What I’m Learning
When I first found out UNE would be closing due to COVID-19, I honestly was heartbroken. I have loved my time at UNE so far, including the independence, friendships, and new experiences it brought me, and I wasn’t ready to let all of that go for the next five months. This transition is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before, and I can imagine most of my classmates probably feel to same way. Knowing I would be staying at home for the next five months was hard for me to process at first, but over the past two weeks I have started to adjust. I think the hardest part for me through this new transition is the unknown. The questions of when we will stop social distancing and when the pandemic will end are constantly in the back of my mind.
I have learned a lot more about myself than I thought I would during this new period of social distancing. I had never realized how much I rely on social interaction as a stress reliever before this pandemic. Not being able to visit with my friends and family has been one of the most difficult things through this process for me, but I know it’s what’s best for their safety and my own. Living at home has also been a challenge, because where I live is so different from UNE. I live in a rural area, surrounded by trees. Although I love where I live and how much space I have outdoors, it has been hard not seeing new people, even if it’s just through my window. The last big change that has taken me awhile to get used to is online classes. I know most of my peers feel the same way, because we chose to attend a university for a reason. I am better at learning in a structured environment, so I’ve tried my best to create a schedule that works for me. Although this is definitely not what I had planned my freshman year of college to look like, I know I have to stay as positive as I can.
Even though this experience has been difficult for me, I know everyone else has been affected by this in some way too. My sister is a sophomore in high school and when her school was moved online, I know she was sad she wouldn’t be able to see her friends every day or even just be able to socialize with others. My mom is an aesthetician, so she isn’t able to work right now because of the pandemic. My dad works by himself in the woods, so he is able to keep working and I know everyone in my family is thankful for that. Since I haven’t lived at home since August, coming home from college was an adjustment for my family too, not just me. Some of my friends seem to be dealing with this pandemic better than others. My roommate Caitlin and I were both devastated when we found out we had to leave UNE, and so were most of my friends. I have a few friends who love to be at home, so I don’t think that aspect of the pandemic has been as difficult for them. Not being able to eat at the dining hall or even study with my friends like we did just a few weeks ago is something that upsets me the most about this transition, but something that inspires me is my community.
Since I’ve been home, I’ve had the privilege of watching my small-town deal with this new reality. I have watched previous teachers hold Facebook live videos every day to help students learn. I have seen bus drivers make their usual route to deliver meals to kids, and I even heard one bus driver bought one of the students a cake for her birthday. Just a few days ago, the entire fire department drove through town to wish someone a happy birthday. Even though I have seen people hoarding supplies and the chaos in grocery stores, these gestures from people in communities who care bring me hope. I have also watched people begin to cook more because of the lack of restaurants, which makes me think of Pollan’s essay, and how this might be the way we bring back real cooking.
This pandemic has given me a lot of time to think. I have been taking so many things for granted that I never thought would be taken away from me. I miss seeing my friends and family, going out the restaurants, being in school, and even working. I have seen the world through a new lens in light of this pandemic and won’t forget the way it felt to be social distancing. Even though this is a struggle for everyone, we have to remember that not everything is falling apart. We are still able to listen to music, read books, watch movies, see our immediate families, have faith, hope, and love. The environment is also thriving through this pandemic. The water is clearer, air is cleaner, and plants and animals are healthier. This is a strange and scary time, but I would rather stay home to keep my family and friends safe then go out and risk their lives.
