To a New Dawn: Letters of Solidarity Anthology

AMINA, 16 Dear Me, Your college teacher, Matt, set this as homework. As far as homework goes, this one isn’t the worst. You are currently in your first year at college, doing a multimedia journalism course. You’re liking it so far. Your teachers are good, your classmates are nice, and you’re not overworking yourself to the point of extreme fatigue.

Your brother is getting married. You’re happy for him, even though he annoys the hell out of you sometimes. You like his fiancée; she’s nice and it’s easy to talk to her. It’s still weird that anyone would want to marry your mess of a brother. Oh, and, you’re also in the middle of a global pandemic.

You were upstairs finishing your notes on a physics practical when your phone blew up with messages. You skimmed them all. Exams are cancelled. You think it’s probably a hoax or something. You check everyone’s Snapchat stories.

They’re all the same. The Education Secretary officially announces that GCSEs and A-levels are cancelled.

Everyone walks into school the next day, confused as the head teacher guides everyone into the assembly. Your last day is tomorrow, you don’t have to work anymore, and you have to end an iconic period of your life. Questions are asked regarding the trips we all paid for, shirt signings 123