20 COVID-19 being a Catalyst for Change

During the pandemic, I was living in Canada. I was 14 years old at the time and in the 9th grade. Like many others, I experienced the full lockdown at the beginning of the crisis, unsure of what to do or how to feel, my family and I were very scared. However, I grew up on a street surrounded by mine and all of my siblings and parents’ closest friends. We played outside every single day, exploring forests, building snow forts and having sleepovers. We were fortunate to have had a childhood as if technology never existed. All our neighbors were coincidentally like-minded people; we had the same stance on the pandemic, we quarantined when experiencing symptoms of sickness, and we kept distance from the elderly or susceptible. We also participated in preventative measures such as mask mandates and increased hygiene. But as kids, what started off as two weeks of no school turned into two years of never-ending hangouts every single day. We brought our computers to each other’s houses and created our own virtual school; we were never lonely. The pandemic provided us with an opportunity to watch each other grow up on such a close level, creating life-long friendships. Although we had quarantined for 1-3 months at the beginning of the pandemic and endured restaurant closures, school shutdowns, most public vicinities being closed, mask mandates, not being able to visit grandparents or travel, my life remained indifferent. My relationship with school and mental health improved. Prior to the pandemic, I never believed I was smart or capable enough to attend university; my grades were not acceptable, and I dreaded thinking about my future. However, virtual education changed my life. Life pre-pandemic was so rushed and fast-paced; I was balancing full-time dance and academics. All of a sudden, things slowed down. I now had the time, fewer distractions, and the much-needed one-on-one attention from teachers. This was a turning point for me because out of nowhere I was caring about my grades; I began to think I had a chance, and my confidence grew. When going back to in-person, I knew I was capable, and I went from barely passing to getting into every single university I applied to, including scholarships and honors, and now I am attending my dream school. One challenge being a person who struggles with ADHD was my technological dependance; I was struggling with being so attached to my phone, especially social media. Being able to focus in a classroom was extremely hard and transitioning to scheduled learning was difficult. I was so used to doing my schoolwork whenever I wanted, I fostered my own sense of independence. After 2 years of setting my own schedule, returning to an environment where I was being told what to do and when to do it was frustrating. Overall, my mental health, my relationship with school and friends improved due to lockdown and COVID-19. As I understand the pandemic was devastating for many people, I was blessed that my personal experience was different.

The pandemic was a catalyst for change not only in my life but also as a societal turning point. It was a defining period in modern history, affecting individuals in diverse, profound ways. As scholars in the future examine this period, they will find it to be a pivotal moment in shaping human relationships, attitudes, and behaviors. One of the most obvious cultural changes was the way friendships and social relations became increasingly tied to political ideologies. As the pandemic coincided with the U.S. presidential election, people’s political views became a defining aspect of their identity. The stereotypes and stigmas meant that those who supported Donald Trump were often labeled as anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists who opposed movements like Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ rights. Conversely, Biden supporters were frequently seen as blindly following the media, embracing cancel culture, and actively engaging in social justice activism. Canadians have become extremely indulged in American politics and have discriminated against each other based on world views and have become very hateful as a nation. This cultural shift has led to increased exclusion, discrimination, and online hostility. Due to social media platforms, particularly TikTok, they became the breeding grounds for cyberbullying and polarization, where people attacked one another based on personal beliefs or opinions. The pandemic did not create these divisions, but it certainly magnified them. I remember seeing friendships dissolve over differing opinions on lockdown measures. Some individuals were labeled irresponsible for questioning restrictions, while others were called naive for completely supporting them. Instead of fostering understanding, many people resorted to labeling and dismissing those who disagreed with them. Stigma was also present in people who contracted the virus; some people were shamed for testing positive, as if it were a reflection of their personal choices rather than a highly contagious disease. Similarly, those who chose not to get vaccinated faced tremendous social backlash, often treated as outcasts. The fear and the uncertainty around COVID-19 led to an environment where judgment and blame became normalized and accepted, further emphasizing segregations. COVID-19 was not just about a virus; it was about how societies respond to crisis, how individuals cope with isolation, and how global events could reshape interpersonal relationships and cultural norms. From personal experience I was ostracized based on my opinions; I lost friendships due to my political stance and vaccination status, and that wasn’t my choice. I would never discriminate against someone based on their healthcare choices, but unfortunately not everyone has that mindset.

The COVID-19 pandemic was more than just a global health crisis; it served as a social reassessment that revealed the weakness of human connections. While my personal experience was marked by unexpected personal and academic growth, the broader cultural shifts that emerged during this time exposed societal conflicts. This revealed how fast communities could fracture under pressure. It demonstrated the power of fear in shaping social constructs and perceptions. Including how technology plays a role in both unifying and separating people and the extent to which people are willing to conform or resist under crisis conditions. For future scholars, the COVID-19 pandemic will serve as a case study on human behavior in the face of uncertainty. Due to the coincidences of the pandemic and U.S. presidential election, people idolized the candidates, subconsciously thinking they would be able to stop the spread of COVID. However, it is beyond one singular person, and it’s a global severely contagious disease; it was going to take its course. The lesson from the pandemic is that empathy, critical thinking, and open discourse must be prioritized to prevent history from repeating itself in future worldly challenges.