Covid-19 Community Responses

How has the pandemic influenced any of your life philosophies or plans for the future?

The pandemic made me think about life differently. I spent so much time in my head and I started to understand my own position as a POC better, as well as what’s required of me to achieve what I want. -ANON The pandemic made me realize that there is much more to life than just being a student. As much as I like to pretend that I don't get stressed out by school, much of my time is spent scheduling social gatherings and even "me-time" around my classes and assignments. Losing loved ones, experiencing higher levels of anxiety, and restricting myself from visiting friends made me realize that I should ACTUALLY live every single day like it is my last-- even if that means sitting in a room, in silence, with my closest loved ones. -ANON

I am a first generation immigrant and the pandemic made it harder for my parents to get employment since they lost their jobs back in 2019 when the Homestead Shelter for Unaccompanied Minors closed due to the blatant xenophobia of the Trump administration. This shelter helps unaccompanied minors at the border apply for asylum by reconnecting them with a sponsor or family member in the US that can get their asylum case through. My family was given pandemic unemployment benefits which helped them pay for food, electricity, and rent during the pandemic. However on the last month of the Trump administration the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity asked for these benefits back by claiming that my families employment was not directly impacted by the pandemic. Now my unemployed family owes the US government 6k that were given at a time of dire need. The pandemic has reassured my thoughts of hopelessness when it comes to the American welfare state. I hate that I think this but I wonder if these benefits would have been rescinded if my parents were not fifty five and sixty year old immigrants. -MAP 22' The pandemic made me realize that I should not take life so seriously. In terms of social relationships and the pressures of society, everything can crumble at any moment. So instead of sitting here worried about the future, or what this person thinks about me, let me enjoy this moment. The pandemic robbed me of my study abroad to Ghana, so now I HAVE to make a trip to Accra in my twenties. -JM 22'

It cut my study abroad short and I won't be traveling for a while, but aside from that, the pandemic hasn't really changed my plans for the future. -ANON