Page 130 - DGPS - YearBook

DISTANCE LEARNING

THE LIFE OF A STUDENT DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

Imagine waking up one day and realizing that the life you were living yesterday is no longer going to be the same. It
sounds like an introduction to a Netflix special, right? One day you're living a mundane, ordinary life and the next you’re
immersed in a world homogenous to the movie Contagion. In this modern era where the prominence of biotechnology
has surged by leaps and bounds, the odds of a global pandemic were as low as finding a needle in a haystack.

As I lay in bed, contemplating my menu for breakfast and browsing through my phone, two words flashed before my
droopy eyes, "CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN." A virus that enters the body as a silent killer, threatens mankind, and
quarantines the entire human race at home. Maybe I really was dreaming!

At first, I was naïve and did not ponder upon the implications this might have and continued with my daily tasks. But
soon, reading became my worst enemy! As the influx of notifications bombarded my phone, the grim reality began to sink
in. The green gates and vibrant faces of my teachers and friends I had seen the day before now seemed like a distant
memory, and the prospect of not meeting them for months sent a chill down my spine. I was engulfed in a whirlpool of
emotions trying to picture what my life ahead would entail.

When Covid-19 first presented itself, it seemed like an out of syllabus question; however, DGPS rose to the challenge
and facilitated online learning. Through this distance learning program, a soothing feeling of nostalgia washed over me
as I reminisced the laughter and enjoyment with my peers and teachers at school. Initially, (I must confess), I was somewhat
apprehensive about e-learning because the entire notion seemed very out of the norm and daunting, but slowly it all fell
into place. Soon this virtual barrier was lifted so much so that it felt as though I was back in my classroom, grasping new
accounting concepts, analyzing tactical case studies, and comprehending the volatility of world economies'.

From rolling out modern education programs to web-friendly initiatives, all stops were pulled; to keep us-the students,
abreast of our subjects. Our teachers were incredibly supportive and understanding of this unprecedented situation and
ensured to tweak up each lesson to make it more visually engaging. This helped us stay attentive throughout. Although
social distancing was being vigorously imposed, distances were metaphorically shrinking!

I found myself often embarking on a journey of self-reflection…This experience has ingrained in me the importance of
gratitude as I slowly began to understand how often I take so many things in my life for granted. Nestled in the comfort
of my home with a plate full of food, this unimaginable experience has taught me to appreciate the little things of life. I
think frequently about the hapless victims of this deadly contagion who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads are
still finding ways to cope.

This thought-provoking quote, in a nutshell, sums up the valuable lesson I have learnt: "You cannot control everything
that happens to you; you can only control the way you respond to what happens. In your response, is your power!"

Vedika Manghnani - Year 12

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