bring you closer to them. 

Students should be patient with teachers as well. Their transition from fully virtual learning to hybrid and now in-person learning has been difficult. If a teacher messes up during a lesson, recognize that they haven’t taught traditionally in over a year.

Patience has been shown to improve mental health. According to a study by professor Sarah A. Schnitker and professor Robert Emmons, people who are patient are less likely to go through phases of depression and feel fewer negative emotions.

In life, it never hurts to be patient with others. Especially in this hard time, we should be mindful of the experiences that our peers are going through. In addition, it is important to be understanding with yourself to succeed and be happier during this strange school year. 

When I heard the news on March 13 that school would be closed for two weeks, I was ecstatic. I saw it as two free weeks of sleeping in, seeing friends and relaxing. But over the course of the year of quarantine, I realized the importance of gratitude and living in the moment.

My realization began with a family friend. My parents received a call that she was sick, and because of her old age, it was serious. She had been hospitalized and was receiving emergency care. A few days later, she passed.

At a dinner meant to honor this family friend’s life, my grandfather caught COVID-19. There were multiple late nights, frantic phone calls and long talks with the nurses about his condition. He too soon passed.

These losses left my family reeling and me wondering if I had spent enough time with them. Or if I could have talked with them more and asked them more about themselves. It made me realize that I had taken them for granted.

I soon realized the truth. This break had never been a vacation, and I wanted to return to normal. I missed everything that I had before the pandemic.

I missed walking in the halls and waving at classmates. I missed being able to laugh with friends in class or hang out with them on the weekend. I even missed school.  

I never knew that I enjoyed waking up at 6 a.m., trudging sleepily to class and then returning home to complete small mountains of homework. But now that we have the chance to get it back, I am excited and grateful.

As we transition into normalcy, I implore you to be grateful for all you have. Whether it’s family members you love or the ability to go to school safely, be thankful.

Be especially thankful for the things you take for granted. One day they’ll be gone and you’ll be left wishing you had appreciated them more while you had them.

Even as you’re grateful, you can still realize that you missed or lost certain things. For example, JDS high schoolers missed a whole year of being together and many formative experiences. Many people lost close friends or family members.

But the thing about being grateful is that you try to see the positive in everything. We at JDS may have missed a year of in-person togetherness, but we still received a year of excellent education virtually. Many people lost loved ones, but they can still honor them by being grateful for the time they had with them.

You never really know what you have until it’s gone. So as we return to school, I am grateful for the chance to be in the halls again, talking with my friends and learning with my teachers. I won’t take it for granted ever again.