Learning From Lockdown

Harry Park at his Zoom violin lesson. Photo: Lauren Park

Every evening, I watch humans and other intelligent life forms on Earth, starships, and man-made colonies communicate over video calls. When I started watching “Star Trek: the Next Generation” with my dad, I didn’t know that a pandemic would make my life start to resemble the lives of characters on TV. 

I’ve seen a lot change because of COVID-19. I recently graduated from Swarthmore-Rutledge School, and I liked that my online instruction schedule was flexible. Still, I missed things like playing capture the flag and dodgeball with my classmates in gym class. 

While we’ve been at home, my parents have given me assignments every day. In the morning, my mom teaches me math, and I study French with my sister, Lauren. After lunch, I move onto social studies and read an entry from the “Britannica Junior Encyclopedia” set. When I compared different cultures’ creation stories, I thought that Hinduism was very interesting but complicated with all its gods and goddesses! After social studies, I practice Han’guel, the Korean alphabet, which I learned to read and write during lockdown. 

Now that I can’t play basketball with my friends or attend Taekwondo class, I spend more time with my family. I like playing chess, backgammon, and Scrabble with them, but my family also insists on going for walks after dinner. I think walking is a boring way to exercise, and I prefer playing sports and running around. I miss seeing my friends, but it feels good to spend extra time with my family, especially since Lauren is going to college in August.

This year, we celebrated things differently. Instead of attending the usual fifth grade graduation ceremony, my family drove in the graduation car parade. I liked seeing so many people outside cheering. 

I couldn’t attend Lauren’s high school graduation because of a limit on guests. While she and my mom were at the ceremony, my dad and I sat in our family room and watched her receive her diploma on a TV livestream. The school auditorium looked cool with all the flowers and banners. 

Lockdown has changed another important part of my life: music. I play the violin and piano. Since I can’t go to my teachers’ houses, I have been taking lessons over Zoom. The reception and sound aren’t always good, but at least I am still learning. 

This May, I tried out for Delaware County’s Young Musicians’ Orchestra. I’ve seen Lauren go to many auditions, but unlike her, I had to submit a video of myself playing Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor. I felt weird performing for the camera because I couldn’t see the judges’ reactions, and my hands were sweaty from my nerves. I thought I didn’t play too well, but I got in!

One thing that hasn’t changed is how often I see my relatives. They live all over the world, so even in normal times, I only see them a few times per year and mostly communicate with them using video calls and texting. 

I have learned a lot during the pandemic, like remembering to be grateful for everything and adjusting to changes. Staying at home is tough sometimes, but I’ll remember a lot about this time when I’m older.