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Personal Reflection on Pandemic Lands Seventh Grader a Top Spot in Essay Contest
Somers Middle School seventh grader Ryan Bateman’s personal reflection on the change and adaptability resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and world shutdown earned him a top spot in the United Nations Association of Westchester’s 2022 Media Contest.
Bateman’s essay, “The Pandemic,” was chosen as one of top three winning essays based on the 2022 theme: Adjusting, Adapting, and Improving. Bateman focused his essay on how he and his family have adapted and how areas in his own life have improved since the pandemic started.
“I noticed how a lot of things changed during the pandemic,” Bateman said. “People had to think more, gain more knowledge and learn the technology for things like on-line school and work,” he said.
In his own community, Bateman said he saw how people adapted for events like a pandemic Halloween where, instead of the door-to-door trick or treating ritual, many homes rigged up creative, touchless candy delivery systems for kids.
Bateman also wrote about what he perceived as a silver lining of the pandemic. “I wrote about how my own family life adapted and even improved during the pandemic,” he said. “Before COVID, we were all so busy with homework, activities, or work that we never ate dinner together. It was hard for everyone to be together, but during the pandemic, that all changed and we always ate dinner together.”
He was recognized for his essay at the UNA’s meeting Sunday, May 22. He was awarded a medal and a cash prize for his effort.
(June 2, 2022)