Items

• 
  2021-02-14

  My Story: I Got COVID-19 Because of ICE

  I am sending a diary style writing where I share my experience during the pandemic. I focus on the issue of ICE during the pandemic. Before the lockdowns, my uncle was detained by ICE and was deported during the pandemic. My uncle has been living in the US for 25+ years and Mexico, my uncle's home country, has changed a lot since he last lived there. For that reason, I went to Mexico to take him home. This made me get COVID.
• 
  2021

  Center for the Study of Racism, Social Justice & Health

  COVID-19 TASK FORCE ON RACISM & EQUITY. The site looks at the science and humanity behind the Covid-19 Pandemic through a social justice lens.
• 
  2021-02-16

  Creatives Meet in The Cloud

  During a pandemic, creatives continued to collaborate online through the platform Zoom. In this picture, Jackson Scoggins, William Way, and I (Spencer Bolding) meet and discuss the beginnings of Jackson’s new magazine about a local record label. We spent our first semester interviewing key characters in the creation of Dolfin Records over Zoom, often having to explain the mechanics to those new to the program. After a series of recorded interviews, we put together an in-depth timeline of the beginning of Dolfin Records that will go into our first issue. Creatives will always find a way to create. #HST269 #zoom #localmusic #Dallas #Dolfin #zine #DIY #musicians #art #deepellum #pandemic #creative
• 
  2021-02-11

  Family is Forever

  COVID-19 has affected me in a way that seemingly everyone has felt in some way. This pandemic has brought my family closer together, physically and emotionally, than ever before. My family is usually the type to cover up our feelings and hide our thoughts with sarcasm, but this pandemic has unleashed all of those hidden feelings. Being stuck in the same house I have been in for the past 21 years has changed how I view family and the time that is spent together. When the pandemic first occurred, we were all devastated and annoyed, just like the rest of the world, that we were instructed to stay in our homes 24/7 and only leave our homes for certain conditions such as essential work, food, and outdoor activities. During the first few weeks we were all getting antsy and annoyed staying inside all together, but we had to come to terms with the fact that were stuck with each other whether we like it or not. We slowly began to play board games, go on outdoor walks, and spend quality time together because we were all that we had. I used to hate having family dinners, being asked a million questions by my parents, fighting over the bathroom with my siblings, playing family game nights, and much more. Over many months of being cooped up in the same house with my whole family, I started to realize that I cherish those moments more than I thought I did. During the past few holidays that occurred during the pandemic; Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and soon to be Easter, it is easy to see that close family should be cherished and held close to our hearts. Not being able to see my cousins and grandparents for these holidays has been a different kind of experience. We always take for granted those times where we get to casually see them or plan gatherings, but now we’re forced to stay distanced to keep everyone safe. My mom has recently said, “We are showing how much we love them by not seeing them”, explaining that we are keeping everyone safe and healthy by not gathering and possibly spreading Covid-19. Looking into the future and the years to come, I hope to keep appreciating the time with family that I will have and look to make the most of situations I am put into. This pandemic has taught me many lessons that I wish to further learn from and value the important thing sin life that we usually take for granted.
• 2021-02-06

  Burnt Out Before Beginning

  January 2020 was going to be my year. I had gotten an internship in Pittsburgh, PA that only selected 200 kids out of the thousands of applicants. Not only did I get the internship, but I got it on the unit I wanted to be on, the Emergency Department. March of 2020 comes along. The pandemic has now hit the United States, and everyone panics. May of 2020 comes along. Still in quarantine and in lockdown. I had been out of my job for the past 2 months and was about to begin my internship. Although I was excited to get back to work, I never imagined that it would be as brutal as it was. Every morning at 6:30 am we would get screened at the door. Masks were given out, temperatures were taken, and the three health screening questions were asked. At first, no one came to the hospital. Everyone was still scared and didn’t want to come to the place that held confirmed COVID-19 positive patients. This lasted about a week. Then everyone began coming. Before we knew it we had more patients than staff and we didn’t have enough beds for everyone coming in. Patients would come in with a broken foot and next thing you knew they were COVID positive. Did we wear our mask properly around them? Did they cough on us? Did we maintain 6 feet apart? These were all the questions rambling through our heads once we had learned that a patient was positive after taking care of them all day under standard precautions. We didn’t have enough N-95 masks for everyone to wear, so you had one and that’s what you used all the time. The amount of PPE (personal protective equipment) was far less than we needed. The hospitals tried their best to get them, but sometimes we had to make do without it. At the time, not everyone could get swabbed. We didn’t have enough it’s for everyone so only those that had 3 major symptoms (fever, sore throat, body aches). This was before we knew the asymptomatic patients were so high in number. Every day we wore our masks for 13 plus hours. Every day we wore gloves and gowns for 13 plus hours. Every day we put our lives at risk to save everyone else for 13 plus hours. This is only a snippet of what healthcare members saw throughout this pandemic and are still seeing today. Within 4 months, I was burnt out from the pandemic. I graduate in May and I fear to see what the hospitals will be like then. In better words: wear your masks, get vaccinated if possible, and follow the guidelines. It may not harm some of you personally, but it is hurting your healthcare professionals every day that this pandemic lingers.
• 
  2020-09-03

  How social justice protests could affect the 2020 election

  This article by Jenesse Miller looks at the campaign strategies of Joe Biden and Donald Trump as the social justice protests occur in the wake of police brutality. From the article, "Both Biden and Trump made plans to visit Kenosha in the wake of the civil unrest in that city. Trump toured businesses that had been damaged during riots and praised law enforcement, while Biden’s campaign announced he would hold a community meeting and speak with the family of Blake, who was shot seven times by police. Each candidate’s actions were carefully choreographed to appeal to specific voters among their respective bases of support, but will their plans work?"
• 2019-08-07

  The “Greatest Pandemic in History” Was 100 Years Ago – But Many of Us Still Get the Basic Facts Wrong

  This article was published on August 7, 2019 just months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. The author’s intention was to share facts about the Spanish Flu so that we can be better prepared in case a similar catastrophic event occurs again. The similarities between Spanish Flu and the current pandemic cannot easily be ignored. It makes one wonder what will be said about COVID-19 100 years from now?
• 
  2021-01-27

  COVID -19 Pandemic Collage

  This is a collage about the pandemic.
• 0021-01-26

  Covid Affects

  At the start of Covid, I wasn't worried about the numbers. But after a few weeks, I saw the death toll and how this will result in a lockdown. My area which is in Ventura County didn't mind this virus and we all just carried on. But a huge outbreak started. We were not allowed to go to the beach and other places. This affected me a lot because I was already staying home for school, but when I wasn't allowed to go anywhere else, it really hit me hard. The outbreak died down but it was still pretty bad. I was worried about my grandparents. To me, Covid was a key that is locking me into a room that I can't leave. Living through this pandemic made me think about all the things I took for granted.
• 2021-01-24

  Food, COVID-19, and my Mother

  My mom raised her children around food. She made sure everything revolved around it just like the Earth revolves around the Sun. We ate whether we wanted to or not, as food was her way of showing love. Mom is now in her late 70's and still works miracles in the kitchen. When we visited my parents' house (pre-pandemic), she fed us until we could not eat anymore, then declared we were still hungry and loaded our plates with more. That is what Mexican moms do, she always says. Even though we protest, my husband, kids, and I love it. All of this changed once COVID-19 hit. Worried about my parents catching the virus, we did not see much of them in 2020. When we did, it was from a distance in their backyard and not for very long. It took an enormous toll on my mom. My parents cannot visit with their children and grandchildren, but almost just as worse, my mom has no one to cook for but my dad. Although she still enjoys cooking for him, it is not the same. Although we all know what food means to her, none of us realized just how much until this pandemic hit. Normally, she is rarely sick, loves to hike, and enjoys going to aerobics with her friends. However, lately, she has felt melancholy, is getting headaches, and is sleeping more. This is extremely unusual for her, which has us all very concerned. This pandemic is wearing on her both physically and emotionally. This feisty woman is slowing down, which is scary to us all. Over the past year, we continue to tell her we want to come over but would never forgive ourselves if we unknowingly pass the virus to her or my dad. Mom did not and still does not understand. She just wants what she wants, which is her family surrounding her. My dad is much more pragmatic about this situation, but mom will not have any of it. She is incredibly frustrated and is not afraid to tell us about it. Luckily, both of my parents just got their first dose of the vaccine last week. My dad said this gives them renewed hope that their family will be together again soon. I hear this hope when I speak on the phone with my mom. She is ready to get busy again in the kitchen. I cannot wait to eat her homemade tortillas straight off the stove, her spicy chili, and all of her other tasty dishes. People are now talking about the 'new normal.' I do not want a new normal. I want to get back all that this pandemic has taken from us, including my family crowding around a table full of my mom’s food.
• 
  2021-01-24

  "Masks"

  Pandemics play a role in history, as they shaped us. From Bubonic to Covid, this is something that felt startling and unsettling. The lockdown reduced us to our homes' safety, and academia halted; my friends and family caught this rapid disease; unfortunately, one did not survive. At first, all you could do was wait and watch the news, and I even tried to google and journals or documents of those who lived during the plague; Something that sparked in my mind was the memory of Italy's Black Death, how Venetian doctors with large canes to examine and keep distance would go house to house seeing the sick, but knowing half the people would not survive. What became notable in my mind at the fear of illness and responding to safety was our face mask. But the mask is something everyone would see, the mask that would ward of the “miasma.” But we know disease spreads rapidly, you must stay at home do your part. I felt the sense of time begin to dissipate, days and months blur the sensation of cabin fever sets in quick, must distance six feet apart and the feeling of hopelessness and dread set in, unable to see friends, fear of getting infected or others. Still, we must wear our masks to fight this plague. We could help the effort by sewing masks, something so simple as a cloth with a string to protect us from a violent, deadly disease. Something so small and so simple caused such a debate, became some people's fashion staples. For me, I enjoy historical fashion, and I began to wonder how to incorporate each one into every outfit, maybe one for each theme or to tribute to my interest. Being a goth, I sought this to make sure if I'm going to go out, let me be safe, but have some joy in the safety I wear. Maybe in the future, historians would see this object and see the symbolism it held as the protector in such an uncertain time.
• 
  2021-01-21

  13,000 School Districts, 13,000 Approaches to Teaching During Covid

  As a teacher, I miss our old normal. I miss my students. I miss the connections. The numbers where I live are pretty high and we have not been inside a classroom since March of last year. The kids are not doing well. No amount of scaffolding would be enough right now. My English Language learners are struggling and most have just stopped coming. Parents are frustrated (understandably), and it is evident in their desperate e-mails to me. I am failing them all but I keep pushing and adapting for them. I am so homesick for these kids. Seeing how other schools are dealing with Covid-19 definitely makes me sad. Apart of me wants to go back so badly that I would risk getting sick. The other part of me knows that I have children of my own and asthma. I need to be here for my own family.
• 
  2021-01-21

  Live Updates: Biden Confronts a Confluence of Crises

  With a nation in crisis on so many fronts, reading this article today gave me the feeling I could maybe exhale for the first time in a long time. Biden is facing a disaster on the Covid front with vaccines running out in California and New York predicted to happen by the weekend. Biden will be busy the next few weeks, trying to repair the damage done to so many community's during the Trump administration.
• 2021-01-20

  Covid Setbacks

  Well at school we have to travel around the school in one way and if you forget something you have to go around the entire school to get it and then go back its a lot of work. Otherwise actually enjoy Covid I get to sleep and play video games all day. So to future generations when your studying covid-19 think about it from our perspective. I challenge you to think about everyone who went though what I am currently going though. So enjoy life and treat everyone how you would want to be treated.
• 
  2020-12-25

  A Pandemic Christmas

  Christmas was different for me this year. I grew up with a big catholic family so we have many traditions around the holidays. Christmas eve we all dress up, have a nice dinner, and go to mass. Then on christmas day we dress more casual, open gifts, and have a buffet style dinner. With COVID being a factor, I didn't get to see much of my family for the holidays. I spent the actual day with just my siblings and dad. Christmas Eve I didn’t get to see anyone or do anything, I just stayed home and took pictures with my dog in our matching Christmas pajamas (target has everything). I had to trade gifts with all my cousins and other relatives individually in an outdoor setting. Some of the gifts I dropped off and rang the doorbell. Other family members I would meet with in their front yard from a distance. This year was a bit lonely and we all agreed that when COVID is over (hopefully by next year) we will have a huge celebration.
• 2021-01-14

  Virtual learning

  Learning virtually was very strange and had many advantages and disadvantages. Every day I got on zoom from my bedroom from March 18 to about December with the exception of summer. Some advantages about it were that I didn't have to wake up as early to drive to school and that I can do school from the comfort of my room. Some disadvantages however were I couldn't hang out with my friends or talk very much, and I personally found it really hard to pay attention because each period was about an hour and 20 min on the computer and my grades weren't as good because I had a hard time not zoning out. And on top of that nearly everything was closed down from restaurants to malls and other places to hang out, exc. I prefer learning in class than virtually because I can hang out with my friends and I pay attention better in school.
• 0021-01-06

  Christmas During Covid

  This year for Christmas, it felt the same. There was only a subtle difference between the holidays of last year and this year. On Christmas Eve, my dad and I went to Costco to buy necessities lacked at home. All of the shoppers needed to wear masks, which is different from previous years. However, the current guidelines have been initiated for many months already, so I have already adapted. Every Christmas morning, my little brother and I would wake up to find presents from "Santa" under the Christmas tree. This year, I received a crochet kit and polymer clay kit. I gave my mom a watercolor butterfly and heart hair clip; I gave my dad a Christmas-themed fortune teller. After the exchange of gifts, I spent the rest of the day playing and fiddling with my new gifts. Most of my Christmases, including this one, are the same.
• 2020-03-05

  Early March

  It was early March when we were told to stay at home. Everyone thought that we would stay at home for only a couple weeks. Everyone was excited about not going to school in the beginning. Slowly a lot more events happened and covid-19 cases only went up. Eventually states opened too early causing more cases to go up. In mid December the covid-19 vaccine was finished. Unfortunately cases are still going up.
• 2020-06-15

  Returning Home

  When the pandemic hit the United States, I was sent home from college on March 18, 2020. I was frustrated and upset, to say the least, because I was finally learning to love my life as a college student. On the bright side, I got to escape the cold bite of a Chicago winter and trade it for sunny Southern California, my home. What I did not expect was the rising tensions between my mother and me that I would have to face. Growing up, my mother and I had a healthy, strong relationship. She was my hero. My mother is a single mom and has been since I was five years old. She is an incredibly kind, hard-working woman, and she means everything to me. Unfortunately, our relationship is not the same as it was when I was a child. I used to blindly agree with her about everything. Spending time on my own in college, I realized I wasn't being myself when I was around her. I had differing opinions and wanted to grow without the influence of my mother. So I did. I grew into my own person and allowed myself to make my own mind up about things. Coming home, my mother was surprised at how I had changed and disliked me in a way she never had before. As weeks passed in our house, tensions between us rose. We didn't do things the same way, had differing priorities, and most importantly, differing personalities. With the pandemic keeping us cooped up in the house most days, anger was bubbling to the surface. It's only natural when two people as stubborn as my mother and me can't confront one another about the shift between us. Luckily, we have not had a large, dramatic outburst. We have since peacefully accepted the fact that we are never going to interact the way we did when I was a kid. I think the pandemic has created a lot of familial tensions such as my own. My friends have called me with their own stories of arguments with the parents and siblings. It would be easy to dimiss this as common as it happens around family reunions for everyone. However, I think what makes familial tensions during the pandemic so unique is how much we rely on each other right now. One of us could catch the virus any day now. One misstep of being unsafe could put my whole family at risk. So despite the disagreements between us, I love my mother more than ever, and I fear for her life more than ever. So many have passed that I and many others have come to understand how important putting aside tensions to love one another truly is.
• 
  2020-12-14

  Working in a pandemic

  This was an email sent out to employees about a coworker that had been infected with Covid-19. This is important because it shows that stores are now required to inform employees when another person that works there is confirmed to be covid positive. However, as this is a personal experience the company did not inform employees that there was a suspected case prior to the confirmation. This shows how money hungry corporations are even in a pandemic. They may say that they had the employee's best interest in mind but their actions speak louder, than a lousy email sent out.
• 2020-12-11

  Flu Files: Globalization During a Pandemic

  This assignment for my media class aimed to develop our historical analysis skills as well as apply them in our research. In my interpretation, I pick up on globalization during the pandemic of 1918 which compares to our current pandemic in the way that highlights its impact in prolonging its stay. Like everyone who has been in some way affected by COVID, it is frustrating to see the many ways that we could collectively fight it yet are prevented for one reason or another due to more "pressing" issues which overshadow it. In some ways, I hope that my analysis shows the way globalization has evolved throughout history and continues to influence decisions which cost the lives of many in times like these.
• 2020-02-28

  Covid on the Media

  It was a typical day for me. I had finished my homework and went to check my phone. I went scrolling through Tiktok but noticed something was off. There was a new virus in China all over Tiktok, so I felt the need to look it up. I did some research and realized how quickly it was spreading and to how to stay safe.
• 2020-12-10

  My Life Before the Pandemic

  In January of 2020 I first heard of Corona Virus. I only jokes and memes about it on social media. All I knew was that it was a sickness being passed around in China. I really didn't take it seriously and neither did anyone else at school, but I really wish I had. In march my peers and I were informed that the virus had reached the US and even penetrated California's border. Yet still, we did not take it seriously. My teachers told us that they were being prepared to give us an online education, but that it probably would not be necessary so we were not concerned. I continued life normally. I went to school, soccer practice, I hung out with friends careless of what was going on in the world. That Friday after being informed that my teachers were being prepared to educate us online, my fellow students and I were told that school was being canceled and in the coming week we would be receiving a virtual education. The week after all we did at school was learn how we would be learning from home. I was actually a little excited because I would get to sleep in, do less work, but that excitement did not last long. Within a week I loathed online school entirely. I lost all motivation to learn and do my best. To add on to this, my family began to fight 24/7. Resentments grew among each of us. Everything was closed and we were put on lockdown, the government ordered us not to leave our home. At this time I wished for nothing more than to go back before the Pandemic.
• 2020-12-10

  Who would of thought I would be doing school on zoom?

  I heard about the pandemic around March at school and I thought that it would just go away like the flu and people were overreacting about it. Then after a few weeks after I heard it I went to the store and hand sanitizer was running out and so was toilet paper. There was absolutely no toilet paper in the ailes because people got scared and started to hoard supplies thinking that the supply chain would reduce considering the virus and fewer facilities being open. Then they started putting signs on restaurants and grocery stores that wouldn't allow you to enter places without a mask. And after that Governor Newsome (the Californian Governor) put huge crazy restrictions where you can't go to some restaurants and small businesses. After this, we were told we would go home and do online classes for a month which I thought would take much longer because of how everyone described the virus and the news, and how California was shutting down everything because it is primarily a Democratic state. ( not trying to be political but most Democratic states shut down sooner than Republican states.) Which though seemed like a good idea wasn't because it hurt the economy and overall mental help of many people. Drug usage, suicides, and alcohol usage were at what feels like an all-time high and most Republican states stayed open and still had the same if not fewer cases of Covid as the Democratic states who locked down. Australia locked down as of now for about a year so far and their economy is down about 7% and ours has stayed less locked down is only down 2% thanks to president Trump for not shutting down absolutely everything. It is important to me to submit this because many people think our country should shut down and I disagree because Australia for example has lost a tremendous amount of the economy and still has near the same amount of cases, even after the long lockdown.
• 
  2020-12-10

  How COVID-19 impacted my life

  My experience during this whole pandemic has been devastating. I know a lot of my friends and family who caught the virus. Thankfully they recovered quickly and are okay but it was scary knowing they had it. Other than my friends and family getting the virus many other people caught the virus and sadly some of those people didn't make it. It's really sad.
• 
  2020

  The Plague Year, From My Perspective

  The writings in this piece reflect my life during the pandemic.
• 
  2020-12-04

  College During Covid

  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.
• 
  2020-11-29

  COVID-19 Video: In 60 Seconds, with Explanation and Thoughts

  While I enjoyed quarantine, the effect it's having on the economy is quite substantial, and it's important to understand a timeline of this virus spreading through and affecting our world so we can understand just how much of an impact one virus can have. While I don't touch on numbers in the video, it's mainly to give an idea from the average person's point of view. The craziest thing is that it's only one of the millions of viruses that exist in wildlife, and this could happen so many times over, if people still keep up their idiotic behavior towards wildlife.
• 
  2020-11-20

  International Student on Coping with COVID-19

  In this interview, I, Hailey, interview Briana who is an international student in London, UK. She talks about how her coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, anxiety and sadness have shifted due to COVID and the nature of the virus. She gives some great tips for staying mentally healthy during such a tough time, especially for international students, or student very far from family.
• 
  2020-11-20

  Student Coping with COVID and Study Abroad

  In this interview, I, Hailey, am interviewing Sofia about how she has handled stress before and after COVID. I ask her about how she's made adjustments to her coping mechanisms and how she is handling graduating during COVID and having been abroad during COVID as well. The COVID-19 pandemic uprooted a lot of our lives and our plans we had for the future. It is about making adjustments when necessary and learning to cope and be positive!
• 
  2020-11-21

  Through Their Eyes: Freshmen Study Habits

  The freshmen experience has changed tremendously because of COVID-19, and this has forced the majority of them to adapt and change their routines in this new online learning environment. Attached is an interview with a St.Mary’s freshman’s experience as an online student, and how she has adapted to her environment in order to be successful in college during a pandemic.
• 
  2020-11-21

  Through Their Eyes: The COVID Freshmen Experience

  St. Mary’s University (a liberal arts college) is filled with students struggling to find a balance between a new online learning environment and the pandemic, and there is a group of students who in particular have had a hard time. The freshmen of St. Mary’s is this group. This interview tells the experience of a freshman, and how she is handling this unique college experience.
• 
  2020-11-18

  The Use Of A Commuting Students Vehicle

  A vehicle was how a commuting student got to and from school. I loved driving to school it gave me and opportunity to reflect on my day and go over any activities I need to do during the day and just listen to music. During this pandemic I can not do any of those activities. All classes are online so there is no need to drive my car and it just sits in my driveway. Driving was an everyday thing for everyone and since quarantine I have gone days without driving. However, I didn't not mind not having to pay for gas as often. This is the only plus side I see from not being able to drive during the pandemic.
• 
  2020-10-14

  Visiting with Friends during the Pandemic

  My friend Victoria, has shared ways that she has been able to keep in touch with her friends during this time of quarantine, social distancing, and precaution. Victoria captioned this screenshot with: "Before COVID, I would hangout with my friends in person which was a good and fun stress reliever. However, now that we have to social distance, I FaceTime them which helps just as much" I, personally have also resulted in communicating with my friends via video chat calls. I usually try and schedule a time to call them where we can catch up and chat. I usually am not a huge video chat fan however, with COVID-19, I have become one. In order to minimize the spread of the virus and keep our families safe, most of my friends and I, have been relying solely on facetime calls to catch up. It's weird but it's definitely better than getting sick!
• 
  2020-11-18

  Attending College in Boston During the Pandemic

  I graduated high school in 2020 and decided to attend Northeastern University in Boston, MA. For my first semester I planned on traveling to London to study there through the NU.in program (program offered by Northeastern for alternate admission). Unforuntaly, once COVID ravaged through the world, we were no longer allowed to go to London. Instead, I decided to start my college career as a normal Northeastern student living in Boston. I think this experience is important to share because it gives one insight on what college life is like in a city school. Northeastern has very strict rules for obvious reasons, testing every 2-3 days, limited indoor gatherings, mask mandate on campus and much more. This is the safest way to go about this semester and it has allowed us to stay open, but if does hinder the college experience for students. It can be very hard to make friends in college and then on top of that, there is a pandemic which makes it hard to meet people under normal circumstances. Students voiced their concerns over this and got some rules to change (allowing a single guest per room, opening more meeting spaces, indoor dining etc). The school aspect is also very interesting, I think the majority of kids have 75% of their classes online, meaning learning through a zoom call/recorded video. Although it gets old quickly, learning online is a really good skill because it forced me to start taking learning into my own hands and be more independent with my work. However, I feel like this skill is a skill all college students learn early on in order to pass classes but I think that it was accelerated this semester due to the lessened student-to-teacher interactions. Overall, the experience has been an interesting one; there has been many highlights including exploring Boston and living in a hotel, but there have been lowlights as well, including, harder to be motivated during class, may be harder for some to meet people.
• 
  2020-06-16

  Class of 2020 Celebrated by a Rural Community

  The rural community of Tuttle, Oklahoma honored their class of 2020 high graduates with a sign made out of a round bale of hay. The round bale was located just off of State Highway 37 next to the Tuttle Grain & Supply. As part of the creativity, the bale had a sign saying: "Class of 2020" with comments such as "Proud of You!" and "Congrats!" as well as "Great Job!" The sign them covered the face of the hay bale in the design of a large face mask. The community was acknowledging the circumstances that altered the 2020 senior year and graduation to be a smaller event.
• 
  2020-11-03

  Voting Lines Stretched Across Two Parking Lots

  On November 3, 2020 I took a photo of the voting line that was spread across the Legacy Bank and Library parking lots in Blanchard, Oklahoma. The small community has several voting precincts and this is just one of them. At one point it was mentioned that people were waiting up to three hours to vote at this voting location. The crowd appeared to be somewhat spaced apart and some were wearing masks. The pandemic affected how people stood near each other, which would've been normally much closer.
• 
  2020-07-10

  Summer Coin Shortage Still Going in November

  On July 10, 2020 the local bank had a sign displayed that warned of the coin shortage that was caused by the pandemic. Due to the shortage, local businesses were limited in the amount of coins they could request from the National Bank in Blanchard, Oklahoma. On July 24, 2020 we decided to do our part and cashed in all of our coins. This gave us some extra cash and gave the bank some extra rolls of coins to distribute to the local businesses. Signs at local fast food restaurants still display their signs on the coin shortage and occasionally cannot make exact change. For certain restaurants like Taco Bell, they were encouraging over the summer to donate the remaining change to a charity they would then distribute the money to. This is example of how the pandemic has changed our lives in unpredictable ways.
• 
  2020-08-07

  Health Insurance Providers mailing reusable masks for medical appointments

  On August 7, 2020 I received a message from a relative that their health insurance company had mailed them a small envelope with a cloth mask. At the time in Oklahoma, masks were still fairly difficult to find in stores and reusable masks were still available mostly online at considerable costs. The elderly relative said that her and her husband were told to use these if they went to a doctor's appointment or to a hospital. The pamphlet also advised them on the best way to wash and dry the mask for further use. This is something that seems like a small cost to the company, but could benefit everyone if it helped prevent people from getting sick, especially from COVID-19.
• 
  2020-10-08

  "The Nightmarish Challenge of Trying to Get an Abortion in a Pandemic"

  The article describes the recent challenges to obtaining an abortion in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic due to several states attempting to add further restrictions on abortion rights. It is important to understand that while it was already difficult for many to obtain abortions to begin with, the pandemic has added even more challenges for those seeking reproductive healthcare as well as more opportunities for anti-choice lawmakers to restrict abortion care.
• 
  1918-09-22

  Flu file Artifact paper

  It is about the Spanish flu during 1918 and how it is similar to our current pandemic.
• 
  2020-11-10

  Life in a Digital World

  For millions of people, the blue and white logo of the digital video meeting service, Zoom, has become a familiar sight. I am sure that many of us, like myself, had to abruptly learn about Zoom in March 2020 when our lives entered a digital phase due to the pandemic. I’m sure that I am also similar to many others when I can now say that (in November 2020) I am more than proficient in my Zoom skills. Everything from school to work to social meetings are now conducted by sending Zoom invitation links. Zoom has become the classroom, the office, and the cafe…..possibly without even changing the room you are sitting in. This year has not been easy but, as I look back over these past months, I have realized that the technological world has become a surprising lifesaver. Technology has allowed people to stay connected to the world without even stepping outside their homes. Phone calls, emails, texts, Zoom meetings….they have all played a part in keeping us close to our family and friends. Even my college graduation in May was conducted over Zoom. We moved our tassels as one graduating department, even as we sat in front of our separate computers in different locations! I have started my first semester at graduate school this fall at a Pittsburgh university. My classes are conducted through Zoom, so I am not actually on campus or living in the city! While I miss in-person social interactions, I am also incredibly grateful that, thanks to digital tools and dedicated professors, I have been able to continue my education despite this year’s difficult circumstances. Interestingly, despite global lockdowns, I have been able to “visit” parts of the world I would not normally be able to, due to institutions’ and organizations’ commitment to providing virtual experiences. From our home, my family and I have watched theatrical performances, concerts, and other events occurring in different geographical areas because of the ability to livestream. We have also been exploring various museums by taking virtual tours and looking through virtual collections. Through technology, I have been able to learn about and experience events and places that I would not have been able to otherwise! Eventually, this pandemic will be over. I hope, however, that institutions and organizations continue to reach out digitally even when it is safe to resume in-person group activities. Digital programs and projects allow people to participate in events and experiences that might have been too costly in travel expenses or time commitments had they only been offered in traditional, in-person formats. Regardless, I am grateful for what digital programming and technology have already given me. This year has been incredibly stressful and filled with anxiety. Sometimes, it has made all the difference to be able to connect with a few people over a Zoom meeting. In the end, the Zoom logo has come to signify many things to me: pandemic, prevalence of digital technology, and, when it comes down to it, the importance of human connectivity and relationships.
• 2020-07-03T11:54

  COVID-19 in My Small Suburban Town of West Chester, Pennsylvania

  In my small suburban town of West Chester, Pennslyvania, the effects of COVID-19 were abundantly evident. People of all ages were impacted in significant ways. High school graduates were forced to stay home under Governor Wolfe's stay at home advisory during a time sacred to spending time with peers before college takes us our ways. The elderly worried about the safety of doing basic tasks like grocery shopping, most likely contemplating if this basic need will be an ill-made or possibly fatal decision. Another major event to be noted was the shortages of food and other necessities in the supply chain. This was a real wake-up call for many families in my town. Anxiety and panic definitely could be seen in everyday homes. I recall my one friend racing to Costco after hearing a small supply of toilet paper was in stock. He ended up spending a couple of thousand dollars, filling five carts to the brim with essentials. The sight of many bare shelves triggered this spontaneous decision to hoard. Many families acted similarly in my area, believing that the only option was to prepare to outlast a complete shutdown. While many businesses were forced to shut down, a local dairy farm called Bailey's Farm took advantage of the situation. It proposed a unique solution to the food shortage. Bailey's Farm began to increase its food output by collaborating with local farms across West Chester and Kennett Square. This agreement lessened competition among farms, allowing farms to focus on producing goods that they are most efficient at producing. Bernards Orchard grew a variety of fruits. Baileys Farm increased its milk and cheese production by adding more cows to their grassland. Northbrooke farms sold local pies, bread, pastries, and their famous apple cider donuts. Many other farms contributed to this network; however, these were the farms that I primarily worked with. These farms began to deliver goods to the doorstep of families. This solution relieved families from worrying about contracting COVID-19 in grocery stores, running out of food during a shortage, and simultaneously supported local farms. At the beginning of summer, I had hours of free time; I was advised to stay home and limit interactions with my friends. To utilize my time wisely, I began to look for work to have savings for college. Jobs were scarce because of the many closed businesses. I was beyond grateful when Bailey's Farm reached out and hired me as their new milkman to drive their refrigerated truck. Yes, I occupied the small niche of a milkman during a Global Pandemic.
• 
  2020-11-08

  COVID-19 Hotspot Counties: March 2020 - July 2020

  The map shows how serious this pandemic is in the United States and how widespread COVID-19 really is. This is important to me because it will remind me of the time living during this pandemic.
• 
  2020-04

  Summer Reading Time

  A friend whose child recently beat cancer started the Teddy Bear Foundation this last summer. He reads to children in both English and Spanish. Since he is no longer able to do so in person, he started a YouTube channel in order to read stories to children suffering from cancer.
• 
  2020-06

  BLM Protest During the Pandemic

  A friend, who is to remain anonymous but offered a photo, lives in Washington D.C. and attended a BLM protest there. I asked her to share her experiences. “it probably didn’t move the needle anywhere, but I’m glad I went. The energy and atmosphere were... it’s hard for me to describe. After the sun went down it felt like a street fair, a party. During the day it was passion. The whole time there was a strong feel of togetherness”
• 
  2020-10-16

  Seniors Voting During a Pandemic

  Story about local organizations helping senior citizens vote during a pandemic. It’s an interesting news story about the necessary steps needed and how precarious it is for seniors to vote during this difficult time.
• 
  2020-11-06

  My Part for Social Justice

  The photograph is from Presidential election results won't stop Seattle BLM protests by David Kroman for Crosscut and was taken by Jovelle Tamayo of Crosscut during a Black Lives Matter protest on election night, 3 November 2020, in Seattle, WA. The article states no matter who wins the presidential election Social Justice protests will not stop. My experience throughout this year during the pandemic and Social Justice movements has been silent. Maybe I feel that my voice will not be heard but I do fear that if I do not say something, I’m hurting the movement for Social Justice. Social Justice movements will continue whatever the election results may be and inequality surrounding diversity will still exist too. Black Lives Matter has continued to spread its resolve for Social Justice, and I know my silence will not continue. Social Justice occurs and is a presence in our society today. It is up to the individual to make their decision to say something, but it will be present until changed.
• 
  2020-08-03

  Pandemic and Social Justice Movement in the workplace

  This article is explaining how work environments will be changing, and for the better. The author explains how not only has the pandemic shown how flexible a work environment can be as far as working digitally and from home. The author also explains how the management of most workplaces need to be more flexible and diverse. The author also explains how we can better the work environment for social justice and lists a few ways.
• 
  2020-11-01

  Stocking Up

  A lighthearted photo that pokes fun at people's obsession with toilet paper during the initial lockdown that occurred in the Spring.