Covid, Willy T Edition

 Before this pandemic, I bet you've never experienced such restrictions while studying. When going into the Willy T library, there are signs on the from door saying masks and facial coverings are required at all times, there are hand sanitizer machine everywhere, public computers are not available, and there are (technically) only 2 people allowed per table to contain the social distance rule. My first day coming to the library I witnessed what happens if you don't follow these guide lines. Over the intercom they announce every so often to remain 6 feet apart and to wear your masks at all times. Occasionally there are staff members that monitor students and walk around reminding them to wear their masks, and other restrictions. I was on the second floor of Willy T. and there was a table with about 5 people sitting at it (first violation) and none of them had a mask on. Someone was walking around and simply reminded them they have to be wearing a mask at all times, especially since the social distancing rule was not being followed. They all nodded their heads and continued not wearing a mask. Shortly after, an announcement came over the intercom and reminded everyone in the building to follow the posted guidelines (that at this point, everyone should know). Still they changed nothing, and staff members noticed. Someone walked over to the table and reminded them that if you are in a public place on campus the guide lines must be followed in order to remain there. They argued that they're far enough from other people and eventually got written up for not following restrictions. Before covid, you would never have had to worry about getting in trouble for not having something that covers both your mouth and nose at the same time. Today this seems completely normal. 

Covid Meme

 While looking for memes about covid, I found one that is based on the cast of the TV show Friends 9my favorite show ever) and I have actually seen this one on multiple social media platforms. 

If you've ever seen the show, Rachel goes off of gossip, Monica is always about the facts, Ross is a "scientist" so he would use the scientific name, Joey is clueless, and Pheobe finds a way to sing about everything.

The second meme I found is a Chines meme about wearing household items as a face mask, I have no idea what the memes says, but I have seen some like this that originated in the US as well. 

Food vs. Covid

 In the very beginning of covid, neither mine nor my families diets or relationships to food really changed. Once the lockdown got more serious things started to get more difficult. For me, I work at a pizza place in Northern Kentucky, and during the first few months of covid was working every day. While I was working every day, I was starting to have to eat lunch and/or dinner at work. I would get called in at random times and not have time to eat a meal, so that resulted in me eating out (at work) every night. Now don't get me wrong, I love the food there, but having pizza or hoagies everyday once and sometimes twice a day is not healthy. Especially when there is no time to workout and gyms are closed, eating like that was not a good sign. Once things died down, for a little bit), it became less hectic so I wasn't`t getting called in as often so I was eating more meals at home that weren't so unhealthy. As for my family, eating habits stayed pretty similar other than eating out a little more often. When school switched to online, my mom had to work from home so there was less time to cook some nights because she would still be working. On nights like those we ate take out, fast food, or left overs from the night before. 

Right before covid happened, I had shoulder surgery. I was supposed to be in physical therapy three times a week, and then two times a week once a month had passed. When covid struck, there were limitations and less openings for appointments so my shoulder has still not healed properly or completely. So my physical health I would have to say got worse. But mental health is a whole other story. Many people I know experienced decline in mental health including myself. Even people who had not had issues in the past or were not diagnosed with any type of mental illness started struggling. As covid continues people still are struggling with keeping their mental health under wraps, including myself once again. Experiencing a global pandemic is not easy in any aspect, whether it be with eating or exercise habits, physical and mental health, employment issues, education, or even social life. 

Covid Information

 If I am looking for specific info on anything related to covid, I generally wont go to a specific source, I will just go online and search what I am looking for. I will go through the news sites that come up and see if they match to decide if the information is accurate. I tend to not focus on most social media sites, but occasionally will read different things I find. I normally turn to the CDC for most of the information. Most of my friends and family also rely on CDC and other related sites, but will occasionally look through other sources to determine the most accurate. In my opinion, the way the pandemic has been politicized is far more dangerous than it is itself. The way masks have been politicized is a big issue, if the US would have been able to get the citizens to follow protocols I feel as if the pandemic would be much less of an issue today. Everything nowadays gets politicized which causes many issues no matter the consequences. Many governors are struggling to keep their citizens safe due to the face masks being made political. I have attached a video from CNN News that shows how masks have become political during the pandemic. 

Future Circumstances

As a UK student I have seen a lot of changes due to covid. Before the semester started, all of my courses for the semester had gotten switched to fully online. Although some other students I have met have few or all in person classes, it varies by professor. There have been a lot of news articles that are contradicting each other, some say cases are rising while others say the numbers are steadily decreasing. Life on campus has also been different for everyone. Walking outside, I personally see many students with no mask in sight, or not covering both their mouth and nose like it is supposed to. Others are following precautions and wearing masks as well as following social distancing. If students and other people on campus continue to not take the protocols and safety measures seriously, then I think spring semester is going to get much more restricted. In my opinion, most professors will probably stick to the format in which they have already chosen for the semester, but next semester is a whole other story. Worst case scenario, undergrad students have to move back out of the dorms and do classes online from home. Best case scenario everyone stays on campus and most classes return to normal with masks and social distancing still in place. I think it is a good plan that the university has the students in sororities and fraternities getting re tested. Considering they are going to be around large groups of people more often the chances of the virus spreading among them are very high. Below there is an article, which is specifically on the covid numbers from The University of Kentucky (UK Covid Numbers). Depending on how you look at the information will depend how you see the possible future situations. In the end all we can do is be prepared.

The New Normal

Covid took me by surprise in so many aspects, the life I had known for the past 18 years has been completely altered. Going to school for 6 hours a day, and going out on the weekends was a normal thing before March 12, 2020. When it was announced school would be switched to online for two weeks everyone thought we would return after those two weeks and life would go back to normal. Now, it is August 28, 2020 and this is our new normal. I didn't get my highschool graduation, a senior prom, senior track season, or an official last day of school. I'm a freshman at University of Kentucky and masks are required everywhere you go as well as staying at least six feet apart from other people. I can't even imagine being closer to other people than that anymore. The switch from high school to college is one of the most confusing experiences I have ever had, regardless of the pandemic, so covid just makes it interesting. Everywhere you look on campus there's dots on the floors reminding you to stay six feet apart, as well as signs being put on doors saying that face coverings are required before entering. With every dorm room came two UK masks, hand sanitizer, and an on the go mask holder (below). Never would I have thought I`d say, “I forgot my mask!” as I was leaving my dorm but I look back and can't quite remember life before quarantine. This is the new normal.

The Initial Impact

 My name is Kameron Wright, but I go by Kami. I am from Edgewood, Kentucky but I have lived in Florence for about sixteen years. I moved around a lot from the time I was born until I was about two, which is when I moved to Florence, Kentucky. Growing up I never had to switch schools or leave new friends. I grew up with the same friends most of my life and with most of my family nearby. I come from a pretty “typical”  middle class family in which both of my parents are college-educated and working. As an 18 year old Caucasian, the impact of Covid was not extreme but it did change how we live day to day. My mom had to start working from home eight hours a day and childcare was closed so all three of my younger siblings were home. While school was switched to online, I was a student at Boone County High School and working at Poseidon's Pizza Company. My hours were tripled at work and with school. On school days from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. I was completing my own school work as well as helping my first and fifth grade brothers with theirs. On most days I went in to work right at 3 p.m. and didn't get home until 10 p.m. Weekends were busy as well, I would get called in between noon and 4 p.m. and not get home until 11 p.m. Compared to other families, I feel as if my family was not as closely impacted, but like I said it changed our daily lives. I myself am considered high risk with the virus due to many underlying problems. While masks were not mandatory yet and as a nation we weren`t on lockdown I had to wear a mask and gloves at work, and was only allowed to go to work. Most of my friends were still able to hang out with people and go do things, I was not. That definitely impacted and is still impacting my outlook on this pandemic. As of now, I have only tested negative for Covid, but it has come close to me. My dad was suspected to have it before testing was available to everyone so he was quarantined for about two weeks, a friend of mine tested positive entering basic training, and now three of my hometown friends are in quarantine for exposure to the virus. Covid has changed life as everyone knows it and it is going to take time to get used to, but the situation could still get a lot worse so I am grateful that it hasn't.