A Year In: How The Pandemic Pushed Me Into Growth

Photo by Edwin Hooper on Unsplash

One year ago, on March 11th, 2020, The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, and panic reverberated worldwide. Chaos and confusion reigned as mandatory lockdowns, quarantines, panic buying, and a cascade of conspiracy theories soon followed.

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity — Sun Tzu

As someone with screenwriting aspirations, I was devastated not only that the first feature-length film set I had worked on was canceled mid-way through; I was devastated that my aspirations were deemed “non-essential.” That hurt.

I spent my first week of lockdown wallowing in self-pity.

I still remember lying in bed, indulging my woe-is-me pity, when it seemed as if the spirit of Kobe Bryant (R.I.P to my G.O.A.T) paid a visit to me. He inquired how I could claim to want to be like him:

“How could you call yourself a leader if this is how you’re responding to struggle? You know I would never capitulate to a challenge. I would rise above and make the most of my situation.”

I wasn’t gonna argue with the spirit of Kobe Bryant.

Especially because I realized times of chaos are when we need leaders most. I didn’t know what I was gonna do, but I knew I needed to…