Quiet in the Midst of Chaos

By Audrey, age 13

My family moved to China in 2019, so we were some of the first to go through Covid-19. The first thing we did when the pandemic hit was flee to America. What a mistake that was. Flash-forward to March, my dad was forced by his work to go back to China, leaving my mom, my sister, and I stuck in America. We were having a hard time trying to get back home, so, for 7 months, I was stuck sharing a room with my extroverted family members. I mean, I love my family, but as an introvert, I needed some quiet. Thankfully, I found it. Even though my younger sister was still playing her recorder every time she got the chance, and even though my mom had decided to re-watch all her favorite movies at high volume, I was able to make my own quiet space and tune out the noise. I would travel through my favorite fictional worlds through reading or calm my chaotic thoughts writing fiction. I would spend hours playing video games or crafting trinkets. I know most thought quarantine was boring, but honestly? I was able to find new hobbies I still enjoy to this day.