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With the whole world in a standstill due to the pandemic, the world carved out a ‘new normal’ that made the “citizen(s) of the world” an ever evolving being. Along with the rest of the world, the Nagas are being updated and rebooted constantly. We are redefining the typical Naga mind set on youths as slacks offs and naysayers; we are making the most of the limited options we have and still making progress and we will be the generation that lived while surviving.
Quarantine life has made most of us look at Social Networking Sites as our go to. While connecting with family, friends, teachers and clients we have come to appreciate social media more broadly. Though I have a small circle, I have seen a few lot of people becoming freelancers in various fields - self-publishing write ups, photography, videography, You Tubers, translating, editing, marketing, designing, developing, brand communication specialists, and promoting in 2020 alone. Operating business pages, accounts and sites, contributing to the society’s growth in general. If I have seen this much, I am sure a lot of you have also been noticing it.
The art of appreciation in an individual’s effort, passion and a dream put to action is seen in the saying “it is easier said than done”. Everything sounds light and trivial unless we put practicality and motion to the plan. To start up something like that takes research, study, passion and skill development even to properly open and manage a business account based on the type of Social Network and business one chooses. This is the result of individuals making the most of what is limited even in the midst of a pandemic, ever growing both intellectually and in experience which is the most priceless trophy of all.
Of course many would have done it whether there was a pandemic or not but the gem is in finding new inspiration and passion in spending time alone, overcoming obstacles and reminiscing on dreams. While the world tells him or her to stop and pause he/she refuses to stop to obey. We often react the opposite of what the universe tells us to, we are natural born rebels and this is why we can make 2020 fruitful.
There is a moving eureka in how everyone is coping with the pandemic so healthily and positively; of course it was chaotic at first but look where we are now. From formal classes to discovering new ways of learning through various e-platforms and guardians or parents coping with it and providing the necessary is highly respectable. From the elderly telling us to eat plenty and be healthy to us reminding them about the importance of maintaining Covid-19 hygiene routine. From getting grounded for going out to trying to explain to our parents why staying home is a priority. From ignoring calls to keeping in touch as frequent as possible. It is the small things that make a difference and as a community I can proudly say every single day we have grown beyond yesterday.
By being able to take a step now and helping ourselves we are helping others and inspiring the next generation. What you are doing now is not merely for the ‘me’ but for the ‘we’ because there is the ‘government job only mind-set that still lingers. We are breaking boundaries, changing perspectives and stereotypes by speaking our mind in our own way. I think we can say we are contributing to making Nagaland a more hospitable home for everyone, for every gender, every age group, every tribe, every resident, every private and public occupant, every religion and every individual that what we speak, do, opine and love matters and have an impact. We are re-defining 2020 and the outcome is hopefully a broader future.
Kenlumzailie Mechui
BA 6th Semester (English Honours)
Modern College Kohima