Making the best use of lockdown

Re-defy-ning priorities

 Arshiya Khosla, Class XII, Carmel Convent School Chandigarh

The question is not about HOW to solve a problem anymore, it's about WHY we haven't solved it yet? 

It never ceases to amaze me how every single day a new idea is born, either resolving an existing problem or improving the quality of life in general. I would be surprised if a solution to my question wasn't on the internet. But since there is no lack of ideas, why do pressing problems like climate change, food security, unemployment, plastic pollution, amongst others, still exist?

 In fact, how do we decide what qualifies as a "pressing issue"?

One might think that any issue jeopardising human life would have the highest priority. But why then is no one trying to improve the illiteracy rate of the nation? Why then do people of colour still have to struggle to be seen as equals? Why then was the safety and livelihood of migrant labourers dismissed as a mere inconvenience?

A simple answer seems to be “because of greed”.

 The economy drives us to make conflicting decisions which sometimes include compromising the "less worthy" lives. We have grown up prioritising our work over our health and believing that it's essential to work hard to be someone in life.

Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't work hard, I'm just saying our work should not become our life.

 We have access to unlimited information, and ingenious inventions keep coming up to tackle even minor inconveniences.

However, the politics behind the whole problem takes the solution on a different tangent.

 We should take this time to pause and think, and I mean genuinely think, about what matters in life and how in our endless effort to drive profits, we undermine the value of human resources. Our salaries seem to measure our worth, and it's sad to think that despite having come a long way in technological advancements, we haven't made much progress in the aspect of improving the quality of life for everyone. Life today still is a competition of survival of the fittest.

I live in a country with one of the oldest civilisations in the world. I'm 17, but the collective consciousness of all the previous periods exists in me. The way our culture is evolving is a reflection of how our present society thinks. Many of our strengths and weaknesses mirror in our collective thinking.

We sometimes feel that our efforts are inadequate for we don't have the same power as the government. But we still can act in a way that we deem fit and make a change. Our efforts may not seem significant from the perspective of our vast nation, but these may be significant for the person we reach out to.

With the advent of modern science and conveniences, I feel it is the moral duty of every privileged and informed person to look at ways to uplift our poor brethren.

"I DIDN’T MISS SCHOOL"

Chahat Chadha, Class VII, Dayanand Model Sr Sec School, Jalandhar

It seemed to me that I have proved the quote ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’. Our school took the initiative to provide online teaching without any delay in order to fill in the gap created by pandemic. All teachers taught according to the meticulously planned time table. I interacted with my teachers daily which kept me motivated.

Not only academic learning, extra co-curricular activities were also organised online in which I participated enthusiastically. During this lockdown period, I daily practised mindful meditation and yoga at home.

As a responsible child, I made proper schedule of my day and provided a helping hand to my mother too. I spent quality time with my family. I kept myself busy in other competitions organised by our school and I was highly elated to see my graph in co-curricular activities rise higher and higher.

Fortunately, my school gave me a chance to conduct a virtual yoga session' on International Yoga Day, which was the great opportunity for me to show my skill and ability on the digital platform.

This motivational activity boosted my confidence & self-esteem. My optimistic attitude never let me down in life because our mind-set matters a lot.

If you take difficulties as an opportunity in life, definitely with God’s grace, you will fly in the sky and achieve the heights of success.

Thanks to the almighty this crucial time is passing very easily and I did not miss my school days. I hope & pray everything will be well soon. No matter what happens or how bad it seems today, life does go on and it will get better tomorrow.