Izzy Souza, Brazil

Izael Souza, a passionate 18-year-old adventurer who likes to go by Izzy, travelled from Brazil to the United States for an exchange program in August 2018. While attending Cannon Falls High School, he participated in many activities such as soccer, robotics, and photography for The Lantern. In doing so, he formed lifelong friendships that impacted the entire Cannon Falls student body. However, in July 2019, he returned to Brazil to attend college and further his education in Limeira, São Paulo with a promise to stay in touch. Souza’s plan was foiled though, due to the same reason many colleges in the U.S. have stopped holding classes on campus: the coronavirus.

The situation in Brazil is a difficult and complicated one. The exchange student explained that the Governors of the states and the President of Brazil have contrasting ideas about how to deal with the dreadful disease. The Governors are pushing for people to apply social distancing and only leave homes when necessary, similar to many states in the U.S., while the President is leaning toward continuing on as normal and plowing through the infectious obstacle. They’re torn on what to do, so some residents of Brazil have chosen what they want to do about the virus individually. And although Souza has personally decided to practice social distancing, it certainly doesn’t stop him from being social and speaking to his friends from Brazil and the United States.

When the college freshman was interviewed, he said he wanted to remind everyone of a couple of things. First of all, this won’t last and everything is going to be okay if people stay healthy and take care of themselves. Second, he specifically addressed the seniors about how it sucks that this is happening right now. Finishing the interview he stated, “The world is balanced. If something really bad happens, then something really good will follow it. We have our downs, but we also have our ups. Always.” For now, Souza is returning to his previous home until everything calms down, it’s safe for him and everyone else to return, and the chaos and unknowns are figured out and dealt with. The virus has caused not only a spread of disease, but a spread of confusion along with it. In his opinion though, the uncertainty of this situation is not the worst thing about this situation. 

The 18-year-old says that the worst thing about this crisis is that the world stopped. He elaborated by saying, “Seniors are not able to enjoy their last year in their school, activities and events have been cancelled all around the world, and international trips to some countries are suspended.” Even in these seemingly dark and gloomy times, Souza manages to find a ray of sunshine peeking through the clouds. The COVID-19 pandemic is an atrocious occurrence that is changing everyone’s lives, but Souza believes, “after all of this is done, people will enjoy the little things in life, such as hugs and spending time with people.” It’s going to take more than a worldwide health crisis to stop Souza from being happy and talking to his friends and others should follow in his footsteps.