Dear whomever it may concern or me,

I hope that you are doing well or at least better than we are doing today in America. I am currently at YMCA Camp Chingachgook and starting my first week as an intern to try and help the camp get ready for the summer of 2021. This is important because it is currently the COVID-19 global pandemic and it has been roughly one year since things shut down (more like 11 months to be exact). Businesses are closing, I have not gone out to any real sit down restaurants in months and the only activity you can really do outside the house is go shopping for supplies. We as a people are facing a massive global climate crisis which has already permanently scarred the earth, I hope by the time you are reading this that that has been fixed or at least brought under control.

Waking up every day brings new surprise and struggles that can greatly affect one’s quality of life. Hundreds of thousands of people are dying, millions have lost their jobs, and nobody knows what tomorrow brings. But People are adapting, people see who their real friends are, find online communities, and even are rising up to try and fight back against a corrupt and rich wall street (GME$). I sincerely hope that in the future we are able to change for the better. That there is more compassion and meaning behind people’s actions, that that everyone is seen as an individual rather than a label. It is perhaps one of the worst social climates our country has ever seen, coming off the President Trump our nation has been shaken to its core and divided. There is no reconciliation in sight because no side is willing to change. I hope that in a few months I can say that things have gone back to normal and our nation and world has healed, but that is not realistic, every day is a new normal and things are evolving faster than ever. I hope that the technology of the future can help solve these political and very human issues, because I want somebody to be able to read this letter someday.

Note Added 5/6/2021
While much of this letter still holds true, the nation and world is starting to open back up in places. Including vaccinations for just about anyone that wants one in the United States, and I have been able to go out safely with other vaccinated friends safely for the first time in years. Although, this has primarily shown me that our medical system is broken, if we as a nation took health overall with this level of response and safety the world could be a much healthier place. I hope the future holds a world like that. Also quick note, snow days probably will not exist in the future anymore due to the ability to have classes remote and in person at the same time, so that sucks for future generations.

I hope that the future holds more hope than the present… stay strong.
-Spencer Cadley (2/3/21)