This past week marked the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. One year since everyone’s lives changed and changed the course of all our lives. For me, last year feels like a bit of a blur. Things changed so quickly, and I, like many others, quickly became overwhelmed. While 2020 was a year of sadness and great change, I still don’t wish to forget the events because, in some ways, they have helped me change in a positive direction.
The COVID-19 virus first came on my radar in January of last year. News outlets began covering it, but I quickly dismissed it as just another virus. A classmate and I were assigned to a story about the virus for our broadcast class. We interviewed a graduate student from China, and she shared with us the struggles her family was facing in Wuhan, China. I felt for her and her worries, never thinking they could possibly become mine. The story was successful, and my new knowledge made me comfortable with the idea that this virus would just be another flu.
As a journalism student, I watched the news on COVID and remembered when it first arrived in the states. I still couldn’t process why news outlets felt this coverage was so important and saw many health officials on the news also trying to dismiss these fears. I wasn’t the only one, though. My fellow students in my broadcast class grew weary of COVID news as well. Many questioned why we needed so much coverage of the virus in our newscast. We were quickly becoming burnt out on the subject, and many around us were coming down with some serious colds and illnesses. I was worried about getting sick with a more common virus, like the flu or pneumonia, not this newfound virus.
Come March of that year, I was excited about spring break. There was so much illness on campus, and I was ready to go home for a break. My professors warned me of rumors of an extended spring break because university officials feared excessive travels by students may bring the virus to campus. I simply thought an extended break would be nice. I hadn’t been home in a while, and I could spend time with my parents and friends. Soon, we all left for break, not realizing it may be our last time on campus.
Very early into the break, things started to hit the fan regarding COVID-19. Ohio became one of the first states with a community spread of COVID-19, and soon, Ohio State would announce they were giving students an extended two-week break. I found that so strange and crossing my fingers that Ohio University would do the same. My wish would come true, and I quickly started to make plans that would never come to fruition. I began to grow wary of the virus but I did not become anxious or concerned until OU called for the rest of the semester to be virtual a few days later. It finally hit me how severe this virus was and how prepared I needed to be. My family and I took trips to the stores to stock up on some of our essentials. We soon found out that some of our essentials were others as well and I was shocked to find many store shelves bare and lines crawling out of the store. I couldn’t help but think that the world was crashing down, and in some ways, it was.
Shortly after, states, including Ohio, were locking down. With each day, a new closure was announced. The closure of fitness centers and gyms was what hit me the most. How would I remain active without any equipment? Slowly it became apparent that everyone would be locked in their home for a long while and people quickly scrambled to figure out how to do school and human connections virtually.
My life began to revolve around my numerous electronic screens. My broadcast class continued to meet virtually and post our shows on Facebook. My other clubs also continued our weekly meetings virtually. With all of my friends at home with not much to do, we hopped onto our computers and chatted, and my extended family did the same thing. I had to change my fitness routine. I took up Zumba on my Wii, and I ordered some easy workout equipment for me to use on other days. Thankfully, the weather stayed warm and sunny and my parents and I took daily walks in our neighborhood. I finally had time to return to one of my favorite hobbies, reading, and I began rebuilding my collection again. I also had more time to binge-watch shows and catch up on movies. While I had more time to spend with my loved ones and relax, I still struggled with the extra me time.
With the extra time came extra time to be in my head. I had always struggled with self-doubt and over-thinking, but I feared for my future, with lockdown extending each week. My summer plans were canceled and I had no idea how to keep the momentum going with my career. My routine had been ruined and I was anxious about my new eating and exercise habits. Thoughts that had not been present in my life for years returned, but I was so thankful to have my parents who supported me and helped me through the fears. With time, things started to look up and new normals were established.
Masks became a thing. Ohio and other states started to mandate them and became a way of life. All the closed restaurants, stores and gyms opened up with new safety regulations. It created some challenges, but at least they were open. I took up a job as a DoorDash driver to help make up for my canceled internship. It was a fun activity and kept me busy. With the weather staying nice, I was able to do some socially distanced events with friends. As summer ended, though, I grew concerned with returning back to campus. Luckily, it was a decision I did not have to make myself.
Come August, OU announced they would begin the semester virtually, but the rest of the semester would remain online as well. I accepted that my senior year would be spent online and at home, something that made me happy. Of course, I grew fatigued with all the Zoom calls and began to grow weary in the routine I had developed many months ago. But hope was on the way.
In December, vaccine distribution began, and a month later, my family members would start to receive it. A year after the COVI-19 pandemic began, there seems to be hope for returning to normal.
COVID-19 has changed everyone and everything. As I said, I took joy in the extended time at home to relax and connect with my loved ones. But, I missed my normal activities, and I had to battle many anxieties along the way. While 2020 helped me grow and conquer things I had pushed aside, I miss the days before. I long for the day I can return back to a movie theatre or see a live performance. I sometimes miss the gathering of large crowds and not having to worry so much about viruses. I miss what used to be normal, but now we all must soldier ahead to a new normal. We may all wish that 2020 never happened, but we shouldn’t forget about it because we all could pull some positives from such a negative year.