Thriving Forward

As we take stock of our lives in these times, we're embracing fresh attitudes, appreciating the things we used to take for granted, and equipping ourselves with new skills in order to thrive.

- Hayley Tai

SURVIVING COVID-19 CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE

Contracting the virus in London was a wake-up call for undergrad Nadia Tan, 22.

It was worrying whenever I came across articles of (young) people disregarding social distancing rules just to visit their partners during the Circuit Breaker. I'd stop to think about their flippant attitude, urging my friends to stay home through text messages and social media, and organizing Zoom parties to support one another.

What I went through after getting infected by the coronavirus in March was life-changing. I thought I was living my best life in London as a foreign exchange student and I told myself, Nah, I won't be that unlucky to get infected. But I did.

In early March, I received an e-mail from the University at Buffalo, which organised the four-month programme, to return to Singapore quickly. The programme was cancelled due to the spike in the number of Covid-19 infection cases in London.

I was upset at the thought of going back so soon... here I was, only halfway through the programme and contracting the virus was pretty much the least of my worries... Ignorant as I was, I went about my usual routine in London, going out and meeting friends. At that time, no social distancing measures were in place in the UK until the lockdown began on March 23.