Written by Ketan Tamirisa

A few months ago, we went on our first family vacation for spring break…the first one in 30 months. Sitting by the water, basking under the midafternoon sun, I reminisced about how my life went through a roller coaster ride because of the pandemic. Open lands around the water, trees, peace, and tranquility around me brought back a sense of normalcy.

My family had just moved to Texas (so our elderly grandparents could enjoy the warmer weather) from Ohio when the pandemic started. We knew maybe one or two friends in Texas. Social interactions were limited due to physical distance from our dear friends and family back in Ohio. It was during this time that we were trying to find a house, while my brother and I started new schools and my parents found new employment. My parents both worked in the medical field in Ohio and were lucky to find jobs where they could continue the career they had built for years. They soon assimilated into the new hospital environments as physicians once again.

The pandemic added another layer of complexity to our relocation simply because both of my parents are physicians and were taking care of patients, COVID-19 patients. Being born to two physician parents meant close and personal exposure to the destructive wrath of the virus on people during the last few years. Because of frequent outbreaks at the hospitals they worked at, my parents would often quarantine in our own home (sectioned off in their own rooms). As they were never sure if any sniffles or exposure at work meant the beginning of the infection. This process was necessary since my grandparents were living with us. The quarantine period was extended till they received negative COVID-19 tests. They would wear masks around the house and stay as far away from the rest of the family as possible.

Isolation in our own home felt stifling. Limited interaction.

This went on for months together without an end in sight. They would change clothes in the garage and clean their keys, cell phones, etc., in the UV cleaning counter near our shoe rack. I vividly remember my parents discussing with my grandparents about paperwork to protect us in case both my parents became ill at the same time. My brother and I asked them about it at dinner time one night. My parents comforted us, saying that they were just being proactive and that there was nothing to worry about. Their poise during this time made me think about all the physicians out there –they care for those suffering and yet stay calm and carry the responsibility at home without any complaints of their own struggles or aches and pains.

Our daily schedules were challenging. Even though my brother and I attended online school via Zoom, we still needed someone to take us to our occasional activities. We both wanted to play outdoor tennis or run on the track field which meant we needed transportation. For months, my parents managed busy schedules to make everything work. They would wake up early in the morning to prepare our lunches for the day and coordinate with each other about who was going to get home early. It was as if my parents were stuck in a timeless continuum—a grueling routine they would have to follow day in and day out.

However, what sets my parents apart from others is their resolute determination and steadfast mindset. Even after coming home after a long day of work, they would never hesitate to help my brother and me with homework. Virtual learning had its pitfalls. We missed the face-to-face interactions with our teachers and friends and couldn’t understand some of the concepts as clearly. When we needed help, they would never complain and were always available.

“Always look at the bright side of things because there’s a rainbow after every storm”
-Banteilang Dohling

It’s hard to look at the bright side of this epidemic that has caused worldwide devastation and destruction. However, as a child in a two-physician family, the lessons that the pandemic taught me were different than that of my peers. The pandemic enabled me to improve my work ethic and responsibility. To appreciate the sacrifices that my parents (and physicians like my parents) make to keep the equilibrium.

Because my entire freshman year was taught through online courses, it was up to me to make decisions that would help me in the future. I had to stay focused, dedicated, and not succumb to distractions. I made sure to be attentive in class, submit my work on time, and be respectful towards teachers, as it was their first year teaching online as well. Frequent online glitches and crashes were common in the initial months as everyone had to learn a new way of life. Work ethic and responsibility go hand in hand. When I improved my work ethic, in turn, I also gained more responsibility. Since my parents weren’t home most of the day, the responsibility of our new pup, Dexter, fell into the hands of my brother and me. We coordinated a schedule based on our online school timing. This way, each of us would take Dexter out at certain times during the day, as well as feed him. When my parents weren’t home, my brother was also my responsibility. I helped my brother get ready for his online classes every day, made sure he ate lunch, and helped him with his homework. Overall, even though the pandemic affected everyone negatively in one way or another, there were a few good things that came out of it. In my case: Self-reliance and helping. ☤

“Many times, there is the unexpected start or end of something……Maybe we had never thought. But such unexpected events are the best. They teach us many life lessons, provide opportunities, make us stronger, wiser….in short, we get the opportunity to know and explore ourselves.”
-Himanshu Chaturvedi