Items

• 2020-03-14

  My Sedentary Lifestyle Prepared me for What Came

  In the year of the pandemic I was not aware of everything that was occurring all around me, I did not watch the news; however, I did get news updates on my phone and people would tell me what was going on. I was working as a personal attendant at an elementary school when covid began, and I did not feel the effects that covid 19 has been changing society, the community that I lived in, and in my life until the lockdown began where everyone had to stay inside their houses. Before the lockdown began I was living a sedentary lifestyle where I would spend the whole day inside the house on my phone or watching TV, so staying in my house was an everyday thing for me and many of my family members and friends did not live near me, so I would always call them; however, I have heard about a couple of family members who I have grown up with mention to me that they had covid and before I returned to work after the lockdown was over my mother tested positive for covid, so this is when covid 19 was hitting hard to me because many people that I was close to were getting sick, when my mother was sick I began to worry whether I had covid 19, because I fell ill before her, however, I tested negative for covid 19 which I admit was a huge relief for me, but I was worried about my mothers well being, until she felt better. In news updates I heard about a lot of people who lost their jobs, and places that were shut down, because of the pandemic, so I felt fortunate to still have employment at the elementary school even if my hours were shorter than before because of the changed school hours, but I still felt fortunate that I still had employment and that none of my friends or family lost their lives to covid 19. When I first heard about the lockdown it was when I realized how truly serious the situation was, many people had trouble staying inside their houses during the lockdown; however, I always stayed inside on my phone, playing video games, and watching TV so remaining in my house was never such an issue for me since this was part of my everyday life so my sedentary lifestyle is what prepared me and got me through the lockdown during covid 19.
• 2020-08-22

  Finding peace during the pandemic

  During the pandemic, like most people, I experienced high amounts of stress and feeling kind of hopeless. I would spend the majority of my day playing video games in my house which doesn't really seem like a bad thing to be doing, but over time I could feel myself being lost and not the same person anymore. This was because before the pandemic, I was constantly on the move and interacting with people, so when this was taken from me I was unable to resume the things that I had always done. I began school at a local university and found myself unable to make friends as I had easily done in the past, because my social skills had taken a huge fall due to the pandemic. I found myself being a really quiet person and would only talk when I was talked to, and also found that I did not have the drive to complete tasks that should have been easy to complete. The way I began to overcome this was when I joined a local dance group. They were practicing at a park following social distance regulations. I did not instantly feel comfortable because I was unsure of myself and was not very confident when I first joined. However, the group was very welcoming and friendly towards me and they gave me all of the time and space I needed at the time to begin coming out of the shell that the pandemic had formed around me. Within about a year, these members have become some of my closest friends and we hang out daily. My confidence has reached an all time high that honestly I think might have caused me to become bored whenever I know something is a waste of time but is something that I have to do. This isn't necessarily a bad thing because it is definitely an improvement from before where I would not attempt to do things because I did not feel the confidence to complete them. Had I not joined the group, I would've stayed in my shell and would not have made the friends I have today. They gave me a chance to become active again and become socially active as well.
• 
  2020-03-26

  Introverts During Covid Meme

  As an introvert, I never felt affected by a lot of the changes that took place when Covid struck. I stay at home most of the time if I am not at work, and I don't often go out in large social gatherings. I love my personal space, and I prefer the anonymity of wearing a mask. Sometimes, Covid felt like an excuse to stay home and do the things I love. This is not to underestimate the challenges that everyone faced; I just faced the challenges through my health and job, not social distancing or quarantining. These memes reflect a lighthearted view of what it was like to experience Covid as an introvert.
• 
  2020-03-23

  Introverts vs. Extroverts during Lock Down-A meme

  I am an extrovert. I get my energy from people. I love people. I surround myself with a lot of people. The three months leading up to the pandemic lock down I had been surrounded almost every day by almost 200 of my closest friends, people I call my family because we worked together on a theater production called Susanville Best of Broadway. When the pandemic hit, the show was cancelled and then even my work sent everyone home. I was home with my kids. And it was very quiet. We are a very active family involved in many local community projects. I have meetings every week and they have sports. All of sudden, we were home. And if I saw someone I knew while out in public (the grocery store) it was weird. I didn't know if I could hug them (I didn't) and would just awkwardly wave from a distance. It was terrible. In fact, my girls struggled and would still have friends over. I made them limit it to just one friend, but even then, we struggled. This meme really got to me. I remember hearing friends say how their life didn't change at all because they were already homebodies. The idea of being home was actually very stressful. I ended up working at my work, because being home all day to work was not very much fun. I learned a lot about myself during that time. Most importantly, I need people in my life.
• 
  2021-10-06

  Introverts during social distancing

  I was scrolling through memes and this one adequately describes my reaction to social distancing at the beginning of the pandemic. I felt like my time had finally come when we had to begin social distancing and staying at home. I'm not a very social person so I was happy being in my little bubble.
• 
  2021-07-31

  My covid Story

  just writing about life since it started in late 2020
• 
  2021-04-23

  The COVID-19 Pandemic From An Introverts Point of View

  The global pandemic that started in 2020 has been extremely hard on a lot of people, especially extroverted people that need social interaction to feel normal. I feel I am incredibly lucky in this regard as I enjoy my solitude without the hustle and bustle of social activities. When the pandemic started back in March 2020 and we all were advised to stay inside to help combat the virus it was the easiest task in the world for me. I personally practice social distancing in general since I don’t enjoy people being in my personal bubble and I also dislike being around large groups due to personal anxiety. So overall when this all started, I honestly did not notice a big change in my life. One thing I did notice was that people in my phone and on my friends lists through various platforms were suddenly super active in their messages being sent to me. I can empathize with others in this regard because even introverted people like to engage in social activities every now and then. Another big thing I noticed was all my favorite software got major updates and were revamped due to so many people now working from home many companies actually saw their productivity explode in 2020 while wonderful it is very sad to see companies not giving their workers more options to work from home now in 2021 despite seeing boosted productivity. I was also able to go shopping for groceries with less crowds which to me was a nice thing to not be surrounded by so many people as I would be in any other situation. I also really like wearing masks when its cold out because it keeps your face from being hit by harsh cold winds and you kind of feel like a Mortal Kombat character. Now that things are getting a bit more under control with more vaccines out in the public space and people going back to work, I hope people who need to socialize get the chance to do so. I will also remember 2020 because so many people globally did not live to see 2021, I feel fortunate that my family and I made it through 2020 in one piece.
• 
  2021-03-22

  #JOTPYLesson from tinykikisunshine

  tinykikisunshine I learned to speak up when conditions are unsafe, when politics are being prioritized over safety, and my community is being put at risk. I learned that voices do make a difference and no retaliation should silence me. Not a bad lesson for an introvert! #jotpylesson
• 
  2020-07-26

  Photos from March for Elijah McClain

  "I can’t breathe. I have my ID right here. My name is Elijah McClain. That’s my house. I was just going home. I’m an introvert. I’m just different. That’s all. I’m so sorry. I have no gun. I don’t do that stuff. I don’t do any fighting. Why are you attacking me? I don’t even kill flies! I don’t eat meat! But I don’t judge people, I don’t judge people who do eat meat. Forgive me. All I was trying to do was become better. I will do it. I will do anything. Sacrifice my identity, I’ll do it. You all are phenomenal. You are beautiful and I love you. Try to forgive me. I’m a mood Gemini. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Ow, that really hurt. You are all very strong. Teamwork makes the dream work. Oh, I’m sorry I wasn’t trying to do that. I just can’t breathe correctly."⁣ ⁣ ⁣ These are the last words of Elijah McClain captured by a body cam of an Aurora Police officer before he died of a cardiac arrest. The police were responding to a 911 call saying he “looked sketchy” while wearing a ski mask and waving his arms. Elijah was a 23-year-old massage therapist who broke no law, didn't have a weapon, and posed no threat. While trying to handcuff him, an officer laid on top of him and put him in a carotid hold, which restricts blood to the brain to render someone unconscious. After 15 minutes medical responders arrived and paramedics injected him with ketamine, which body camera footage shows it made his body go limp.⁣ ⁣ ⁣Elijah McClain should be alive today.⁣ ⁣ Photos from March for Elijah McClain, July 18th
• 
  2020-12-17

  What is the biggest challenge that you’ve faced during covid? How have you overcome that challenge?

  This talks about how I've found something good about that pandemic. This is important to me because I know a lot of people are going through a lot during the pandemic and I think we should find something to be grateful for because it will help with the trials you are going through.
• 
  2020-12-10

  Anonymous in Santa Ana, California

  I think that it is good to have texts that talk about the lives of people that are not so upper class as they are living through this pandemic, since that is what future historians will use and they need to be able to access more sources.
• 
  2020-10-20

  Introverts love being indoors

  How this simple facial expression illustrates government inaction, is the fact that the state governments have generally done one thing consistently, keep everyone indoors for longer periods of time than originally anticipated, and introverts love this. Not to be bothered by anyone else but themselves, the best part is, the duration of said quarantine keeps increasing, from a few weeks, then a month, then multiple months, half a year, nearly hitting nine months so far. Now due to the fact that the United States is such a large country featuring different cultures and conditions, very little federal law has been made in response to the virus. In fact some states, such as California, took a very cautious route of keeping everyone indoors for longer and longer periods of time. In contrast to other states, such as Wyoming. That state never went into a total lockdown, they only limited gatherings of 10 people at a time. Then loosened to 25, and now lifted the restriction at all. With only 760 positive cases, in a state filled with thousands of people. By leaving the state governments to decide on their restrictions was the best course of action, since there is no, “One size fits all” solution for each state. By having the federal government exercise inaction and allowing the states to work on their solutions could have potentially saved the economy from entering an even worse state or spiked the positive cases to an even higher extent. Coleman, Kali. These 6 States Never Went into Lockdown. Here's How They're Doing. 10 June 2020, www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/these-6-states-never-went-into-lockdown-here-s-how-they-re-doing/ss-BB15jodG. No author, screenshot sent to me through a friend, funny looking facial expression. 10 October
• 2020-10-20

  Introverts love the indoors and lockdown

  The image that has been submitted is important to me because its relatable to those that enjoy being isolated from society as much as possible. Granted even introverts need some sort of human interaction, more often than not they prefer it to be as minimal as possible. Which is why the character in the image looks absolutely ecstatic to enter a mysterious room. If anything there isn't much of a story to the image, rather it can be used to illustrate a human emotion, joy, but a odd, weird joy. Due to the fact that most people want to spend more time with their families, it doesn't seem absolutely innocent due to the fact that some people might actually spend too much time to themselves and will ultimately have a difficult time working with other people again. Let alone normal day to day social interactions, casual conversation might become unnecessarily challenging, but it will be something that people will have to deal with until things can get back to normal.
• 
  2020-10-08

  My COVID Experience

  My COVID experience has been mostly unremarkable. I am a fairly introverted person to begin with, so quarantine wasn't really a big deal for me. The only new thing to have come from this experience is having to wear a mask. Thus, why I added a mask to an image drawn of myself with a mask on.
• 2020-10-05

  for at least the next decade it is now socially acceptable to wear a mask!

  I really just came to this realization! I can now wear a mask whenever I go out for potentially the rest of my life! As an introverted person this is absolutely amazing! Seriously your telling me I can wear a mask! I can actively just not have to show my face anywhere! before in 2019 if you wore a mask to the grocery store or gas station that was a mad shady situation. Now! I can wear it! I hate COVID-19 but I'm going to enjoy this little perk forever!
• 2020-10-03

  Eating in Front of a Mirror

  Pre-Covid I already lived an isolated life, both physically and due to pervasive anxiety. I would spend weeks pushing myself, go inside the store, talk to three people at yoga, text four people, a million little social tasks that I did to keep my human animal happy. I live in a rural area, work part time at a library, and survive in a sort of genteel poverty. About every three months I'd drive to visit an old friend. Beyond customers at the library and polite friendships with coworkers, that was the only social interaction I really had. Stage one of the pandemic and my workplace closed, we were furloughed. Still paid. And after a single massive shopping trip at the end of March I just stayed home. Really stayed home. I was lucky, I'm already an introvert, have a home on acreage, pets. It wasn't great, but I was comforted knowing so many people were quietly going through the same thing. Then George Floyd was killed and I was called back to work a week later. This was the worst time so far. The building was closed and yet staffed, so we sat surrounded by clorox while people banged on the windows and cursed us. The pointlessness of it, we were only there so our employer could qualify for the PPP money. The anxiety of each coworker potentially being ill. And then, in the lull of work, the many many political opinions of all my white coworkers. I stayed silent, the lone POC, but I can assure you, I now detest them all. This phase ended when my boss got covid an ill-advised vacation to the Gulf. Coming back from our isolation I entered phase 3 of my pandemic. I now hate all my coworkers and view them as existential threats. Due both to their extremely foolish behaviors and their racism. They attend 200 guest count weddings, take discounted flights, and attend funerals. I try to work around them, taking vacation days to avoid them directly after they return. I have moved my desk out of the shared office and directly into the main room of the building. We are fully open again. Masks are not required. It is possible to drive around my small town and see not a single sign of the pandemic. The local diner which has flouted all the mild restrictions since April still has their sign out front, "Our Fried Chicken is to Die For!" I've started to feel mildly insane for still isolating, for still wearing a mask. But I'm also used to having the sole dissenting opinion in the room. For now my plan is to just not get sick, there's no plan if I do get it. I just go home and spend another weekend eating in front of a mirror, and sleeping with a hot water bottle to try and quiet my lonely human animal.
• 2020-09-27

  Introvert to Extrovert

  As an introvert, I was not initially too burdened by the pandemic. I usually preferred to be alone anyways and being stuck at home sounded like a dream come true. However, throughout the pandemic I found that I relied more heavily on interpersonal interactions than I thought I would. I was living with roommates, but most of them went home to their parents for the initial stages of the pandemic. To cope with this, I started to practice mindfulness. I determined it would be helpful to connect, and create a tight bond, with my “inner self”. This practice was extremely helpful, and I felt a spiritual connection with myself that I have not in a long time. It also helped me manage other forms of anxiety that I have felt in the past. I now feel a deeper connection with myself, and after this experience, I feel a deeper connection with others as well. It used to feel like work to be around people, but now I relish in the ability. I think this is because, over the course of the pandemic, I have been able to connect with myself at a deeper level. Now that I feel more comfortable in my own skin, I can interact with others in a more mature and less paranoid way. Overall, this pandemic has really changed how I feel about the other people in my life. I have always enjoyed my friends and their company, but it was something I needed an occasional break from. After this experience, I have realized that I need my friends. They are not just a group of people I spend time with to have fun. They are a group of people that I have a real emotional bond with, and we need each other to help strengthen that bond. Especially during difficult times like these.
• 
  2020-09-17

  Covid Blues

  With the introduction of Corona to my daily lifestyle I was forced to reflect a lot about the choices I made and also my general day to day routine. Everything was turned upside down on its head and everything I once knew was now unrecognizable. Gone were the days I would spend hecticly trying to rush to and from school running past people to catch a train. Now the only running I was doing was to and from the kitchen because my tv show was going to start and I needed a refill on my drink. Covid introduced a introverts dream and an extroverts worst nightmare. Confined to their houses like a turtle to its shell. Leaving the house became an escape but not before the 30 layers of disinfectants and masking products. But nowhere fun. Only the supermarket and back. But it was still better than nothing.
• March 26, 2020

  COVID Share Your Story #RITtigers #11, Bachelors of arts and science Major's Point of view

  It made all my classes go online which is both a blessing and a vice. I am an introvert so I love this method. But I'm also a procrastinator, so I dislike this method. It's also a vice because I dont have internet at my place of residence. I need to go to my pastors house to use the internet. If I could give a message to myself at the start of this semester, what would I say? Don't get too comfortable and prepare for some major life changes.
• 
  05/27/2020

  Kinza Hagerup Oral History, 2020/05/27

• 
  05/07/2020

  Katherine Lauersdorf Oral History, 2020/05/07

  This interview was part of the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire Public History Seminar course and UWEC COVID-19 Archive Project led by Dr. Cheryl Jimenez Frei and Greg Kocken.
• 
  2020-05-28

  Graduation Pains

  As I pondered the loss of graduation, I found myself not sad, but relieved, a feeling I imagine to be in the minority. I reflect on the feelings of someone who does not enjoy events like graduation and how its cancellation was a relief rather than a loss.
• 
  2020-05-12

  Remnants of Normalcy

  When quarantining started, I had mixed feelings about not attending school or work, not seeing my small circle of friends, and not getting to take mini explorations out in the city. I'm an introvert who dies to get out of the house. The house I've lived in for my entire life has brimmed with tension and toxicity in recent years. Outside is where I've found my peace and my place in the world. School is my space to grow as an artist, to tap into my capabilities, and to be - or at least find - myself. My job is my step into independence and my career as a filmmaker. My friends are my soul connections, they breathe life into me with their jokes and smiles. My lone adventures around New York City remind me that the world is enormous, full of energy and life, and I can end up wherever I choose. These elements of my life give me the confidence and hope I need for the future. I appreciate these moments dearly. This short film speaks to all of that.
• 
  2020-06-01

  Introverts vs. Extroverts

  Lately I have been really sad as an extrovert because I haven't been able to go outside, meanwhile my brother is loving quarantine as an introvert. It is very funny how differently we are treating this, and I thought this meme helped to represent it.
• 
  05/21/2020

  A meme about how introverts and extroverts are handling the lockdown.

  A meme shared in a Discord server about how extroverts are having a hard time handling the lockdown while introverts are doing alright. As an introvert my daily life hasn't changed too much aside from not being able to go out and do things occasionally. I don't mind staying at home at all while I have friends who are really struggling without being able to go out and socialize in person.
• 
  2020-05-12

  Mixed feelings

  Biography
• 2020-05-04

  Flagstaff Quarantine

  I don't have the virus and didn't lose my job. I AM in the dangerous older age group, so I've been quarantining. It's been 7 weeks now, and I'm still LOVING it. I love it because I'm an introvert and have too many interesting things I can do at home. I'm getting more creative than in my normal life, producing art and writing, doing more cleaning and decluttering than I would normally be willing to do. I'm also getting creative about using my time and making do with the foods and supplies I have on hand. I keep informed about the virus (and mourn for those who've lost their lives, and feel for those who aim to heal the sick and those who've lost their jobs), but I'm not plugged in 24/7. I'm excited to hear about the creative new ways people are figuring out how to work and connect and thrive. While this is a tragic and difficult time, it's also a creative and growth time, which I think will leave its mark.
• 
  2020-05-01

  Kim and Frenchie live staying gone!

  I live with my disabled adult daughter and our personal experience is that as two introverts who like to work on solitary activities, we loved being at home!