Staying Positive Essay Competition Winner

Congratulation to Shannon Cash, 2nd year, who is the winner of the the school's recent Essay Competition!

Shannon has won the giant Easter Egg which was very kindly donated by the Parents' Association.

This is Shannon's winning essay in which she reflects on staying positive during these difficult and unprecedented times.

Staying positive during Covid 19

It’s been an eventful few weeks.

Thought I would spread a bit of positivity.

Since Covid19 Irish spirts have not been damaged. Instead we have become resourceful. If we think back to the cancellation of St. Patrick’s Day, many families and communities staged their own parade. On social media one family in Ireland made their own Parade in their back yard, with toy cars, trucks and tractors each carrying hand sanitizer and toilet paper. Here in my hometown of Prosperous we directed our own Stay in your car St Patrick’s Day parade. With roughly 50 cars creating a sea of green with flags and banners, driving through the village honking their horns. We were able to have our parade and still have social distancing.

Community spirits are rising and organizations all across Ireland are giving a hand to those most in need. People are offering their time and resources to help elderly people who are not able to go to the shops and pharmacies. While not seeing my Granny in person for a while now is really hard, it’s for the best, and I promise as soon as we get the all clear, I’m going to spend lots of time with her. Grandparents have looked after us and now it’s our time to look after them.

Thousands of people have lost their jobs suddenly because, pubs, shops and restaurants have shut down, but on a brighter note, an article on the Leinster Leader stated that Guinness launched a €1.5 million fund in support of bar staff and elderly people affected by the Covid19 crisis.

Homeless charities, medical staff and nursing homes are all set to benefit from the generosity of All Fresh Fruit and veg wholesaler as they are giving away warehouse of stock to ensure the food doesn’t go to waste.

Many fitness companies have come up with live streaming workouts every evening, with all proceeds going to Irish Cancer Society. Many people are getting involved in this with some even using their children and or pets as weights. This has not just helped charities but has helped people improve their health and created some positive energy.

A fundraising campaign to feed hospitals and emergency workers has raised €190,000 in just 3 days.

Teachers all across Ireland are working hard on helping us students and our parents. Even on social media a group has been set up by teachers called Better Together where teachers offer help with their subject of expertise.

‘I like to think that the best in human nature is rising to the Covid challenge’. I read this online, and it really describes how I feel and how encouraging it is to me as a young person to see that we are all working together to beat this.

Another positive note, since the lockdown of Venice, without the pollution from boats ,the water has begun to clear up and dolphins have been seen in the canal for the first time in nearly 60 years. Also, in China pollution levels have dropped since isolation and this is expected to save 77,000 lives. On an even more positive note about 80,000 people sick from covid19 in China, more than 70% have recovered.

When this ends, and it will, every student will be glad to go back to school, restaurants will have a two hour wait, pubs will be packed, Football matches and concerts will be sold out. It’s going to be a good day.