April 1, 2022 | Faith Ninivaggi, MFA (she/her/hers) | Photojournalist

The voices of our collective narrative 

Then they told us we could go home early if we wanted.

Instead of getting up and going to school everyday I wake up and work in my bed. I don’t leave my bed.

I live in my room.

 It was supposed to be our last time together before graduation and the last day of school.

 Being a teenager has been the most confusing time in my life. In a world where hugging the person you love could kill somebody, and sending pictures of half your face is a love language. Talking to my boyfriend for hours everyday got a little old.

 Is it Sunday? It just feels like the same thing over and over again, every single day. I’m just tapping on the laptop. I want to just shut this laptop. There is nothing really new.

The Pandemic made me realize life isn’t all about the school system.

I liked being home.

 I was taking a lot of things for granted before the pandemic happened.

My Mom and I are really close. I don’t, I don’t want to contract it due to fear like my grandparents being in the building with me. My sister Precious got Covid. It’s different not having granny and grandfather here. The house feels empty without them. A family member just passed away from Covid. I tell her I love her a lot. I don’t like when she leaves. You’re thinking it’s not about you anymore.

Not every battle is for me to fight, and not every racial battle is for me to fight just because I am black or because I am African American. I’m clutching my hands right now, I’m suffocating. Another Police brutality, now Asian hate.

I was born after 911. The fact that I never saw it coming makes me realize what else I won’t see coming in the future. Everything can change in less then a day, whether it’s for good or worse. One of the grocery store workers that got killed graduated from my High School in 2019. It made me realize I can’t get too comfortable.

I saw Dom’s face for the first time today, she’s so pretty. I can make my own lunch now, I make a great roast beef sandwich with lettuce and mayo. I don’t need help.

I’m just kinda numb to everything, you know. Everything seems like a big deal so nothing is a big deal anymore.

I’ve learned that I have to accept certain changes.

To view an extensive portfolio of Faith’s work visit her website by clicking here.