2020 Apocalyptic Madness: COVID-19 Edition
by Jessica Cervantes
Observation
For the past two months, we have been under a stay at home order as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is crazy to think that I have been inside for the majority of 2 months.. 2 months! I don't think anyone expected it to get this bad or this serious and for so much to change so quickly! People are losing their jobs, health insurance, loved ones, the economy is struggling, the healthcare system is overworked, students are being taught online, we are being told to only leave the house for necessities and if we do go out, we have to wear face masks and stay at least 6 feet away from another person.
As far as changes go, online school was not a big difference to me since I had taken online classes before, however, having all my roommates at home has made the house louder, thus making it difficult for me to concentrate. I also was let go from my job and was fortunate to rely on my savings account that I had recently created, but not everyone is so lucky. I also miss my family and friends dearly and wish I could spend time with them, but their health is ultimately my priority. I think the scariest thing for me has been the uncertainty. I don't know how long this will go on and if it will get better or worse. I also worry about the health of my family and friends and how their lives will be affected by this situation. The adjustment has also been difficult because we were all accustomed to a routine and certain freedoms that we are not allowed to do at the moment. For example, I was in the routine of working out, going to school, and working. Now, gyms, restaurants (where I worked), and schools are closed. If I want to workout I have to be creative at home or go for a run in my neighborhood.
At the tennis court ready to play a match against my boyfriend.
Here I am in my backyard enjoying some fresh air and sunlight, while reading a book.
Here is the book I am reading. 10/10 recommend
What it means
Ultimately, I have learned how fast things can change and have altered my perspective to focus on the things that are important. I feel for the families that have lost their jobs, but find light in the thought that parents can spend more time with their children now. At first I was saddened that I could not work, go to the gym, or see all of my loved ones. But now, I am trying to be optimistic and remind myself that it is only temporary and for the greater good. I am using this time to read for fun, be creative with workouts, and spend time with my boyfriend who will be leaving soon for his first fire season (super sad but proud). I think it is easy to find the negative in everything, but it is more difficult to be positive and find the good in tough situations. I personally have always struggled to stay optimistic towards my own life, but I am learning. I have also learned that creativity comes in different forms. I have always said that I wished I could be creative, but I think I only saw it in an artistic way. However, I was creative with my workouts and creative with the way I could still play games with others while social distancing. For example, I really wanted to see my boyfriend but also wanted to follow social distancing, so we played tennis together which provided plenty of space! I also created a workout that involved a deck of cards and each suit had a specific exercise and the number on the card meant how many reps.
Unfortunately, I have also learned how I can't rely on others. During this pandemic, I have seen how careless and defiant people can be, even when lives are at stake. Although it upsets me, I must continue to do my part. Lastly, I have learned how much we take our environment for granted. This applies to all kinds of environment, the gym, work, school, outdoors, etc. We were made for interaction and exploration! No one likes to be controlled or told they can't do something. But better yet, I have noticed how we as people, don't want something until we realize we can't have it anymore. We like having options and the freedom to make a choice. When we no longer have that, we feel threatend and powerless.
Opportunities and Possibilities
In order to continue my growth and learning, it is essential to set time aside for myself. For the past few years I have just focused on school and I have not done anything for myself. When I was younger, I enjoyed reading, but as I got older, I did not have time to read for school assignments and personal joy. I also valued time for school too much and did not prioritize time for working out. In order to take care of myself, I must put myself first sometimes. Therefore, in my future, I see myself being more optimistic because I will be happier from taking the time out of my day to focus on self-care. I think this will improve my overall mental health and relieve some stress, resulting in better performance in school and at work.
Post COVID/quarantine life, I believe the perspective of many people in society will have changed. It has been such a big event in the lives of many people worldwide, that it has the possibility of inflicting PTSD on people, just like previous wars have. For instance, I believe people will still be scared when someone coughs or sneezes around them and will want to sanitize everything until the disease is eradicated. I believe the next steps will involve more funding towards research on infectious diseases and more funding and appreciation for the healthcare system. My hope is that a big movement for healthcare reform and environmental protection comes out of this. We have seen how staying home has had a positive impact on the environment, but it is only temporary. Additionally, we have heard of stories of health care workers risking their lives by working and not having enough personal protective equipment (PPE)... that should never happen, but it has. In the end, I hope that everyone has taken this time to learn and reflect on what needs to change.
Responses
I enjoyed reading your paper, and I think your observations and reflections on Covid-19 are well thought out, and similar to what many of us are feeling. You summarize it well with all the things this virus has affected: jobs, health insurance, loved ones, the economy, health care workers etc. So many people are missing graduations, weddings, funerals, birthday celebrations and all those life events we hold to celebrate and remember what connects us all. I read somewhere the statement “ we are all in the same boat” , but that is truly not the case. I’ m retired and still receive a monthly pension. Other than being restricted at home I have not been financially impacted. My health (for now) is good and I reach out to friends and family to stay connected. For many people their “boat” is sinking. They have lost jobs, can ’t pay their mortgage/rent, and are challenged to provide food for their families. Not the same boat at all. I do miss my normal routine. Who would of thought going to the gym, eating out and shopping with friends would be something we would miss so badly? I hope not to take these outings for granted once life resumes to “ normal” . “Focus on the things that are important” is a great observation you made in your paper. Let’ s hope we can learn some important life lessons from Covid-19 as we move past it and on with our lives.
- Sue Schwarz
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that in my lifetime the world would undergo a global pandemic. But here we are living through an unprecedented time that I really hope will end soon. I have learned a lot about myself and about the world we live in during the endless hours in quarantine. I think a part of me will always be a little disappointed in the world we live in because people are so selfish. It's really disheartening to see people not listen and put others at risk for a day of fun that will, inevitably, put them at risk too. I try not to think about that, though, because it will only cause me greater pain for the lives and families that have faced the undeniable truth to all this. People are dying. People are suffering. People are experiencing the greatest losses they can ever experience in life. The only thing I can do at this time is be super fortunate for everything I have. I am unequivocally, forever grateful for my health, my family's health, my job, my education, and my home where I know I am safe. I can't control what others do but I sure can control what I do. Therefore I've made sure to continue exercising, reading, spending time with family, focusing on school, sleeping well, creating new hobbies, watching Netflix, and praying for those who need it the most. Until the day we are released, that is all I can do.
-Love you,
Andrea Lopez
After reading this reflection on Jessica's situation in the current pandemic, it allowed me to reflect on my own situation and life during lock down. She's right in the ways it has forced me to see the positives in this unfortunate situation, I have been trying to run more (which is something I miss), learn a new instrument, and overall attempt to get my mental health together.When the lock down first started, I left to stay with my family in Tennessee, which is now starting to open back up. Although things aren't normal completely (wearing masks out, waiting outside of stores to keep crowds low, etc.) it's nice to be able to experience a drop of normalcy amongst the craziness and feel some semblance of safety due to the lack of cases in my parents county.
- Maggie Greene