During the COVID-19 outbreak, everyone plays a variety of roles in different communities, and a person may carry several identities which undergo tremendous changes. I am no exception.

 

As a high school student, the Education Bureau suspended classes when COVID-19 swept over Hong Kong. My learning model changed, and I experienced the physical classroom on a small computer screen for the first time. With face to face teaching and learning, teachers can observe and supervise students’ learning progress and situations. Compared with offline classes, online classes have higher requirements for students’ self-control. Facing all kinds of distractions and temptations from the outside world, it is difficult to concentrate in class. The teacher’s mouth on the screen opened and closed, as if they were performing hypnosis. The phone next to me seemed to be glowing, constantly attracting my attention. On top of that, I had to get used to brand new software for attending classes and submitting assignments. I needed to learn how to switch on the camera and microphone, how to take notes on the computer screen and so on. These let me experience E-learning. My younger brother and I took classes at the same time, so we could not avoid influencing each other. My left ear was listening to the policies of the dynasties in Chinese History of Form 5, while my right ear was listening to Mathematics theories in the fifth grade of primary school.

 

As a consumer, I felt the benefits of a comparatively complete consumer system during this global epidemic. Electronic payments and online consumer applications can reduce contact between buyers and sellers. My mother could buy fresh vegetables and fruit without going out of the house, and she did not need to go to the market every day. Sometimes I would order take-out at home and avoid eating outside. The epidemic was getting worse in Hong Kong as the Chinese New Year kicked off in 2020. However, most of the factory workers were on holiday. Masks were like the latest products from a luxury brand, and were sold out at many pharmacies. Thanks to globalization, I could buy masks and protective gear from other countries online.

 

As a family member, during the pandemic, my family and I became closer. My friends and I had to stop going out and family trips were cancelled when the government issued a social gathering ban. A large number of employees have been put on unpaid leave because of the outbreak. My dad was one of them. Because of work, I usually only see my father once a week. But this time it was rare to get along with my father for a long time. We talked a lot and tried cooking and baking together to make up for the past regrets. My younger brother and I had half a school day. In the afternoon, four of us played chess, watched movies and shared our experiences with each other. My parents were more aware of our anxiety and stress as school children, and we were more understanding of their burdens as parents.

 

As a citizen, I was touched and worried. The news reported the daily lives of the workers on the front lines. Healthcare workers fought coronavirus, scientists worked to develop a vaccine, police officers and community workers served the people. Because of their dedication, I was able to live a safe life during this special period. On the other hand, the environmental damage from this infection was incalculable. Uncountable disposable protective equipment was discarded, which may accelerate the saturation of landfills. Incineration of such waste produces harmful substances that are also irreparable to air pollution. There is no doubt that COVID-19 has led to hundreds of millions of diagnoses and even deaths worldwide. But it made me appreciate the convenience that technology can bring.

 

In 2003, the technology was not mature enough to develop online class software. Therefore, students could not study at home during the SARS period. Citizens needed to venture out to shop. The government had been unable to put in public health codes and other measures to keep track of the movements of people and control the development of the epidemic. This public health emergency of international concern also taught me that a crisis is also a business opportunity. While all industries were in deficit and negative growth, masks and protective equipment were making a fortune. Our family also got to know each other better because of the accident. Besides, humans were vulnerable and strong in the face of a virus we had never seen before. There were so many patients fighting for survival, do I have the right to give up my life easily? In addition, the victims of this pandemic are not only human beings but also nature. In the future, we should pay more attention to environmental conservation and try to remedy our friend. To look at the same thing with different roles and angles, the results will be different.