Daniella Horna-Baxter, 13Oak Park, IL Something Smells Fishy Daniella Horna-Baxter, 13 I was tired of being stuck inside with only my parents. I was itching for sunlight, and barely any clouds littered the sky. So, I decided to go to the backyard to do my e-learning. I was doing my math when I noticed how pretty the pond water was as it reflected the clear blue sky. I decided it was time for a break. I got my camera and started taking pictures. I was marveling at the pictures when I took a closer look and noticed that there were only 10 of my 30 or so fish there. Interesting . . . I got some fish food and flew outside. I counted again. 11. Hmmmm. I threw the specks of food all across the pond hoping some would come out. Nothing. If the food was in the pond, why weren’t fish coming out? I called my best friend that I had lived next to for over 8 years. Joel answered right away. “Hey Hannah what’s up?” “I think a raccoon is eating my fish.” “Really? Try setting up a camera.” I did, but I forgot to get a light and all the footage was pitch black. 9 fish. So, the next night I got my flashlight and aimed it at the pond. I was sure to catch the animal. The next morning I woke up and immediately checked the footage, the video had gone dark at 10 o’clock. I checked the flashlight, dead. 6 fish. I called Joel, yet again he answered immediately “Have you caught it?” “No, I don’t know what to do.” “Why don’t you stay up tonight? I’ll check on you each hour.” I woke up at 7. 4 fish. I called up Joel. “Joel! Why didn’t you wake me up last night?!” “I was trying to! But you sleep like a baby! I tried waking you up with a megaphone, but Old Greta across the street yelled at me for being too loud. So I tried to go wake you up but then I remembered the 6 foot rule.” “Well what am I going to do now?” “I have some motion activated lasers that send a notification to your phone when something moves.” “How do you have that? “My dad worked night security at the Art Museum” There was no movement, and now I had no fish. I Face Timed Joel. “Joel! There’s no more fish left!” “Oh no!” Then I noticed something behind him. A fish tank. With my fish.
COVID-19
The Reason for our Smiles, the Amazing NHS, a poem by Cali Davis, 9
Cali Davis, 9Manchester, UK The Reason for our Smiles, the Amazing NHS Cali Davis, 9 To all our heroes helping out during this illness, Your bravery and selflessness deserves our respect, For all you have done and all you will do, We have been brought together and that’s thanks to you. The stars are shining brighter with every waking hour, You’re saving lives, risking your own and for that you have the power, Words can’t express the gratitude we feel, You’re the sun in our eyes and you make our sadness heal. We all await the day for our lives to go back to how they were, But for now let’s appreciate each other and be grateful for what we share, Soon enough this will be a faded memory and the hardships will be less and less, One thing that will never be forgotten is our unsung heroes, the NHS! Editor’s note: For readers not based in Britain, NHS = National Health Service
The Quarantine Generation: the World on Reboot–From the Lens of a Teenager, by Mehr Grewal, 13
Mehr Grewal, 13 Bellevue, WA The Quarantine Generation: the World on Reboot–From the Lens of a Teenager By Mehr Grewal, 13 I turned 13 on March 28th. My milestone birthday was spent in quarantine. A mightier contender took the spotlight away from me. COVID-19 decided to flex its muscles and turn the world around—a 13th birthday is no match. Family, friends and teachers had been building the excitement around this important landmark which would be a turning point in my life. Indeed, life has turned for not just me, but the entire planet! In fact, we have been forced to reboot, press the reset button and pause… I am a 7th grader in Seattle, balancing schoolwork and a passion for community outreach, with a focus on mental health. I have used my writing, and voice, to raise awareness of mental health issues surrounding my peers today. I strive to initiate programs (like my campaigns “Teen Mental Health Cafés”, youth4positive communities) dedicated to the wellbeing of my peers. Through my work, I hope to impact my community positively. However, the night of February 28th, everything changed for me in Seattle. An invisible enemy invaded my city and decided to shake up our lives. Washington, and the rest of the U.S. quivered under the impact of COVID-19. A vibrant community is reeling under a storm as first responders (like my mother who is a doctor) grapple to save lives. My perspective of the storm is from the lens of a teenager. As I see the amazing adults around me tackle the virus and provide essential services–doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, grocery store workers–I also see a new world emerging. I am compelled to a realization that my generation, which I now choose to call the “quarantine generation,” is charged with new responsibilities. We are being looked upon to rise up to new challenges. Unbeknownst to us, we will soon be the flag bearers of the NEW world. Let’s take a look at history. Sir Isaac Newton, at home during the Great Plague epidemic of 1665-6, discovered the law of gravity as he observed an apple falling from a tree he was studying. The devastating Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, which took 21 million lives worldwide, triggered research towards developing an influenza vaccine that helps protect us today. The polio epidemic of the 1920s sparked the invention and use of the ‘iron lungs’–ventilators as we now know them. This life saving device takes over the work of breathing from patients who are critically ill, keeping them alive. The AIDS epidemic that began in 1981, moving across the globe swiftly, sparked herculean investigation and experimentation, and in 2020 HIV is a treatable condition with patients living a normal life span and actually, a few patients being cured of the disease. Conditions that seemed unsurmountable, that tried to crush the spirits of populations, generated revolutionary ideas, prompted innovations and triggered new discoveries. Adversity propelled the human mind to stretch and overcome. Today, seemingly, the world is at a standstill and so are teenagers like me. We, the ‘IGens,’ a generation permeated by the mobile web and social media, often restless and anxious, and dealing with our unique emotional challenges, will develop the grit and determination needed to lead the world–thanks to the Quarantine. I wonder when this is over, can I hope the world will emerge stronger? Will this lead to collective resilience? Our generation is armed with the potential for hard work, respect for diversity, inclusion and social justice. Now, this quarantine is arming us with fortitude. I see the birth of a New World– I envision us, the youth, as changemakers in a New World post-COVID. I visualize us as leaders who will steer our communities, scientists who will push towards environmental sustainability, innovators who will find a way to provide universal healthcare, doctors who will find lifesaving cures and fight these contagions, artists who will enrich the lives of a hurting community, and–I see us restoring the harmony in the world. As the world reboots, I will be ready with a new resolve to spearhead change as part of the Quarantine Generation.
