COVID Vocabulary Lessons

McKenna Snow
Class of 2024

(11/2020) March 17, 2020 // Dear Diary:

"Quarantine" is a hard word to pronounce when I read it. It’s even harder for me to try to spell. I’d never heard of it until now, as I am told that today is "the last day of school." But, it is March. Something is not quite right about that to me. No more going to school? Why is summer beginning so soon? // Now I’m at home, and I’ve been handed a computer—the classroom site is called "Zoom." I can remember that. That’s a fun name. // (Initially, I was excited about the change. No more going to school!) // Wait a second, you want me to watch this screen all day? What about my friends? When do I get to see them? // I am told I might not see them for a few weeks.

March 22 // Well, if quarantine is only for a few weeks, I guess I can handle that. I am ten years old now, after all. I’m a big girl. This could be a lot of fun, actually. I’ll try to make the most of it. // On Zoom, I’m a little distracted by the digital panel of my classmates. I don’t really know what my teacher is talking about— are my friends’ kitchens as messy as mine? I was curious to see if any of them are having class in their kitchens like me. Mom caught me being distracted. She told me to pay attention. So, I tried to—and then I fell asleep.

April 17 // It’s been several weeks since I’ve started to do all my school through Zoom. I am antsy. I am bored. I am tired of looking at this screen. I want to leave my house! The word adults use to describe the situation now is "pandemic." What does "pandemic" mean, anyway? It sounds scientific. How many people are sick? Can I do anything about it? Mom tells me that my dad is doing something about it, and is helping people through it. Nurses like dad are "essential," I’m told. I’m proud of dad.

April 27 // It’s been more than a month since the quarantine started. I feel very lonely now. Dad spends most of his time at work. He’s "essential", so he has to be at the hospital longer than usual. He spends a lot of time sleeping when he is home. I miss when I got to see him more often. My only sibling is one younger brother, who sleeps a lot. He’s a baby, and doesn’t know we’re in a "lockdown". I am jealous of the girls in my class who have big sisters. I want someone to paint my nails with, someone to bake cookies with, someone to play dress-up with when I don’t have to do school. My friend Bailey showed me her beautiful new pink nails over Zoom before our class started—she said her older sister painted them with her this weekend. I miss when I could go to Bailey’s house and paint my nails with her.

April 30 // Mom says my creativity is getting stifled by this lockdown and my imagination should still get to grow. So, she got me a book, and now we’re reading Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I like the story so far, but most of all, I like just getting to read together.

May 5 // I got something in the mail today! My Science teacher made all her students homemade masks, and mailed them to us. I didn’t know she liked sewing, and I think it’s very kind of her to make them for us, but I’m also confused. Halloween is a long time away. Why are we supposed to dress like ninjas right now, wearing masks? Masks used to be only something we talked about when talking about ninjas and superheroes, and now I hear about them all the time. I don’t like only being able to see half of people’s faces when they wear them—I like to be able to see my mom’s smile when we go out in public.

May 19 // Why can’t I get on the bus to go see my friends yet? Why can’t I have them over for sleepovers anymore? When can I go to the mall with my mom again for our Mom-Daughter outings? I’m tired of hearing about "social distancing" and "national emergency" on the TV. I ask mom to turn off the news and instead play a board game with me. "Board game," I told her, "because I—AM—BORED." She finally turns the TV off, and plays with me. I am so relieved.

May 29 // It has been about three months of quarantine. Three months of Zoom. I don’t like that name anymore. I want to see my friends. Isn’t summertime supposed to be fun? I want to look forward to it—but some people are saying there will be nothing to do. Is it safe to see my friends again? While the answer stays no, I settle for reading Narnia with my mom, and playing board games. Mom encourages me to try reading more on my own when she’s busy with my little brother; she said reading will improve my vocabulary. Personally, I feel like COVID has added a lot of new words and terms to my vocabulary—it’s been like taking a whole class all by itself. // It is now the middle of the summer.

School might be opening up again in the fall—I hope so. All of my world feels like it’s been upside-down. At times my new world feels confusing, lonely, and boring. When I told this to my mom, she taught me a new word to think about: optimism. That is a long word for me to remember, but I definitely try to, just for mom. I like what it means. She wants me to be o-p-t-i-m-i-s-t-i-c about everything, even when I’m frustrated. She tells me to look on the bright side of things, and to be joyful, and hopeful. I like these words more than the ones COVID has introduced to me. I think I am going to put them at the top of my vocabulary list.