Homesickness

During these strange times of isolation, I’ve turned to art as a way to cope with these sudden changes in my life. Earlier in the fall, I moved from my life-long suburban home in Chicago to the large and chaotic city of Los Angeles to go to school at USC. In all of my high school years, I felt like my life had never really started and was eagerly waiting for the moment where I became a real person. The last semester and a half at school have felt like a dream. I was living with my newly found best friends that became my family, gallivanting around the many niches of LA, and learning about subjects I genuinely care about. The COVID-19 pandemic more or less interrupted life in abrupt ways. In the middle of March, I quickly packed some clothes and moved in with my dad and step-mom. I’m finding myself mourning my life that once was full of friends and warmth. The confusion and frustration from reverting to one’s old ways (that is, high school ways) due to this unfortunate quarantine have been difficult. However, it is these moments of solitude that make us turn inwards and reflect on the important things in our lives. With the more considerable amount of free time I have on my hands, I have been able to channel my energy to creative projects and finding perfection in the ordinariness of life. The unknown is undoubtedly scary, but we must remember to look for the joy in the subtly of our lives to keep us sane.