This fall brings a new landscape for each of us. As students, many things will be different. Some will learn remotely; some will learn through a hybrid model of in-person and remote; and so-on. Added to that are changes to athletic schedules and after-school activities. While teens realize these measures and protocols are all in place for health and safety, it is something we have to get used to. Our world has truly been changed.

As teens, we strive to be patient and flexible; we strive to understand and adjust. I think my peers are doing a good job of rolling with our ever-changing world. We understand our schools are trying to promote learning while keeping us safe. Still, there is a lot for us to take in. As a generation, I believe the teens of today are adept at being resilient. We were born in a post-9/11 world when America had changed. We have not known those carefree times our parents experienced. We have seen many world events in our young lives, and now we are experiencing a pandemic. 

These are unsettling times for all of us. As teenagers we had certain things in our head about how our graduation would look, how our prom would be, who would be homecoming king or queen and how our first year of college would be. This past year has accentuated that there are no guarantees in life. With life comes lessons, and my generation is learning that if we accept the unexpected and keep moving forward in difficult times, we will develop a strength that will aid us in the future.

Isabella Dussias is a 17-year-old singer-songwriter/composer from New Jersey. She enjoys writing about issues that are important to today’s youth, and she believes music is an important outlet to connect people and share messages through the creativity of lyric and melody. For more information, please visit IsabellaDussias.com.