Stories from Zoom: "Friendships Form" by Emma
Hello, I am Emma Brown, a proud member of the WWF 2020 cohort.
The WWF program has faced some unforeseen challenges and been forced to overcome new obstacles with COVID-19. It’s been difficult coping with the loss of normality; to know that I had gained entry into such an amazing program, getting to envision and dream about all the amazing opportunities, feeling excitement for what was to come, knowing that my dreams could finally become a reality and having hope for what my future would look like, and then suddenly being thrust into a world none of us recognize was devastating. Due to restrictions, my cohort has been unable to meet in person, but through the outstanding collaboration of the Leadership Board, myself and others have been able to participate in exciting new opportunities over Zoom and communicate through social media and messaging apps.
We met each other over a Zoom call, and I was so nervous about how I would make connections without being face to face. But, once our program director Amy Ubungen broke the ice it was amazing to experience how fast we all took to each other. It was a tad awkward at first, I won’t lie to you, but slowly and surely bad jokes were told, funny stories and anecdotes brought us closer, and the incessant (but loving) teasing began. Fun activities such as making Tik-Toks, playing Baby photo Kahoot, and hearing about each other's hopes and dreams have allowed for deeper connections with each other from afar. Already this program and my fellow cohort members feel like family. We’re still taking the time to get to know each other better, but by this fall we’ll have created unshakable bonds that will allow us to embark on our next journey together.
My cohort will begin a new school-year project taking on and examining how COVID-19 has changed our lives, both positively and negatively, acknowledging the heavy emotions surrounding this change. We are embarking on this adventure through a new partnership with a group of students from the Viana School of Languages in Navarra, Spain. We are meeting in small groups periodically and as a large group monthly to share our thoughts and ideas. Ultimately we will present our work, in whatever form it takes, next summer during a youth summit in Viana, Spain. Our hope is that the summit will give a voice to those who have gone unheard in the midst of this pandemic, allowing leaders to better understand the complexities of change, how this change affects those who go unseen, and how we can collaboratively make a positive impact and progress through our new world without leaving anyone behind.
Although reality has shifted, there is hope. And though more challenging, change can come about through positive collaboration. That’s what the WWF is doing now, working towards building positive change. And we will, by working together and keeping ourselves turned towards the light. That’s what we do, lead in times of hardship... and support each other through it all, unconditionally.
