Year of the Pandemic: 2020

2020 has been a bizarre and unexpected emotional rollercoaster. While some dreaded the year, I found it … eye opening.

This was supposed to be THE year! I had all these amazing plans.

I was supposed to jet set across the US this past spring.

I was supposed to vacation in Mexico this past summer.

I was supposed to graduate with my MBA 2 weeks ago.

I was supposed to be in Australia/New Zealand this past holiday.

Instead, this is how it really went.

March: Bestie came to visit from Vancouver.

Lockdown in Hawaii. All plans canceled.

June: Signed on to the Manila Streetwear campaign with Jeffrey Ragador in the Philippines.

Received my first 4.0.

July: Published, launched, and sold my first book.

Applied to Harvard.

Saw Comet Neowise during its 6,800-year orbit.

Filmed my first mukbang (Eng. Translation – eating room).

August: Miss Hawaii United America announcement.

September: Photoshoot with Tracy Corvo.

Moved.

November: Birthday.

December: Christmas.

I painted, I boxed, I cooked, I baked, I cleaned ... I had more time to focus/refocus on my side hustles and projects. I applied for tons of scholarships and received an invitation to join an honor society. Most importantly, I took care of myself and my needs. I celebrated some small wins and prayed extra during the losses. I only had a couple of minor injuries in December. My back was out of commission for a week after getting a massage and a random person’s dog scratched me at the beach.

We all had high expectations of 2020, but plans quickly changed as a worldwide pandemic set in. Although 2020 has been fairly eventful (for me), I’ve observed many of my frontline worker friends testing positive for Covid, friends losing jobs or closing down businesses, and a handful of friends and family members passing. I hope that 2020 reminded us that we are resilient, adaptable, and to be kinder. May those lessons carry with us in the following years to come.

“I thought 2020 would be the year I got everything I wanted. Instead, it’s the year I’ve become more grateful than ever for everything I already have.”

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash