Class of 2020 must build on humanity's hope in time of crisis

With Gov. J.B. Pritzker announcing that schools will be closed for the rest of the year, I have officially ended my senior year in the most unanticipated and upsetting ways possible. This outbreak of the coronavirus has affected everyone, and one of the groups impacted is the Class of 2020.

There's a hole in our hearts, our lives, our timelines. The hole may vary in size, but it's there. Believe me. For many, this hole grows and becomes more apparent each day this crisis continues onward, as people have realized that this may be a longer-term issue than initially anticipated.

It's a different world now than it was a month ago, and that's not an exaggeration. Not even a small one at that. I go out on bike rides now, craving at least a small semblance to the world we all had just a short time ago. And I do see people when I'm out on these rides - more than I have ever seen outside in a long time. That has indeed been a curious side effect of this issue. But the people I see seem to be more than the recommended six feet apart. Instead, they are in their own little universe, or a bubble of sorts - floating down the sidewalk pretending to be unaware of the other family approaching in an attempt to pretend that they're not truly there. Flitting to the side like spooked birds when someone gets too close.

What has happened to our world?

A month ago I was at school, oblivious to the problem creeping up on us. I was interacting with everyone that I usually would, and it was customary for all of the guys I knew to handshake as a form of greeting. Nowadays, that would be grounds for a shunning. I went to play basketball the weekend before the schools closed, in a crowded gymnasium with at least 30 other guys in a close contact sport. At this point, I'm not sure how long it will be before people can even talk to one another without being paranoid.

I was going to go to Hawaii this spring break, traveling through dirty and crowded airports to reach my destination. Now people don't even attempt to go to the grocery store without wearing a mask.

It's apparent our world has been flipped upside down, or perhaps disappeared for awhile - waiting to come back when this chaos has passed. What's also clear to me is that this is a difficult time to stay positive, motivated, friendly, selfless, logical, emotional, conversational, athletic - human, actually, is the best way to describe it. This is totally natural, for an essential part of our humanity has been stripped from us for the moment. Sadly, where and when this human ideal is gifted back to us is mostly out of our control entirely.

That does not mean it is all bleak. Humans have survived and thrived on this earth for this long because of our stubbornness, our drive and most important of all, our hope that good things will come even at the darkest of times. So, as difficult as it is, we, the Class of 2020, hold it to ourselves and others to make the best of this unexpected time.

Create a project, better a skill, write a book. You have the time. Cook, make pottery, film something. Lean on your friends and family. It's hard to do that with friends right now, but send them something. A text, email, video chat. Anything at all will suffice.

I know our world will come back again.

• Carter Sherwin, of Vernon Hills, is a senior at Vernon Hills High School.