WE stayed up late on December 31, 2019, as we always do. We stayed up to greet the new year with excitement and joy. We made our resolutions with
resilience to upkeep them. It seemed like a fresh start for many, including myself—little did we know. The beginning of the year 2020 was just like any other year. I remembered quite vividly reading on-line news articles and watching live streams about this strange virus that has been affecting China and outlying countries for months. I was naive to think that these things somehow can only affect those on the other side of the world, as if my country was in a protective bubble.

It felt similar to the Ebola outbreak in 2013. We all saw it on the television, we watched on as other countries dealt with this epidemic, but we never imagined ourselves having to deal with something similar because Africa seemed so far away. Of course, in March everything changed. Guyana as we know it changed drastically overnight. The University of Guyana’s semester break commenced in the beginning of March. If someone had come up to me and told me that would’ve been the last time I entered a physical classroom setting up until now, I would’ve blatantly laughed at them.

I didn’t expect this to happen — none of us did. Our semester break was extended because of the elections fiasco that occurred the following week. Nothing or anybody prepared our nation for that either. Throughout that period, Guyana was plagued with two viruses at once; COVID-19 and racism. From the killings of the Henry boys, to the blatant racism and violence, the increase of COVID-19 cases, the turmoil of the national elections and the economic and social implications that COVID-19 has wrought upon our countryGuyana like the rest of the world has gone through a lot in just a few months.

As the philosophy of Yin Yang suggests, there’s always good in bad, vice versa. So, of course, there were many positive outcomes of this year as well. The increasing numbers of small/local businesses, the technological transformation of the school system and the sensitisation of how important frontline workers are, inclusive of better holistic health care plans for all Guyanese, among many others. We ought to be thankful for the good times and learn from the bad. I’m hopeful that we all can turn over a new leaf in the upcoming year. With the discovery of effective treatment for this virus, the world will be able to heal sooner than later.

With that said, let’s not forget that the COVID-19 virus will not disappear at 12 AM on January 1st. It will still be our sole responsibility to protect ourselves and others. While the year 2020 will live on in our minds for years to come, I hope the good memories of the near future outweighs the painful and devastating ones of yesteryear. Lastly, I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish the readers of Youth Perspective a Happy New Year. The year 2021 can be a better one, but that can only happen if we allow it to be.