Dear fellow Unionites
It’s day 12 of lock-down, and strangely enough, I find myself missing school.
I miss being bored with my friends; I miss aimless conversations at the back of the class and hearing the bad ‘dad jokes’ of some of our teachers; I miss running onto the rugby field and complaining through fitness; I miss the strange chemistry between my teammates that binds us all as one. I miss competition. I miss learning from my teachers and the knowledge that they bring. I miss the dawn getting later each day as I wake up, with winter gently approaching. I miss being watched over by the Great Karoo mountains, looking up at them in awe of the wonders of nature. I miss hearing the endless complaints of the boys about hostel food, more out of habit than reason. I miss seeing people wandering the fields in the afternoon, with nothing better to do. I miss being hungry, trying to hustle for food from the girls in my class, always repaying them eventually. I miss how easy teachers made learning, not having to do it all alone. I miss my school. And I’m sure many of you too. This is not an easy time for anyone.
Fortunately, we are blessed with the technology to allow learning to go on, and I advise that everyone use this time productively to get their work done.
What has happened has struck the world hard. It is as if the whole world is standing still in anxious anticipation, waiting for the day the life can go back to normal.
One thing we can say is that this has made us realize how much we take for granted. Think now about what you no longer have and use this as a way of learning to appreciate the small great things in life. I know that it is lonely, but where will you find a better time to get to know yourself?
Stay positive and productive, we will be back to normal soon enough.
To my fellow Matrics – it may feel as if our year has been ripped away from us, but that is far from the truth. We will be back at it soon enough, and we will come back stronger than ever. As better people and with an astonishing story to tell. I can’t wait to see you all then.
Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, stay at home.
BOWEN