By Joshua Corcuera
It was March 9, and I vividly remember waving byes to my friends and blockmates before I attended a student-run event in the university that promotes the local arts. As my fellow schoolmates performed on stage, the university vice president announced that classes were suspended under a directive from the mayor. The event, however, continued until the sky turned dark, and I went home in the dark of the night. Little did I know that would be the last time I’d go home from school for the semester.
After a few days, with the pandemic spreading as fast as wildfire, lockdowns were put into place. And for 19-year-old me, it meant that staying at home would be mandatory and school as I know it was greatly affected.
As days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months; the pandemic personally affected me in various, complex ways. I have more time with my parents and my younger sister now as I stay at home, I can take a deep breath and rest from the stress brought by academics, and I can take longer hours of sleep. But, I also missed so much my usual way of life pre-pandemic — studying accounting with blockmates, reciting in law class if my index card is (unluckily) chosen, hanging out with friends, eating mojos, samgyupsal, drinking milk tea, among others.
Just like anyone, I encounter challenges, problems, and setbacks due to the pandemic. This makes me wonder how my friends and blockmates were doing amid the crisis. Although I constantly keep in touch with my closest friends, how about the others? Will they be able to enroll for the next semester? Or will they pursue online classes even if they are capable of doing such? These questions — among several others — run around my mind for quite some time.
During this pandemic, most of my classmates will greet someone during his/her birthday in our group chat at Messenger. I greeted my former crush during her birthday as well, and her thanking me makes me think that opening conversations is not a bad idea. Although greeting someone on his/her birthday seems common, the fact that we continue to be connected despite everything is somehow relieving for my part.
Then, one night, a blockmate and her closest friend chatted in our group chat asking if we missed them and made a poll in that regard. They would continue inviting us to chat back if how we are doing at home, or if we have reviewed for the qualifying exam, or if we will take online classes, and several other topics. Even if these short conversations are mere letters and words flashed on a screen, I felt the message they wanted to impart, the laughter they try to bring in these troubling times, and more importantly, checking and supporting one another given that lockdowns may affect mental health.
When we were young, we were usually taught that words are powerful. They truly are and this pandemic reinforced that notion. After all, words from leaders and icons can significantly change society and make a difference for better or worse. And even a simple exchange of messages between two ordinary people can affect their relationship. There is no denying that the impact of words is strong regardless when it is delivered through mouth, pen, or chat.
Words were, are, and will always be powerful. During this crisis, we should consider sparking conversations with others and use that as a way to uplift one another. And even if the pandemic is over, realizing the power of words is an important idea to help create lasting change.
The author is an incoming second year accountancy student and student journalist at Adamson University who aspires to be a CPA Lawyer to help defend the oppressed.
