Some of us have been doing everything we can to rid of the Coronavirus pandemic. Some of us have been socially distancing and wearing our masks. Some of us have limited contact with our loved ones. While the issue of this pandemic has a lot to do with the handling of it by our political leaders, a lot of it also has to do with the rest of us that neglect social distancing, proper mask-wearing and seeing just about everyone they love and more. I see it every weekend on my social media timelines. It’s genuinely exhausting being so angry at ignorance all the time. I can keep my distance from those who seem like they are the exception to the rule, but a year into the pandemic it’s just not enough.
As a first-year college, the newfound freedom is exciting in itself. For other first-year students, freedom means partying to no end. In the pre-pandemic era, it’s not an issue at all. Having the privilege and embracing that privilege has never been an issue, however, when you are living your life normally as if we aren’t in a global pandemic, that privilege is taken for granted. Almost 2.5 million COVID deaths have occurred worldwide already, and half a million of those are in the United States alone. I don’t know what it takes for people to stop taking advantage of their fearlessness of the virus. Are those numbers not enough? Does it have to take a loved one to suffer the causes? It’s infuriating.
I completely understand why any college student would be unafraid of the virus, we’re stubborn. The death rate for our youth is low, and can even be lucky enough to not develop any symptoms at all. Our asymptomatic outlook on the virus breeds our fearlessness. However, while unknowingly carrying the virus and going to that Friday night party you can come across someone that unknowingly is a high risk to the effects of Coronavirus. Anyone can carry the virus and anyone can pass on the virus. We’re not invincible and we sure aren’t immune.
At the very least, keep your circle small and make sure your circle keeps their circle small. Do it to respect those who are putting their lives at risk for us and honor those who lost their lives to this monstrosity of a virus.