None of us have ever lived through a pandemic. None of us have ever experienced a global shut-down quite like this. The fact of the matter is, this is all unchartered territory. This is all new, and completely unpredictable.

We're human. We don't like to be out of control of things. Although we can prevent the spread of COVID-19 through abiding to social distancing, sanitary precautions, and government protocols, much of this is out of our control. And that's okay.

When else have the waterways of Venice been free of pollution? When else have we seen the skies of Los Angeles free of its greyish overcast? No, these outcomes are not worth the lives that have been lost due to COVID-19, but they are worth something.

They're worth our awareness.

Never have we been so aware of the impact we have on not only other people, but on our surroundings. Never have we collectively, as a human race, acknowledged all that we have to be grateful for – before, at least, it gets taken away from us. It is truly quite sad that it took a pandemic for us to realize what we need to work on, for the sake of our future as a species, and for the sake of our future on Earth.

The ability to go to school, to see friends, to go out to eat – these are all privileges. Not rights, privileges. In the United States, we are blessed to be able to do these things, to have these opportunities. There are children in Zambia who will never get an education. There are children in Syrian refugee camps who will never see their family again, much less friends. There are children all over the world who may not have food on their table tonight – and we're crying over a gut-wrenching craving for Chipotle.

I wish, so deeply, that COVID-19 was not affecting the world the way it is. But during times like this, we must take a step back and look at the positives. Find some light at the end of the tunnel, even if the end is nowhere in sight.

The positives? Maybe realizing what we have to be grateful for is somewhere we can start. Perhaps, holding onto this, even after the pandemic has subsided, can be our next step.

I'm no saint when it comes to always being appreciative and remembering the bigger picture – the amount of times I've cried in the past month over losing my freshman spring quarter is actually absurd. But, with some time to think – or rather, a lot of time to think – I realize that, yes, of course my feelings are valid, along with everyone else's who have experienced some kind of loss from this situation, but no, it is not the end of the world.

I tell myself, at least I have an education. At least I have a reason to be sad about losing the rest of the year, because that means I have a hell of a lot that made me so happy at UCLA.

Recognize: you are fortunate enough to have something to be sad over.

Because, truth be told, not everyone does.

Hence, I choose to spend this time bettering myself, because that's all I can do. And you should too. Take this time to learn a new skill, or work on an old one. What can you do to occupy yourself, and be productive at the same time?

Take this time to re-connect with your family and yourself. What can you do to better your life, and the lives of those around you?

Take this time to practice patience, balance, love. What do you need to work on?

Take this time to be present. Everything else is uncertain.

You're not alone. We are all hurting. So, most importantly, take this time to think of others.

We're all looking for a light – be that light.