For Livia Isaiah and Mikenna Mondul, both 12, their summer plans prevailed, despite COVID-19, for the sake of their family and a bit of fun.
Isaiah spent the better part of July in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Vermillion, South Dakota. Amid COVID-19, Isaiah began a venture to help her sister move from college. Despite the ongoing risk, Isaiah’s loyalty toward her family surpassed the danger of COVID-19. “I feel like there are things that have to be done and unfortunately life cannot be paused,” Isaiah said. “I wish I could have done things in a safe way, but when family needs help, there is nothing to do but oblige.”
Unlike Isaiah, Mondul enjoyed an age-old tradition: vacationing at her family’s lake house in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania from June 12 to July 29. Mondul spent her days “working, tanning, or going out on our boat and jet skis on the lake.” With regard to COVID-19, Mondul was persuaded by her age-old family tradition. “I do feel that risking my life for this trip was worth it. It’s been a tradition in my family ever since I was little and as a senior, it might have been my last time spending the whole summer with my family,” Mondul said.
Although the motives behind the two trips differed, at the heart, a large amount of precaution was taken to ensure safety for both parties, “We stayed inside as much as possible and drove in cars when traveling to avoid public transportation,” Isaiah said. Similarly, Mondul said, “We wore masks anywhere we went in public to prevent contracting COVID.”
While it seems that COVID-19 has changed every aspect of life, maintaining a sense of normalcy is key to finding balance in the midst of chaos. Whether it be upholding a family tradition or helping out a family member. Still, safety and precaution exist in the balance for everyone.