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Jeaneth Khamvong is a world history teacher at Parks Junior High School. Alongside many others, she never would have anticipated that such a virus would come along and drastically change daily life. As Khamvong explains, “I watched the news, and I understood what was happening in China, but I never thought that the United States was going to shut down. I thought people were overreacting. I wasn’t ready.”

COVID-19 is a disease that temporarily disrupted the lives of everyone around the world. For several years, it caused major problems in almost every aspect of society. Companies were forced to halt business operations, people could not go out regularly, and masks became mandatory in most places. Despite the chaos, Khamvong and others knew they had to prepare for this abrupt disaster as best they could. She managed to prepare for the unexpected by getting emergency supplies and basic necessities.

Her biggest struggle during the pandemic, however, was her professional life. As a teacher, she had never expected the need to shift to teaching her students virtually. She explains that she had never taught online or through the various phone apps that were popularized during this time. Despite all the struggles of trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy while adapting to a completely new teaching style, she emphasizes that there is always something positive to be found, even in difficult times – a silver lining, as she put it.

“It also taught me the human aspect of students, and it really taught me I feel that there are some students that really are go-getters. I remember just for an entire year, having kids sign on to Zoom on time every single day and working from their bedrooms and producing beautiful work from their homes, kids that I’d never even met did such great work for me.” Even though Khamvong had never seen her students in person, they gave their best effort to learn. For her, the hard work and dedication of the students became the silver lining amid the hardships that everyone faced.

Regardless of how sudden and disastrous a situation may be, it is possible to overcome an obstacle – provided that one is prepared. She believes that if she had been more aware of the circumstances, she could’ve been able to adapt more fluidly to the situation. As she advises, “Be prepared people. Be prepared. Have yourself a plan. No one is above Mother Nature. No one is above really anything that could possibly happen,” truly emphasizing the importance of being ready for emergencies.

Her story is one that countless individuals can relate to. While many chose to see the situation negatively, Khamvong looked at the issue from a positive point of view, which allowed her to manage the arduous time more effectively. Emergency preparedness does not just come with having the necessary supplies; it is also about the ability to adapt to new events. Khamvong demonstrated that perfectly.

“I think everything that happens in our lives teaches us a lesson, right? If we live through catastrophes or natural disasters, I feel that all of these events give you life lessons and prepare you for things in the future.”

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