Regrowth Regrowth is the paramount step in the circle of life. It represents a new beginning in an old environment. Whether the process of regrowth is as wonderful as the growth of a grand tree or as simple as a stem sprouting from a seed, it is nonetheless a beautiful process that is not to be brushed aside. Our reunification at SJND this year was nothing short of euphoric. The students’ lively eyes and buoyant voices breathed life into the campus and into each other. In many ways, being distanced from our peers, classmates, and friends could only be described as draining. For many, much of what made life interesting was lost. There was no real connection to be shared, there were few new experiences to try, and at times there seemed to be very little direction. The days seemed to blend together, making life as dull and repetitive as it had ever been. Despite the grim and unfavorable circumstances, we powered through. With each day leading up to the new school year, our spirits, health, and optimism slowly regained their strength and presence. Our regrowth and reemergence from the pandemic was not like the revival of a dead plant, but rather the nourishment of an entirely new seed. We did not simply return to the status quo. We miraculously surfaced from the ruins that the pandemic had buried us in for so long with a newfound eagerness and hunger for new, dynamic experiences. Additionally, the sheer amount of solitude we were forced to endure over the last year and a half certainly trained and strengthened our mental fortitude. In these ways, the pandemic was a sort of metamorphosis that enabled everyone to grow into beautiful new individuals full of life and optimism. S
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The reemergence of life and joy on earth was one of the most magnificent displays of regrowth I have ever seen or experienced. In many ways, our journey over these last two years has resembled the life cycle of a dandelion.
