"The notion that the length of this pandemic is completely unknown is frightening"

But she ended up with three As and is now going to study journalism at the University of Brighton (Eastbourne campus). We have asked Jenny to share her thoughts on the difficult times we are living through... Here is her latest contribution.

When aimlessly scrolling on Facebook earlier this week I came across a post that simultaneously made me laugh, but also feel a bit stupid. It has been said countless times that this year has been ‘uncertain’, ‘bizarre’ and ‘unprecedented’, and of course this has been a reality for everybody. But somehow it took only until reading this comical observation on social media that I realised there is every certainty that this pandemic will not be just confined to 2020 as everybody seems to be suggesting, but 2021 also. I understand that this isn’t the most motivational or optimistic premise for an article, but when imagining past Jenny in March feeling so sure that by September life would have returned to normal, I have to laugh at my naivety. Despite the wearing of face masks in public areas and of course the continuation of social distancing, the pace of things appears to be cautiously quickening, and yet we still are hearing alarming figures and new measures continuing to be implemented. Perhaps it is simply the way in which I have adapted to these times, but where before I felt fear and uncertainty, I now almost accept this pandemic as a part of society.