Finding Unity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Amelia Workman

It’s like a scene out of a movie: Times Square is desolate, malls are vacant and animals are roaming the empty streets. Ever since COVID-19 made its way to the United States, it has affected every single citizen. Workers are being laid off, school is cancelled and most states are on a “stay- at-home-order”. As a college student, the virus has had drastic effects on not only my education, but my daily life. 

Kent State University announced the institution would be transitioning to all online courses March 13. Many students have returned to their homes, leaving friends and college life behind for the spring semester. The uncertainty has hit everyone hard; many of us don’t know when we will return and many students have found difficulty in online learning. We not only miss friends and college life, but also have a moral obligation to practice “social distancing.” During these unprecedented times, people are struggling not only financially, but mentally. Media has attacked a “selfish mentality,” suggesting to think about others first and stay positive. This often has made many of us wonder, “Is it okay to grieve?” and “Is it okay to feel frightened and stressed?” 

It is okay to be disappointed. Don’t feel guilty for being sad about missed opportunities. As someone who struggles with anxiety, this pandemic has been hard for me too. Most of the events and activities I was looking forward to are cancelled, and I often worry about the safety of my loved ones. It’s been hard for me to stay motivated, online school most days often feels like a choice. The constant structure of my daily life is gone and face-to-face contact with my closest friends is no longer an option. News channels are full of disappointing information and everyone seems to be on edge. Although, there seems to be a lot of light in the darkest of places. 

Many people have stepped up to help during this pandemic: food banks feeding families, musicians are live streaming concerts and people are writing letters to the elderly who are in isolation. People are bringing groceries to their family members and organizations have been starting to help laid off or furloughed employees. 

Being stuck in the house all day has caused me to reflect on not only the fear everyone is feeling, but how this virus has created unity across the world. It has caused many to step into other peoples’ shoes and experience loss and discomfort. We are living at home, no longer going out or experiencing our daily routines. As many of us stay inside with our families and friends, we seem to be making up for lost time. Over these past two weeks, I have cooked more family dinners and went on more bike rides with my dad than I ever have before. I took time to watch movies I‘ve always wanted to see and have bonded with friends over the same sadness we are feeling. 

These times are scary for everyone and it’s okay to be frightened. But there is something beautiful about everyone going through a similar situation. We are all unified in some way by this virus and we can use this time to rekindle lost relationships, self-awareness and hobbies. This virus is affecting life as we know it, but it will not break us.