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  2022-05-26

  Tucker Carlson tries to link Uvalde massacre to COVID "lockdowns" while rejecting gun restrictions

  This is a news story from Salon by Meaghan Ellis. This is an opinion piece on what this author thinks about Fox News contributor Tucker Carlson and his approach to the shooting in Texas. The news story says that Carlson claims the lockdowns increased mental illness cases. Whether this is true remains to be seen, but from my own experience with lockdowns, I did have trouble adjusting. I had at least a few mental breakdowns over feeling like a prisoner in my own home. I don't think the lockdowns would trigger everyone into becoming a potential mass shooter, but I do not think they were healthy for many people either. People need human contact regularly, and being cut off from that and only having social media or very few people to see in-person would feel isolating. I think mental health is not paid attention to enough by public health officials when it comes to lockdowns. Mental health is still part of overall health. I do understand why the lockdowns happened, but I think many went on too long, which has had a bad effect on society. It is obviously not the only reason someone would have a mental illness, but for people that already did have mental issues, it made them worse. I have high functioning autism and without a good support system, I'd possibly be doing way worse.
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  2021-04-22

  Community’s importance to the service industry during Covid-19: A business owner’s perspective

  This article, written by small business owners, addresses the challenges faced by the service industry during COVID-19. These owners of a coffee shop share a list of ways that the community can support their local service industry, and why it is crucial to do so. They make it clear that it's not simply about buying a product; instead, it is about building a community and supporting those that you care about, which goes both ways. If you support small business owners and show that you're there for them, they in turn will give back to the community in any way that they can, creating a caring environment. The lessons they share are so important to keep in mind as we are still dealing with the pandemic, so that we can build a support system that lasts long past when the pandemic is over.
• 2020-03-25

  Spring Quarter during COVID-19

  Trigger warning: abortion The pandemic had abruptly changed university. The Spring quarter was completely switched to online courses and student activities on campus were canceled. For the entirety of the quarter and to this day, I'm living with my partner until the quarantine is over. It was hard adjusting to online classes and I had to force myself to keep up with lectures and assignments. Deciding to take 20+ units during these times wasn't a smart idea, but I'm glad to say that I'm doing a pretty decent job at holding up. Finals are around the corner and there's one more week of lecture to persevere through. Yet, despite doing well in school, I'm struggling to cope with recent events. This school year has been bittersweet. It's my 4th year of undergrad and the most memorable year of my life, so having it come to a sudden halt has been tough. Zooming friends and chatting online isn't the same as in-person meetings. However, so many college students are facing similar struggles and I commend them for staying at home and practicing social distancing rules. (haha...sorry I got a little carried away with background information.) My experience with abortion during this pandemic isn't something I have fully comprehended yet. It was midway into the quarter and right before midterms when I found out I was pregnant. Seeing the positive pregnancy test in the restroom, I just burst into tears. I knew I couldn't take care of the baby properly, and the mental turmoil of the whole circumstance really, to this day, has effected me. I called Planned Parenthood and scheduled an appointment for the closest opening, a few days after finding out. Those few days waiting were hell, I couldn't sleep and my mind was filled with dread. But, the hardest day and the hardest moment was realizing at Planned Parenthood that I had to go in alone...without my partner and without my mom. The clinic had to make precautions considering the pandemic and guests were not allowed to be there for emotional support. So, I carried forth with the termination and took the pills. The doctor and nurse were in the room, but they were standing at a distance...and everything felt distant. I had my phone to call my support system, but at that moment, I just needed a hand to hold.