I have always been acutely aware of how poetry connects people across places and time. Today, more so than ever before, humans are grasping for a connection as intimate as physicality without having to be in the same room. This poem speaks to that struggle. I hope it helps others out there, suffering from isolation, to feel a bond across the deep chasms COVID-19 has cultivated in our new world.

Because of COVID-19 I have not been able to see my family in the last five moths since I moved into college. I would have probably seen them on Thanksgiving but my sister started to get sick. So my parents decided not to come which is probably the best decision. Even though it has been very hard to live without the on the plus side, it has made me become a better man. It has made me make more responsible decisions with money, life, school and basketball.

This is story like many others during this time. The work of a parent with kids sent home for e-learning. Though I had a background in education, having an M.A. in Education, this was a task that was a difficult one that my education and years of teaching could not help me. The first task is explaining to younger children why they have to stay home. Especially when we as adults are unable to truly grasp what is going on. The second part is trying to motivate students to learn when the school was not ready for this type of teaching. Though the teachers tried, the manner of teaching was a difficult one that led great stress during this time. To add to it, the consistency and norm for the children was shattered which required me to try to recreate that same standard, yet another difficult task. Added onto that, is a child that struggles with reading, which most of the assignments were backed by, instead of the lecture they were used to. The first step was trying to set the norm for them. Breakfast, work, break, work, lunch, work, done. Though it sounds simple, with two separate students with different educational abilities, and drive for success, keeping one on task while the other was done or finishing faster was a task. Aiding them was truly difficult. Some of the difficulties came from my teaching experience being middle and high school not elementary. The next being understanding some of the finer points of the material being taught, I found myself having to learn the material to then teach the material to my children. To compound it further, there is the social aspect of being stuck at home with out the interaction they needed for their peers. Though I fancy myself a “cool” dad, I will never measure up to my kids’ friends. Attempting to fill this void was significantly more difficult than being their teacher. Though my kids did not have near the growth they would have received academically while being in school, they did not lose intelligence and picked up some knowledge along the way. Though it took tears, patience, drive and resilience, it was a time that we can all reflect on and hope it never happens again, which it did, 5 months later, but everyone was better prepared and the lessons learned from the springs allowed for greater success on the second go. Here is to hoping it doesn’t happen again!!!

The objects ive uploaded basically takes into context both history and the present time to explain how we can make predictions about the current COVID-19 crisis. https://time.com/5837393/paris-cholera-lessons/

This is the assignment instructions for the final project for HIS 103 (United States History to 1877) at Niagara University. Students have written essays about how contemporary people use early American history to influence their interpretations of 2020- The Plague Year.

I wrote this exam for my History 103 class at Niagara University as my final project. https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/learning-slavery-legacy-slave-trade-modern-society https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5323/jafriamerhist.97.1-2.0110?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents https://digpodcast.org/2020/01/26/slave-contraband-refugee-the-end-of-slavery-in-the-united-states/

The submission of this photo is to show the “new normal” while driving around. Thinking back to the year 2019, if I saw someone with a mask hanging on their rearview mirror I would have been slightly confused and intrigued as to why. However, in 2020, many have begun to hang masks on their rearview mirrors as it is a convenient spot. COVID-19 has had some of the biggest impacts on society, with masks being close to the top. Ever since the mask mandates went into effect, a mask being hung on a rearview mirror became a regular occurrence while traveling. Currently, there is a statewide mandate in Massachusetts enforcing the wearing of masks in all public spaces. Although it is still odd or awkward to some, mask wearing is the current way of life and there is no way around it. Even though there is opposition to wearing masks and they hinder the feel of real conversation, the safety provided by the mask outweighs it. My hopes are that the mask can help in the present so we can return to the “old norm” in the future.

As a city, Boston has known many championships from the Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots. Each of these teams has brought the city together at one moment or another. Prior to 2020, The Fours was home to many meals prior to the Bruins and Celtics games and for those who may not have been able to buy scalped tickets for that night’s game. On occasion, I would find myself eating there minutes before a Bruins game, because of Boston traffic, trying to eat as quickly as I could. Inside, the Boston atmosphere was lively, with history hanging on every wall and a menu consisting of iconic Boston sports legends. That lively feel of The Fours faded away in August of 2020 as I learned that The Fours closed its doors. The Fours was not the only restaurant in the city of Boston affected by the pandemic of 2020. Many large- and small-scale restaurants, unable to sit to their normal capacity began suffering. Many sought after restaurants like The Fours helped shape Boston’s historic sports teams’ atmosphere, but the power of the pandemic showed that even the legends can fall.

I wrote this essay for my History 103 class at Niagara University for my final exam

This was submitted to reveal the parallels throughout history between past and present events, it focuses on detailed evidence that gives a plethora of evidence into Early American History https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2020/4/14/21221205/coronavirus-covid-19-utah-religion-church-closures-william-barr-department-of-justice-constitution

I interview a fellow student at Northeastern University about her experience with the pandemic and we reflect how learning about past pandemics have given us a better perspective with Covid-19.

The pandemic has lasted a lot longer than initially expected and has consumed the entire summer while putting restrictions on many summertime activities. One of the few summertime activities to be preserved despite the pandemic is boating. Many people wanted to get their hands on a boat as it was one of the few things you could do. I have been working at my dad’s boatyard for countless summers, and this past year, 2020, was one of the busiest I’ve seen. To start, we were set back by a few weeks as in late March and early April, businesses that weren’t deemed essential were closed. When we did open up, there was a high demand. Every customer wants their boat serviced first; this year there was an extra-long waiting list. Not every customer of ours uses their boat every year, but this year most did. Due to the social distancing restrictions, many saw this year as the perfect time to get their own boat. The place I work does not sell boats, we only service, fix, and store for the winter, but when driving by and there are countless boats parked in the yard, occasionally people will stop to inquire about purchasing a boat. Unfortunately, we have to direct them elsewhere. This year, I felt these visits were more frequent, reflecting the nationwide demand. Lastly, there were a few parts and products we used that were hard to get hold of this year. Our dealers had less stock, and often parts took longer to arrive. COVID-19 has affected a multitude of industries, some for the better.

When COVID-19 was initially declared a global pandemic, there were many precautionary measures put in place to contain the virus. People began covering their nose and mouth at all times with face shields and masks to prevent the spread. The idea was that when someone needed to leave their house for groceries or work, they would wear a mask. It became a normal thing to cover your nose and mouth by wearing a mask. It became one of the things you couldn’t leave your house without. Before you always had to remember your phone, wallet, and keys, but now your mask was just as important. Stores and restaurants had big signs on their windows and doors reminding you to keep your face covered. Often it was required before you could enter. There was a greater chance of the virus spread when in enclosed buildings with little space and inadequate airflow. The rule of masks was much more relaxed when outside. There was less of a risk due to the open space for proper social distancing and open air. When summer rolled around and COVID-19 was still as big of a threat as it ever was, people looked for places to go outside to enjoy the summer weather. A hot spot, as it usually is in the summer, was the waterfront area of my hometown, Plymouth, MA. Positive COVID cases were still rising, so the measures to limit the spread of the virus had to be increased. Town officials made the entire waterfront a “mandatory mask zone,” even when outside. Signs were placed on nearly every street sign to remind people to cover their face.

Being under an extreme amount of stress from trying to switch to online school or working from home fulltime, you were under more stress if you were in a relationship. If you lived with your significant other, it started off amazing. You finally got to spend more quality time and try new things. But soon after it started to take a toll on the relationship by being with only them for four months straight and not seeing other people. On the other hand, if you and your significant other did live together, the beginning was the hardest. You had no idea when you were going to see them next and your relationship mostly consisted of Facetimes. As time went on it became the new norm of dating and seeing each other in person became a once-in-a-lifetime moment. No matter what situation you were in, it really pushed your relationship to the next level.

With the outbreak of COVID-19 you never really understood how much it was going to change things. Everyone assumed we were going to be locked down for a couple of weeks then it will all be over. Now, it has been eight months and we are still under strict rules. One thing that we all took for granted was our birthdays. The younger kids did not understand why they could not have their friends over and the elderly were terrified to even leave their houses because they are more prone to catching COVID-19. So, the only people you could celebrate with were the people you were locked down with and depending when your birthday was, you were really not too fond of those people. Thankfully, someone came up with the idea of a drive by parade. That is when everyone jazzed up their cars with balloons and signs and drove by your house screaming “happy birthday,” making your day a little bit better.

These two photos have been taken within a Fire Lookout tower in the National Forests surrounding Los Angeles. The text document portrays the experience and difficulties of a Fire Lookout operating a lookout tower during both the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 and one of California's worst fire seasons. Photos taken August 31, 2020.

In New York City, people gathered on street corners after the 2020 election was called to celebrate the President-Elect, Joe Biden. This video was shot by my sister, Catherine Sweeney. The pandemic made this year’s election a very important one for many people, as their jobs, relationships, school, and health were all affected by the decisions of the new president. As a relief to many, the candidate with a solid COVID and public health plan was elected. Joe Biden wants to find a unified coronavirus strategy and create a Medicare-like public insurance plan. Over the last few months leading up to the election, many celebrities and influencers have been urging people to get registered to vote, educate themselves on the candidates and issues at large, and take part in democracy. This year, many Americans, including myself, voted using mail-in ballots. Others showed up in masks on voting day and waited in socially distanced lines, to make sure their vote was counted. It took several days longer than usual to announce the winner because states had to process so many mail-in ballots. This goes to show that democracy carries on in a pandemic.

On June 6, 2020, “Salem Stands with Black Lives,” a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest, was held in Salem, Massachusetts. Hundreds of masked individuals gathered in Salem Commons, wearing all black, with signs in support of George Floyd and all those who came before him. Attendants were required to wear a mask, keep physical distance from others, stay home if sick, and self-isolate or quarantine after the event. There were multiple speakers, a moment of silence for the deceased, and music. I attended the protest with my mother and sister. We saw people of all ages and ethnicities coming together in support yet staying physically apart. As we moved through the crowd in the Commons, we passed two young African American children playing in the grass. While walking close to them to avoid other people, we heard their mother say, “pull up your mask girls, these people are here for you, you want to make them feel safe too.” The video attached is from the event. You can see people masked, physically distanced, showing up during a public health emergency to support a cause they believe in. Not even a pandemic can stop democracy.

Back in March when we all went into quarantine as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, I immediately got a call from work saying that they needed people to work because the elder staff had called out. I work as a Pharmacy Technician at a family-owned local pharmacy called Keyes Drug. I have been working here for almost four years, but at the time I had stopped because of living in the city at my college dorm. Once we got sent home, it was all the more reason to step up and work. So I started working at the pharmacy again almost full time every day when this craziness was going on. I got used to the routine of cleansing and wearing a mask, and the life of an essential worker during a pandemic. It was an absolute nightmare. We had no staff and I had to manage three people’s jobs. People were rude and angry all the time, but it wasn’t surprising considering they were stuck at home for weeks that would turn into months. I wasn’t able to take breaks most days, which caused me to lose a lot of weight in 3-4 months. At the end of the day, I knew I was doing service for the people of my community by providing them with medical care and their prescriptions. On the bright side, I was making money while my mom was unemployed, so I was able to help out a little. In times like these, we young people have to step up and take responsibility when the elderly can’t.

Before COVID-19 had hit the US as hard it did, a couple of friends and I had talked about going camping in Saco River once the semester was over. However, once we all went into quarantine this plan felt far from reality and we all forgot about it. It was the beginning of July and things had calmed down a little bit. I remember being out of quarantine and businesses had started to open up. The topic of camping came up again when we were thinking of ways to see each other in an open land where we can have a good time considering social distancing. Once we thought through the logistics, a couple of friends and I decided to hit the road and drive up to Saco, Maine, and spend two nights by the river in our tent. This ended up being the experience of a lifetime and just what we needed to get away from the pandemic for just a little while. We were restricted from using our phones and all sorts of social media because there was no service. We cooked, swam, played games, and tanned by the water with no worries of what was to come. We also went tubing down the river one of those days and breathed in the fresh air. We truly lived in moment and cherished the beauty of nature which allowed us to escape the reality of the world and take some time to clear our minds.

This is an essay on how Americans use memes to explain ideas and how they use them to explain better with people.

These are some of the healthcare workers who went to Wuhan in February as volunteers to help out. The Dalian city government posted their pictures as a way of praising and appreciation. These healthcare workers are treated as hero’s, they can enjoy free transportations, restaurants invited them to have meals for free with identifications, etc.

For my HIS 103 final project, I wrote an essay about how Americans utilize media platforms to draw connections between American history and current events. The similarities that contemporary Americans create reveal that while much has changed legally, our country continues to remain divided on the same topics.

This is an instruction on how to retrieve your health code post in Dalian Metro. First, scan the code on the poster, then enter your phone number to retrieve the code. You could only enter the metro if your code is green.

This is a photo of my best friend and his bride during their wedding in Spartanburg, SC

Masconomo Park is a place where family and friends spend most time of their afternoon to interact with the public and have a healthy social environment. During the summer, the park would host bands, ice cream tables, face painting and a movie night for everyone. Many tourists would come to town to experience socially the interactions and activities offered by the town and appreciate the beauty of the harbor. During the Tuesday movie nights, a projection screen would be placed in the center of the park and everyone would bring their chairs, blankets, and snacks for a cozy movie night with family and friends. The Park was one of the most populated point of the town until the outbreak happened. Masconomo has not been the same since the outbreak of COVID-19. As you can see in the photos below of before and after the pandemic, the contrasts are enormous. The silence of Masconomo Park is louder than the fun summer nights the citizens used to have. Now the emptiness has taken over and no one can interact in the public space anymore. The park has been closed for a long period of time and citizens were not allowed to share the field for their own health safety. Once everything goes back to normal as we all hope, we cannot wait to spend engaging times at the park as we used to. For now, we just have to remain social distancing and virtually connecting for mental and physical health of the citizens.

Manchester Essex High School is a place where students have the opportunity to learn by having hands-on interactions with academic resources such as art, music, technology, science labs, debate, sports, and even how to take care of the environment. Manchester was filled with students ready to engage with a shared goal of academic success. Students would meet in the library to do homework, complete research, and chat with friends. The teachers would find time after class to assist students with homework questions and help them improve academically. In particular, I loved to stay after my math and art classes to discuss ideas, strategies for learning, and even creative brainstorming with teachers. They helped me solve math problems and even envision how a piece of art can be “read.” Sadly, the physical human interaction has been switched to virtual. Now students do all of their classes online and are not allowed to practice sports, clubs, after school band and other activities offered by the school, in person. Like myself, I imagine many other students find it hard to connect with teachers and keep up with a good academic year, something we’ve only ever experienced in person. However, the necessity of virtual learning in 2020 and the foreseeable future presents an opportunity to learn to adapt and challenge oneself to thrive in a new environment. All we can do is hope, hope that when COVID is conquered, and history is made, students like the ones at Manchester Essex High School will have become more adaptive, and even more eager to interact in person and engage in intellectual discourse.

It is important to know that even during a pandemic mass incarceration is still going on.

This is the second installment of an interview between three college students taking a course on global pandemics. We ask each other about how our understanding of the current pandemic has changed as we learn more about past epidemic conditions, and assess how we could apply those lessons going forward.

Presidents and non consecutive terms

Media coverage- Covid -19

Trump to press election queries

With the virtue of our country’s future president dependent on Pennsylvania the infamous swing state, street art like this is more than typical on the walls throughout Philly. It is powerful. I cannot stress enough how many times my Mom signed me up with election campaigns, poll ballot services, and volunteers from the State House. I believe we will look back on this election in the midst of a global pandemic and be able to reflect on it like no other. From outbursts of protests, riots, and looting’s, to the BLM movement, to lockdowns, all of these factors heavily affected Philadelphia, essentially influencing the outcome of the 2020 election. I believe through political murals like this reassure our 1st amendment during times like these. Given all the things the pandemic has abruptly stripped us of, it has provided us with the beauty of proactiveness and opportunity in political art.

Instructions, requirements, and signifiers inevitably invade my sight on the once-bustling streets of Philadelphia. This is an image of a square graphic glued to the sidewalk on South Street, a historic and well-known place in Philly. This graphic has been sponsored and done by Philadelphia Mural Arts historic center was founded to help eradicate graffiti. As a design student, I quickly noticed how artists and designers were using their resourcefulness during these times of uncertainty to take advantage of their visual skills to communicate the precautions of the CDC. With technology allowing me to virtually connect better than it ever has been able in the past to my friends, family, and loved ones, I realize it cannot provide to us that tangible human connection we all have experienced before within 6 feet. Although there may have been efforts to remove and peel away this graphic there will never be a removal of the effects and tolls the Coronavirus has taken on our world, country, and beloved cities.

During the pandemic, I have been home much more than I ever thought I would. It has given me a lot of free time, that I don't know what to do with, but my cats could not be happier to have their people around more. It has allowed us to gain a better understanding of each other and the things that they help me with emotionally during this time. My cats, Waffles and Hugh, are very special to me. I adopted Waffles from a humane society three years ago, and Hugh from the side of the road 2 years ago. They have been very helpful to me as emotional support animals through a lot of my college career, and they are both very sweet boys. During the pandemic, they have each gotten a little closer to my heart because their personalities have really started to shine through because I am able to be home and watch and interact with them more. Waffles is a 14lb grey and white longhair, and Hugh is a 10lb black and white short hair. Hugh is rambunctious. Waffles is not. It has been heartwarming to watch how they each take care of each other, and piss each other off a bit (as brothers and all family do) and it has made me realize how important my cats are to me. When I have bad days, they are so much more responsive to me. They come cuddle and bug me so that I get out of bed and start doing things, rather than lay there and wallow as we so often want to do. It really makes me wonder what is going on in their heads. My cats have been my saviors through this whole thing, they have been a constant that doesn't change. They have been sources of comfort and entertainment, and I could not imagine getting through this without them.

The contributor of this item did not include verbal or written consent. We attempted to contact contributor (or interviewee if possible) to get consent, but got no response or had incomplete contact information. We can not allow this interview to be listened to without consent but felt the metadata is important. The recording and transcript are retained by the archive and not public. Should you wish to listen to audio file reach out to the archive and we will attempt to get consent.

IMPORTANT NOTE: My professor, Dr. Blake Jones, approved of the anonymity of my interview subject. My subject is highly private and wishes to maintain that anonymity for business and personal reasons. Max is a businessman from the United States. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business and holds an M.B.A. He has been conducting business in the electronics industry for over 40 years. He has a wife, adult children, and dogs. Max has been heavily involved in Asian markets in his business for multiple decades. He was a vital part of the explosion of Japanese electronics onto the American market in the 1980's, the rapid introduction of the Internet in the 1990's, and has most recently been working to implement the next generation of lighting displays for consumer electronics. Max’s life and work has been one that has been vital to the development of the world’s technological progress in the past 40 years, although he is not a household name. Max has lived through multiple important events and has a unique perspective on all of them as a businessman, agent of free enterprise, and average American providing for his family. He holds several unique opinions on current events and is not afraid to state them plainly. In this interview, he reflects on the difficulties and silver linings that COVID-19 has thrown at him in his work and personal life.

Tiffany Asher is a wife, mother, and she suffers from a terminal illness called cystic fibrosis. She chooses to care for elderly people suffering from COVID-19 against the wishes of her healthcare providers.

October 2019 saw me beginning my first full-time teaching job in the county that I grew up in. Six weeks into school, I was thrown into 4 classrooms of 8th graders who had been verbally beaten down by their beginning of the year teacher. He had told them they were stupid, worthless and pieces of trash that would never get anywhere in life. The first few months were rough. I had to work extra hard to gain their trust and show them that I genuinely cared. We hit road bumps (heck mountains) as we adjusted to each other. By Christmas I had made relationships with my kids that made each day much easier. I expected coming back after Christmas break would be easier. The downhill slope to the end of the year, then testing and finally the fun part-field trips and field day and all the end of year joy. Covid-19 had other plans for my first year. I walked out of school on March 13 (Friday the 13th, Full Moon and all that jazz) and told my kiddos and my co-workers I would see them in a few weeks. We were only supposed to be in distance learning for TWO weeks! One co-worker jokingly started singing "School's Out" by Alice Cooper as we walked towards our cars. We told him he was being ridiculous. Little did we know that his prediction would be eerily correct. The final three months of my first year of teaching were filled with Zoom meetings, failing grades, constant parent contacts and doing anything in my power to teach my 8th graders American History, while also making sure they were mentally and physically okay. My kid that lived in the home of an abusive father was now stuck with that 24 hours a day; there was no break for him anymore. We ended the school year with lots of tears. There were no in-person goodbyes. Just sporadic Zoom meetings and a few emails and comments. My first year did not end in any way like I expected it. I headed into summer break thinking that the by fall all would be right with the world again. I would be back in my classroom with my new students. Three classes of 6th graders and one group of 7th graders. We started the year working through the stages of re-opening. We made progress and slowly started getting students back into the classroom. That empty classroom from the beginning of school was starting to feel more like itself again. The laughter and chatter of middle schoolers was back. I was in my happy place. Then once again Covid-19 showed its hand. We were sent back home for just a few weeks. Those few weeks turned a month, then extended past Christmas break and New Years. Once again, my kids are struggling. I'm struggling. There is nothing I wouldn't give to be back in my classroom with 30 6th graders all asking questions at once and calling out and being all around goofy. Hopefully we will get back to that way of life one day. Teachers and students are struggling as we work through this trial together.

This is an interview with Trisha Howes, a student in university.

This oral history is a retelling of what it was like to attend college, graduate from college, and then hunt and find a job during the Covid-19 global pandemic.

James W. Morrell has worked with Wal-Mart for over 20 years. In this interview he describes his experience working for Wal-Mart before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday, the United States has begun to consistently break the 1 day infection rate record. Even before the holiday the U.S. was breaking records, but despite this fact many families still held large gatherings. However the Thanksgiving holiday is only unique to the U.S. and as Christmas approaches there could be a global increase in cases if families around the world gather together.

Roxanne Garcia, a worker and mother, is the person I am interviewing. We discuss her life, including some background information about her family; including her parents and siblings. In this interview we reflect on suicide, prison, education, enfranchisement, COVID-19, and motherhood. The overall concept behind this interview is to see where a random mother and worker finds herself within the complexity of modern life, specifically as it relates to her children’s education, prisoner’s rights, and the pandemic. Her experiences intersect many issues and hot topics.

After 9 months into the pandemic, people all over the world are experiencing COVID fatigue. The 2020 holiday season shows people are taking the pandemic less seriously than they were at the beginning. While many isolated themselves or had significantly smaller gatherings, some forget that the United States continuously breaks infection rate records. Nine months after the shutdown, the United States saw its largest increase in cases with 210,000 reported positive tests in a 24-hour period.

In an interview with CNN, President-Elect Joe Biden asks Americans to wear mask for his first 100 days in office, a symbolic time when Presidents exemplify how they will govern. He said he will mandate masks be worn on all federal land, buildings, and roadways. Americans might need to wear masks longer than the first 100 days as the first week of May would mark the end of the President-Elect's first 100 days.

The United Kingdom became the world's first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine, and will begin distributing the vaccine to its citizens. The apparent rush to approval drew criticism from Dr. Fauci. He later apologized saying "I have a great deal of confidence in what the UK does both scientifically and from a regulator standpoint." He further clarified his point by saying that the United States's approval process will take longer, but will reach a decision soon.

In order to place faith and security in the mind of the American people, the three former presidents vow to get the COVID-19 vaccine once approved by the FDA, Dr. Fauci, and other leading experts. Some people have expressed criticism about the vaccine due to its relatively quick development, however once many prominent Americans get the vaccine these concerns might go away.

College has definitely been a whirlwind of emotions during the pandemic. As a freshman, my first year was far from traditional. Strict rules and regulations have been put in place and made it hard to meet new people and get the full college experience. As a student at northeastern, there have been many regulations such as no more than 1 to a table at the dining halls, mostly online classes, and no going to watch sports games. While this is hard because it makes it difficult to feel like part of a community at school, Northeastern has done a wonderful job of keeping its students and staff safe. In the picture provided, it captures the idea of Boston late at night, but instead of the usually bustling city, one can see that it seems to be rather calm. This is because Boston had implemented a 9:30 pm curfew for all of its residents. Because of this pandemic, the city and school life has been drastically different, and many students are looking forward to less regulations when this pandemic is over.

This is a photograph of my final meal delivery on the 17th consecutive day of Northeastern University’s COVID isolation. I woke up the morning after election day to a text from one of my friends saying that he tested positive with COVID. Northeastern is very thorough with their COVID protocol, and I knew that I was minutes away from a phone call from the university telling me that I was contact traced. Immediately, I packed my suitcase and made sure to pack a pillow and blanket as I knew they weren't provided. Shortly after, my case manager called me and gave me instructions to move to the quarantine dorm and begin my 14-day lockdown. Most of my friends that were contact traced with me had their parents pick them up to avoid the very unappealing experience. The ability to work in person is crucial for my parents, so I would have felt very guilty if I brought COVID into the house. My decision to stay was very challenging, as the 14 days were incredibly daunting. Completely my usual schoolwork felt way more difficult because of the unmotivating environment. The food made the experience way more difficult; I couldn't receive any outside meals. On my 7th day, halfway through, I woke up to several university voicemails urging me to call back immediately. My heart was racing while on hold because the intent of the call was obvious to me. Sure enough, they explained that I had tested positive and needed to follow new procedures. The worst part was my duration extension. The protocol is ten days after a positive result landing me at a total of 17 days. Fortunately, my professors were very understanding given the circumstances, and I made up the assignments I missed from the ordeal. As a young and healthy person, the symptoms I faced were very mild and curtailed in only a few days. We were all so surprised that it took me an entire week from exposure to test positive. I was satisfied that I stayed in quarantine and avoided bringing the virus home. The more excited I was to leave, the slower the days went by. I kept my bags from my daily food deliveries to illustrate the time I had been in quarantine. Picking up my last bag from the hall was a fantastic feeling; I knew that I could return to my regular routine the following morning. After leaving, the university's restrictions that used to bother me seemed so insignificant. I realized that following the protocol was commendable because we all want things to go back to normal.