Well. Looks as if March did not turn out at all how we expected. Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, an unprecedented pandemic, became the sole focus of our nation, causing us to drop everything – work, school, vacations, outdoor extracurriculars, etc. – and start to social distance or completely go into quarantine in order to prevent the further spread of the virus. Some of us, especially professionals in the healthcare industry as well as essential personnel who continue to stock us with what we need or take us where we need to go during this period, still have to venture outside and attempt to combat catching the virus. Life turned upside down with the flip of a switch and into a state of unknown … for now.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, at least once, that “everything is temporary.” Everything, even this current situation that has erupted people into total panic, is temporary. As long as we do our part by social distancing, in the case you can’t completely quarantine yourself, this pandemic will eventually subside, and the number of cases will decline. What won’t help us overcome this pandemic is the spread of misinformation, a topic coincidentally covered in this edition’s “To Generation Z.” What will help us overcome COVID-19 is each of us putting in effort to fight this virus, even in the smallest of ways. What will also help us is to remind each other to be kind and understanding throughout this turbulent period and to work with our neighbors. We should be prepared to spend a few weeks in quarantine, but buying an absurd amount of toilet paper that could probably suffice for the rest of 2020 might help your family but could burden another.

As we progress, it can be physically and mentally tolling on all of us. Our minds will wander about the possibilities the future might hold, and the munchies … oh, the munchies. All jokes aside, I’m confident in our community. Yes, we will face a difficult time, but if we lose hope, we’ve already lost against this virus. I would like to win. I can already imagine the time after COVID-19 when the streets will be packed with people enjoying the fresh air and outside interaction. A time when children will be glad to be back in school (at least for a few days), when we’ll be excited to be productive in our original work environments, and when we can again share a hello, a handshake, and a hug.