Needless to say, 2020 has been a series of occurrences that left a huge impact on everyone. From the eruption of Taal volcano in January, African swine fever outbreak, hitting of the year’s most powerful typhoon on Luzon, to the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, the country has been in turmoil of unfortunate events which has affected individuals in numerous aspects. As stated by some, it’s as if we are in a Jumanji  game where worse things come one after the other and everyone’s seeking for a way out. 

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In observance of the implemented protocols for the remaining pandemic, different sectors have extended to major changes as an approach to continue operations. Lockdown and quarantines were pushed through to lessen the possibility of contracting the virus.

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Hence, online transactions were one of the most evident transitions to limit face-to-face contact. Adhering to these instances, Polytechnic University of the Philippines shifted to distance learning where students are made to choose between online or modular classes. Adjustments as such were implemented drastically, nevertheless – caused by necessity, everyone was forced to cope. 

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Eloisa Perdigon, 18, a COCian from the Broadcast Communication department, is one of the many who were caught up by uncertainties in the middle of crises. She shared how she had to endure worsening anxiety from balancing studies and being socially aware. 

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“I felt like no matter how hard I try to live my life, everything won't make sense because the world is facing huge problems (and) it is a luxury, a sin and a privilege to feel happy or even okay. I became more unwilling to study because I sometimes feel like all my preparation for my future won't matter because (there is) no future anymore.”

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With the current situation, Eloisa, who was initially hopeful for this year, struggled to cope with her mental state. 

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“I was really devastated during the first months of community quarantine because I felt like there is no possible way to uplift myself. Because of that, I reached, as far as I can say, the worst version of myself.”

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Bounded by hopelessness and instability, she motivated herself to bounce back for the same reasons. She started working on physical outcomes and, fortunately, she deemed herself out of rock bottom. 

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“I figured that whenever I see physical changes, I feel like I have something to celebrate and to be proud of. I decided to revive my natural curls, aim for (a) healthier lifestyle, appreciate my own beauty and be more kind to myself.”

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Though it has been a rough patch for Eloisa, she chose to find herself with experiences she was given. In addition, she emphasizes being smart on what one invests their energy on.  

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“I never thought that my experiences during the crisis that caused me to lose myself are also the reasons why I'm finally able to define who I am now. It is also very important to learn how to stand on your own and be courageous in fighting your own battles alone. At the end of the day, you only have yourself. However, you should be wise in choosing your battles.”

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This year posted an unanticipated turn of events that, somehow, displaced our foreseen outcomes ahead. Even so, in times where resilience serves as a tireless hope, it is essential to acknowledge ourselves and the efforts we exert in the face of adversity.