Kate

20

8/8/2020

Saratoga Springs, New York

I was in the middle of midterms week at SUNY Plattsburgh just before what was supposed to be our spring break. Word began to spread how people wouldn't be coming back after break because of the pandemic. As things got worse, students began going home earlier with their belongings and finally, it was announced that all of the campus would not be coming back to school and that we would have to do remote learning. Many were excited that they wouldn't be coming back, but I was disappointed. Before I left college, there were already reported cases in Saratoga.

When I came home, my mom was laid off from her job but my dad continued to work because he was considered essential. It was scary and sad because this illness was like an invisible monster that could happen to anyone, anywhere. My life now is very uncertain. Both of my parents are working now and I am wearing a mask wherever I go, though many people are not wearing a mask, including our president.

It was very unnerving at first because no one knew what was going on. We have never had a global pandemic like this since 1918 so everything that has happened is a bit surreal. My family wanted to move to North Carolina to be with all of my family so I have been doing home projects like painting and de-cluttering to relieve stress.

Wearing a mask has become a sore subject in my town. Many people don't wear one even though we are supposed to.

I was in the middle of my midterms when it was announced that we wouldn't be returning to campus after our spring break. Our learning switched to online and it was very hard to have classes that were not meant for online learning, like my public speaking class. Somehow, I managed to receive all A's in my classes though. I decided to leave my school and transfer to a local online college for this fall to be safe.

I have two cats and a dog and they definitely were a bit weirded out that I was home all day every day.

My friend's 104-year-old great grandmother contracted COVID-19 in a nursing home and passed away.

To not take the ability to leave your house and go places for granted

I would want them to know that they can't take life and privileges in life for granted. The ability to get in your car and just go to the grocery store became a privilege for me. To see other people became a privilege. Listen to your gut and even when other people are not following the protocol, do the right thing

Honestly, I'm not sure. Everyone thought it would be gone by summer but here we are in August and things are getting worse in many areas because business opened too soon. I honestly can't say what the new normal will look like. Hopefully, we will come out of this stronger than we came into it.

Kate

COVID-19 (Disease)

Southern Adirondack Library System

Southern Adirondack Library System

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Covid History

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Coronavirus Pandemic