"QuaranTeen Pals: Linking Generations Through Letters" by Lauren Yuan

At the beginning of quarantine (around March 2020), the majority of my friends and family thought quarantine would last 2 weeks--a break from the stress of high school and SAT prep. However, we didn’t expect the quarantine to last months-and still exist today. Covid-19 has changed all of our lives, yet the elderly are one of the most at risk. For many of us, our grandparents or elderly figures growing up were-and still are-our heroes. Covid-19 has made it difficult for them to interact with others and meet their families, even going outside is a tremendous danger. Personally, my grandparents live in NYC, where there are many people outside everyday. My 公公 (grandfather, in cantonese) used to hold a Mahjong tournament every day for him and his friends, all of whom are senior citizens. However, now, my grandfather has halted these activities and seldomly sees his friends. Throughout quarantine, I have been reaching out to my grandfather through texts, facetime calls, and zoom. Although these are more modern methods of communication, nothing beats receiving a handwritten letter. Unfortunately, the amount of times I have received handwritten letters in the past year or two can be counted on one hand. But, now, through QuaranTeen pals, I am able to connect with another senior citizen through paper each month. Knowing that I can (hopefully) help improve someone else’s day brightens my mood every time I think about. Especially during these uncertain times, the most important thing is to connect with others and form a sense of community. And QuaranTeen pals has done just that. I am grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community and I am thankful to the board members of QuaranTeen pals for founding this platform! Even if you do not join QuaranTeen pals (which I highly encourage), I hope you reach out to your loved ones and start a conversation with them! Even a simple, “how was your day?” can brighten someone’s mood.