WCC students talk about COVID-19 pandemic experience

Pandemic slowed some and jumped-started others, but left most longing for in-person contact

by DOINA PLOP
Deputy Editor

A bit more than a year has passed since the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed most in-person learning and social interaction.

Blamed for more than 3 million deaths worldwide, the pandemic led to a year of accomplishments for some and losses for most. Grief, fear, and uncertainty have shaped people’s days. Boredom and loneliness left most longing for in-person contact. What used to be normal is not anymore and what is normal shouldn’t be.

People stopped smiling because their mouths are hidden behind masks. They’re advised to avoid a hug, a hand shake, or a kiss. Will there be a new, “good” normal? Will people be able to leave all their worries behind?

History is happening and many can’t help but wonder how it will unfold. For now, the Voice reached out to WCC students to find out how the pandemic impacted their lives and academic performances so far, and how they kept themselves entertained during these novel times. Several dozen students shared their thoughts.

“I have lost 100 pounds and moved to a new place because of my financial situation — but I love my new place even more! Most importantly, I stopped drinking. I had a problem that was ruining my life and I think starting school helped fill the void of having something to do and something to accomplish. If I get bored, now I try to think of things I can’t do and would like to do, then I go and learn all about it!”
— Austin Bower, computer science

“[COVID-19 biggest impact was] kids not going to school. I now have 2 kids in full-time virtual learning.”
— Rachel W Briggs, nursing

“[COVID-19 pandemic] has had a clear toll on my ability to stay motivated. My hockey career ended, I lost my job at a local golf course since locations were closed and then lower staffed, and my father got severely sick from COVID which caused a very stressful time period. I took as many classes as I could to keep my mind moving and to catch up on my academic progress. I’ve recently been playing a lot of chess whenever stressed.”
— Ethan St. Pierre, economics and political science

“The lockdown negatively affected my academic performance as online classes are more difficult for me. [And] my mental health has been difficult to manage with the isolation. [During the lockdown,] I kept myself entertained by staying active and putting more time into hobbies “
— Sam McCarthy, computer science

“I had planned to start these classes in person back in 2019 but put it off. [Now, due to COVID-19,] I work only from home and have online classes. I only see friends and family via Facebook. I am reading more, I have gotten back into crafting, and I have started playing video games.”
— Valerie Jenkins, computer science

“As someone who faced the pandemic living alone, seeing the faces of the other students and instructors gave me back some routine. If the classes had not had the Zoom visual component, I would not have handled it as well. Knowing that I would be able to simply see and talk to other students via Zoom real-time — during set class time — got me through Winter 2020.”
— Melissa Workman, digital video production

“I delivered my daughter in August without anyone there to support me, as well as all the doctors’ visits and ultrasounds.”
— Haley Knorr, early-childhood education

“During this period, I went through a long-distance breakup, I had to travel back to California to support my sister after a miscarriage, I watched my mother fly to Romania to see my grandmother who may not make it to the end of the week. Regardless, I understand what luck it is to have the support of my family and friends, near and far, as without them I am not sure if I would be able to push forward nonetheless in pursuit of a degree in astronautic engineering.”
— Jonathan Imbir, pre-engineering science transfer

“I got diagnosed with COVID and I’ve been living in fear since this whole thing started knowing that my mom could die from the disease due to an underlying condition.”
— Ryan Jarl, aerospace

“The lockdown actually freed up my schedule so that I had much more time available for school. [The COVID-19 impact] It has been mostly positive in that I’m able to concentrate on my education. However, after a year, I am very much missing being able to socialize, and go out.”
— David Potesta, computer science

“It [the pandemic]  has lessened my motivation immensely. I feel I put minimal effort in and just have no motivation for school. I am a waitress so having the restaurant open and close has been hard.”
— Jennifer Kujawa, environmental science

“I can’t stand working in my room every day, it’s awful. I have gained 40 pounds being quarantined.”
— Jayden McDowell, major undecided

“I don’t feel as obligated to deadlines. It’s also harder to focus in class. But because I have no social life right now, I have more time to focus on my grades. I missed out on the last few months of my senior year. I haven’t been allowed to get a job because I don’t want to increase my family’s exposure to the virus. And my original plan for school was to be on campus at a university, but because classes are online, more expensive, and dorms are limited I chose to move back home and transfer to community college for the time being.”
— Calista Clouse, general studies

“Ironically, I’ve made more money and have more time since I don’t need to worry about my work commute.”
–Andy Bodnar, programming in C++

“I lost a lot of my senior year of high school. And I do feel like I’m absorbing less of the information than in a real classroom.”
— Liam A Hiller, cybersecurity

“[The pandemic] gave me the chance to go back to college. Although the pandemic did great damages, it also gave me the push to go back [to college]. Being locked due to the pandemic, I was able to put more hours to study. It made me rearrange my life, see things from a different perspective. […] Being a husband and a father of three, trying to work, and going back to school — I had my hands full!”
— Youssef El Ramy, information systems

“I have been fortunate to be unaffected. I worked through the pandemic and I still enjoyed my hobbies”
— Bobbie Brown, photographic technology

“I am going back to school for a second degree so I was well-adapted to work from home and study on my own. Spending more time at home allowed for new hobbies and spending time with my family.”
— Leona Naiki Chase, business and computer technologies

[The pandemic impact] was mostly negative. I did not learn as much. [To keep myself entertained,] I did puzzles, played tennis, kept up with school work, and started working.”
—Erin Hatala, biomedical engineering

“Changing over and getting used to everything was a little weird at first.[…] My mental health has improved greatly.”
— Olivia Brinkerhoff, computer programming with C++

“ I find it very difficult to take notes while watching pre-recorded videos or during live lectures via Zoom and thus I don’t have many notes to review. […] The live Zoom lectures are pretty good in an emergency situation like COVID-19 since you can interact live with the instructor, but I still prefer in-class lectures over anything else. Nothing compares to live, in-the-same-room interaction with an instructor. […] In some ways, it [the pandemic] actually improved things. For example, [I have] no stress of waking up on time, getting ready for work or school, driving to work or school. The biggest stress now has been shopping for groceries.”
— Joseph Dinda, Applied Data Science

“I took more online classes. The only real negative impact was decreased social interaction. Doing everything on the computer is flexible and saves time, if I ever need some fresh air I just go for a run.”
— Jordan Lieske, pre-engineering

“[COVID-19] just forced an adaptation to completing work in virtual environments. Not having access to special hardware for classes is the biggest impact to me.”
–Matthew Richards, cybersecurity

“I am unable to feel like a real college student, hence my motivation has decreased. I also feel shy and unable to connect with my professors and faculty online, and I graduated virtually from high school.”
— Alaa Almajrabi, engineering

“[Due to COVID-19] I was no longer able to travel or see family as often. The upside is that I have been able to work on financial goals. There was an added challenge of staying physically fit when gyms were closed. It is also more difficult to structure my day when it is not scheduled around hard deadlines. [Now] I cook much more often, read more, and have gotten into running.”
— Kelly O’Neill, information systems – C++

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