We are in the midst of a global pandemic and a civil rights movement, but yet some people deem 2020 as “canceled”. Yes, it has canceled our previous perceptions and aspirations, but it also implemented new ones. Whether you are quarantined at home or facing the entailed challenges of COVID, it has drastically altered our way of life. This is my story of what I did during this time.

Quarantined at home, the unprecedented feelings of impotence and despair infiltrated the normality of my life. COVID- an unexpected adversity flushing away my expectations, but unknowingly the months ahead are going to change how I perceive and pursue the world around me. By collecting myself, I gained a new perspective of our society, free from fulfillment and presumption. I reflected upon me the societal issues occurring. When all irrelevant factors reduce to what is truly impactful and important, it became apparent how I want to contribute and catalyze change. To amplify the change, I embarked on a video production for my non-profit organization, PRODIJEX. The process took undeniably long. For three consecutive weeks, I compiled over a hundred photos and news sources to contrive the message for the significance of this year 2020. Along with the video, I wrote an article, with the guidance of my friends, to emphasize the substantiveness of education in resolving social unjust. With collaboration, we composed an insightive and comprehensive production. Although the views were moderate, the reactions and feedback cultivated a sense of unity and solidarity in our community. The relentless efforts I endeavored to create this video revealed to me the pertinent of passion and perception; it paved a new mission of equality and social justice for myself and PRODIJEX.

My video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTiP7poRjig&t=14s

By Maggie Chen