Students responsible for COVID-19 contagion.. or containment.
“If I infect my elderly neighbor and they die, who is responsible?”
“Even worse, what if I infect my parents…”
Stop! I don’t care to find out because I am staying put!
I am an “Epidemic-Students” of today. With online classes, uncertain grades, inability to travel home and fear for our loved ones, being an Epidemic-Student has not been easy! However, I realized that of the three broad age groups in society — the elderly retired, the middle-aged working professionals, and the young students — the Epidemic-Students are, in fact, the luckiest!
The elderly are the most susceptible to the virus with potentially fatal consequences. Due to self-quarantine, they have to stay away from all their friends and family who are their main source of love and support.
Middle-aged working professionals are worried about their job and financial security! The virus is having a detrimental impact on many industries. As company revenues fall, thousands have already lost their jobs. Small businesses like restaurants are on the brink of bankruptcy. Gig economy workers, like gym trainers, are forced to stay at home without pay.
Epidemic-Students don’t have such worries. For a great proportion of us, our immune system is strong enough to recover after an infection, so unlike the elderly retired, we don’t fear for our lives. Though our summer internships may get cancelled, our colleges cannot fire us, so unlike middle age working professionals, we are not worried about our jobs. In fact, the current situation can be an opportunity for most of us. By the time the class of 2021 graduates, the economy would have started to recover. The students who found jobs a year after the 2008 global financial crisis were very successful because the markets started to sky-rocket and have continued to do so till very recently. Their investments, retirement savings, and company revenues all increased with the rising tide.
Though our health and financial risks are limited, Epidemic-Students are the greatest risk to others! We can carry the virus without showing any symptoms and so, unknowingly, we can be the biggest transmitters.
Epidemic-Students have what I’d like to call… “Covid-Privilege”. Which comes with, “Covid-responsibility.” Responsibility to stay indoors and keep our grandparents, elderly parents, and immunocompromised friends safe. Despite the access to cheaper flights, and craving to hang out with friends while school is off, we should stay indoors and do our part to protect society. If not for the health of others, at least for our financial future, we should stay at home. It feels criminal if the “more-immune” are walking around spreading infection with fatal consequences for the “less-immune.”
I know times are tough, we are all impacted in many ways. These tough times are an opportunity for our generation to show the world that we are responsible. Millennials and Gen Z get a lot of flak. Yet, we are the generation that is going to reverse global warming, end wars, and find a solution for world hunger! This starts with a simple step — making sure that we don’t infect the entire world. So, let’s stand together — b y …. s t a y i n g …. a p a r t — and do our part for society by staying at home for some time.
There is a lot we can do from home. Take this time to call and support your friends and family who may be feeling alone. Read that book you always wanted to. Work on that side project you never finished. Inspire others by sharing on social media how you are having fun indoors. Or better yet, find ways to support those that are more severely impacted.
