We were definitely in a long and seemingly unending dark tunnel last year with a light nowhere near in sight. Now, we begin to see a brighter future. The community spread of COVID-19 is easing and now manageable.  We finally have vaccines and more clarity on health and governmental policies. 

I offer congratulations to all, especially students, their parents and teachers, who remained vigilant in providing the best support and for remaining flexible with the constant changes in procedures and schedules. Last year was a tough year for everyone and yet we plowed through everything.  

Even though we talk as if the pandemic is over, it is not. Don’t forget that the word pandemic means “(of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent or the whole world” or “general, universal”; simply put, it is something much more than ourselves or the small community that we immediately see. 

Remember, just because we are being eased back into the normal rhythm of things, we cannot let go of all protocols set in place for our safety. These restrictions of our movements are not put in place to infringe upon our freedom or rights, rather they are so we can protect each other.

The pandemic is not yet over, we have all just been fortunate enough to belong to that part of the world where we are privileged enough to have found a way to control the disease. The least we can do as citizens is to hold on tight and stay patient.

Patience is needed for us to have solidarity and compassion for those in need. We need to understand the trials and tribulations of others. Few were left unscathed by the pandemic. Millions of families lost loved ones to the virus. The pandemic is indiscriminate and many still reel from the effects of this disease.

Many were never given the chance to say good-bye to those they loved. And there are those who lost their jobs and their main source of income. This is why we are called to be compassionate to others and be patient in solidarity with those who lost something far more than we can understand.  

We should continue to put all our hope and trust in God just like we always have. We are urged to lose all hesitancy and remain vigilant. It is still very easy to lose hope and trust. One careless slip can make us fall down a rabbit hole of mistrust and disheartenment. If there is one thing that we must learn from this ordeal it’s that we must go back to God and simply allow Him to guide us where He wants us to go. He is calling us once again to be fully dependent upon Him.

We have, as humans, tried so hard for a long time to push our way around the world and now it is time to lay all our trust and hope in God. 

(Ducepec, 22, is a recent Bachelor of Science graduate from the University of Toronto.)