Scarlett Smith navigates life after the pandemic as she reflects on how it changed her life and shaped who she is today. She is in her third year of university and is a coming-of-age story of how she experiences life differently.
Today was the day. The day I finally could see my lecturers and classmates in person rather than on a screen. I hardly slept due to the excitement of being back on campus and seeing all of my friends again. Oh, how the pandemic turned my social life upside down. I'm quite an introverted person but the people I have met during my time at university have made me slightly extroverted. Don't get me wrong if I could choose between a movie night in or a night out I would choose a night in with my precious cat and my Mum.
I woke up around 6am and started getting ready for the day ahead; as I began heading to the bathroom I could smell mouth-watering pancakes. That could only mean one thing. Mum was cooking. On my first day back. What a treat! I quickly brushed my teeth, washed my face with my skincare products, and headed to the shower. As the warm water trickled down my back I began to ponder about what my third year might be like. I started to wonder what modules I would be studying and what my dissertation topic may be on. Oh, I completely forgot about the dissertation due to my excitement of going back to campus learning. My thoughts were paused as my Mum called me down to eat breakfast. I started looking through my wardrobe and picked out an off the shoulder long-sleeved top with a grey skirt with lace trimming. I paired my outfit with blue flat soled shoes and put on a pop of eyeliner, mascara and filled in my eyebrows. I grabbed my bag and made my way downstairs.
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I made my way downstairs and hugged my Mum before she handed me a plate of all the delicious foods she had been preparing that morning. Pancakes, eggs, hash browns, mushrooms and beans. Yummy! I sat down and began eating. As I took my first mouthful Mum said "honey how are you feeling about going back to University?" I didn't actually know what I was feeling: happy, excited, nervous yet anxious all at the same time. "I'm not sure Mum I just can't wait to be back on campus again." As I began to devour this home-cooked meal my phone began to ring, it was Sam, my best friend. I answered the phone and told her I would be out in a minute. I kissed my mother's cheek and left the house. Once I left the house I spotted Sam's car, the car she has always had - a white Jeep. Sam beeped her horn as I made my way to the passenger side of her car, oh how I've missed these early mornings where me and Sam would drive to University together.
