Where I Was a Year Ago Versus Where I Am Now

I think the term “time flies” is relevant to everyone in some way or another, but this past year time really has flown by. Thinking back a year ago, so much has changed in my life and in all of our lives. It is so interesting to look back at pictures marked a year ago today, because I look at someone nowhere as independent as I am now and someone who really had no idea what was coming, as for all of us. And I still don’t know!

A year ago today I was studying abroad in Milan, right as COVID-19 reached Europe for the first time. We had no idea what this virus would turn into. My roommate and I took a trip down to Florence when our classes were cancelled because we thought a week later we’d go back to class… thought wrong. I had planned to spend four months in Italy that was cut to only 4 short weeks.

I could take this and feel mad and angry that I was cheated out of this experience, but I chose not to. Yes, I was very upset that I didn’t get to experience what I thought I was going to, but why dwell on something we can’t handle? I had never been to Europe before so I was thankful I at least had the time I did and made the memories that I did. It seemed selfish to me to be mad and unthankful when many others may not get the amazing opportunity that I had.

This mentality I had when I faced this challenge a year ago played out throughout the following year and has led me to where I am today. It is my senior year at UNC-Chapel Hill and I cannot express the amount of apologies I’ve received from other people that I’m not getting the experience I should. Yes, it sucks. But I feel like I have made the most of this past year. When I was in quarantine after returning from Milan, I spent time with my family I otherwise would have had the time to. Yes, we can’t go to bars and have large parties, but this situation has allowed me to spend more quality and one on one time with my friends I may not have had if it wasn’t for all of this. I think we can always say “what if” and harp on all the things we are missing out on, but I think this world has enough negativity and throughout this pandemic I will continue to look at the silver lining through it all.