DRAFT #1:
People always say expect the unexpected. The COVID-19 outbreak was nothing anyone could’ve expected or predicted. A month ago I never pictured I would be home, taking online classes, and not having left my house in days. This has brought hardships upon society emotionally, physically, financially and socially. Many of my peers and I shared emotions such as being sad, stressed and anxious when we received the email from President Hubert stating that we were not going to be returning to UNE after spring break. On a positive note, during this time we have also been able to take a break and reflect and learn about ourselves, families, and communities in ways we haven’t before. The events of the COVID-19 outbreak are similar to the events of the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak that took the lives of around 50 million people. While COVID-19 has not reached that point, society is doing the best they can to stop the spread by quaretining, shutting down non-essential businesses and increasing personal protective equipment for those on the front lines working in healthcare. Looking back on past pandemics and the pandemic we are in today, there are many ways they are alike. Similarities I noticed between my peers and I include the emotions experienced during this time and how essential health care workers are being affected as well as their families.
Although society has made adjustments and changes to try to help during this tough time, it has brought emotions for many, including my peers and I. One email told us that the school year at school was over and that day and week before were some of the “lasts” for freshman year. It all happened so fast that we didn’t have much time to take it in and adjust, we just had to continue class for the day and pack as much stuff would fit in one trip.
DRAFT #2:
People always say expect the unexpected. The COVID-19 outbreak was nothing anyone could’ve expected or predicted. A month ago I never pictured I would be home, taking online classes, and not having left my house in days. This has brought hardships upon society emotionally, physically, financially and socially. Many of my peers and I shared emotions such as being sad, stressed and anxious when we received the email from President Hubert stating that we were not going to be returning to UNE after spring break. On a positive note, during this time we have also been able to take a break and reflect and learn about ourselves, families, and communities in ways we haven’t before. The events of the COVID-19 outbreak are similar to the events of the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak that took the lives of around 50 million people. While COVID-19 has not reached that point, society is doing the best they can to stop the spread by quaretining, shutting down non-essential businesses and increasing personal protective equipment for those on the front lines working in healthcare by donations and volunteers. Looking back on past pandemics and the pandemic we are in today, there are many ways they are alike. There are also similarities I noticed between my peers and I including the emotions experienced during this time and how essential health care workers are being affected as well as their families.
Although society has made adjustments and changes to try to help during this tough time, it has brought emotions for many, including my peers and I. One email told us that the school year at school was over and that day and week before were some of the “lasts” for freshman year. It all happened so fast that we didn’t have much time to take it in and adjust, we just had to continue class for the day and pack as much stuff would fit in one trip.
During this time spent in my home, I have had time to reflect and learn about myself. My peers also felt the same way in their narratives. One lesson that I feel I have learned so far is to not take anything for granted. Kaleigh also agreed with this lesson, “Mostly, I have learned not to take for granted all that we have because it can be taken away in seconds. I will work on doing this in the future” (Ward). Before this pandemic, I took the little things for granted like going to the mall, beach or going out to eat with family or friends. I also didn’t realize it but I was taking the big things for granted as well like getting to celebrate my birthday with my family or friends because I never realized that I would go a year without spending my day with them. I have realized how lucky I am that I am surrounded by such a loving family that I get to see often and now while I am unable to see them, I miss them even more.
DRAFT #3:
People always say expect the unexpected. The COVID-19 outbreak was nothing anyone could’ve expected or predicted. A month ago I never pictured I would be home, taking online classes, and not having left my house in days. This has brought hardships upon society emotionally, physically, financially and socially. Many of my peers and I shared emotions such as being sad, stressed and anxious when we received the email from President Hubert stating that we were not going to be returning to UNE after spring break. On a positive note, during this time we have also been able to take a break and reflect and learn about ourselves, families, and communities in ways we haven’t before. The events of the COVID-19 outbreak are similar to the events of the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak that took the lives of around 50 million people. While COVID-19 has not reached that point, society is doing the best they can to stop the spread by quaretining, shutting down non-essential businesses and increasing personal protective equipment for those on the front lines working in healthcare by donations and volunteers. Looking back on past pandemics and the pandemic we are in today, there are many ways they are alike. There are also similarities I noticed between my peers and I including the emotions experienced during this time and how essential health care workers are being affected as well as their families.
The COVID-19 outbreak we are experiencing right now can be compared to the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918. Many people today are finding themselves in difficult situations emotionally, physically, financially and socially as things are changing so fast and people are losing jobs. What we are experiencing today was a similar situation for Dr. Otto Wenecke’s family after he died of the flu in 1918. His youngest daughter Caroline explains how her father’s death changed their whole lives, “Many people seemed to feel that since my father, their dentist, had died they didn’t have to pay the money they owed for the dental work he had done” (). This left the family struggling financially and forced the mother to go out and work to support the family, but she had to send her kids off to different families’ houses for them to be taken care of, which separated them. In comparison to COVID-19 today, many people have lost their jobs because there is no need for their business or job with everything shutdown and has caused people to become stressed or emotional, which can have physical effects on themselves. Socially, in 1918, Caroline was split up from her mom and siblings following the death of her father, and today we are socially distancing to prevent the spread of the virus and it can have effects on people. Although 100 years apart, we can see similarities between the flu in 1918 and COVID-19 today in emotional, physical, financial and social aspects.
Although society has made adjustments and changes to try to help during this tough time, it has brought emotions for many, including my peers and I. One email told us that the school year at school was over and that day and week before were some of the “lasts” for freshman year. It all happened so fast that we didn’t have much time to take it in and adjust, we just had to continue class for the day and pack as much stuff would fit in one trip.
During this time spent in my home, I have had time to reflect and learn about myself. My peers also felt the same way in their narratives. One lesson that I feel I have learned so far is to not take anything for granted. Kaleigh also agreed with this lesson, “Mostly, I have learned not to take for granted all that we have because it can be taken away in seconds. I will work on doing this in the future” (Ward). Before this pandemic, I took the little things for granted like going to the mall, beach or going out to eat with family or friends. I also didn’t realize it but I was taking the big things for granted as well like getting to celebrate my birthday with my family or friends because I never realized that I would go a year without spending my day with them. I have realized how lucky I am that I am surrounded by such a loving family that I get to see often and now while I am unable to see them, I miss them even more.
Both today and in 1918, health care workers aren’t getting the credit they deserve as seen in the news today and in the story about Dr. Otto Wernecke. Health care workers put their lives on the line everyday and continue to do their jobs. After Dr. Otto Wernecke’s death, people who had owed him money for his dental work should have still given his wife and children the money to support them.
DRAFT #4:
People always say expect the unexpected. The COVID-19 outbreak was nothing anyone could’ve expected or predicted. A month ago I never pictured I would be home, taking online classes, and not having left my house in days. This has brought hardships upon society emotionally, financially and socially. Many of my peers and I shared emotions such as being sad, stressed and anxious when we received the email from President Hubert stating that we were not going to be returning to UNE after spring break for the rest of the semester. On a positive note, during this time we have also been able to take a break and reflect and learn about ourselves, families, and communities in ways we haven’t before. The events of the COVID-19 outbreak are similar to the events of the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak that took the lives of around 50 million people. While COVID-19 has not reached that point, society is doing the best they can to stop the spread by quaretining, shutting down non-essential businesses and increasing personal protective equipment for those on the front lines working in healthcare by donations and volunteers. Looking back on past pandemics and the pandemic we are in today, there are many ways they are alike. There are also similarities I noticed between my peers and I including the emotions experienced during this time and how essential health care workers are being affected as well as their families.
The COVID-19 outbreak we are experiencing right now can be compared to the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918. Many people today are finding themselves in difficult situations emotionally, financially and socially as things are changing so fast and people are losing jobs. What we are experiencing today was a similar situation for Dr. Otto Wenecke’s family after he died of the flu in 1918. His youngest daughter Caroline explains how her father’s death changed their whole lives, “Many people seemed to feel that since my father, their dentist, had died they didn’t have to pay the money they owed for the dental work he had done” (). This left the family struggling financially and forced the mother to go out and work to support the family, but she had to send her kids off to different families’ houses for them to be taken care of. In comparison to COVID-19 today, many people have lost their jobs because there is no need for their business or job with non-essential businesses shutdown and has caused people to become stressed or emotional. Socially, in 1918, Caroline was split up from her mom and siblings following the death of her father, and today we are socially distancing to prevent the spread of the virus and it can have effects on people. Although 100 years apart, we can see similarities between the flu in 1918 and COVID-19 today in emotional, financial and social aspects.
Although society has made adjustments and changes to try to help during this tough time, it has brought emotions for many, including my peers and I. One email told us that the school year at school was over and that day and week before were some of the “lasts” for freshman year. It all happened so fast that we didn’t have much time to take it in and adjust, we just had to continue class for the day and pack as much stuff would fit in one trip. As a college student, I am also affected financially, along with a large population of America who cannot work during this time. With student loans and other things to save for this causes stress in my life as well my parents who I know are working their hardest to support our family. I know that I am not alone in the emotions and uncertainty I am experiencing because they are also shared by my peers and others in the world right now.
During this time spent in my home, I have had time to reflect and learn about myself. My peers also felt the same way in their narratives. One lesson that I feel I have learned so far is to not take anything for granted. Kaleigh also agreed with this lesson, “Mostly, I have learned not to take for granted all that we have because it can be taken away in seconds. I will work on doing this in the future” (Ward). Before this pandemic, I took the little things for granted like going to the mall, beach or going out to eat with family or friends. I also didn’t realize before now but I was taking the big things for granted as well like getting to celebrate my birthday with my family or friends because I never realized that I would go a year without spending my birthday with them. I have realized how lucky I am that I am surrounded by such a loving family that I get to see often and now while I am unable to see them, I miss them even more. After this lesson learned during quarantine, I will make sure to enjoy the big and little things more in the future.
Both today and in 1918, health care workers aren’t getting the credit they deserve as seen in the news today and in the story about Dr. Otto Wernecke. Health care workers put their lives on the line everyday and continue to do their jobs. After Dr. Otto Wernecke’s death, people who had owed him money for his dental work should have still given his wife and children the money to support them. Even today, one of my peers Ashley, is personally experiencing the effects of her mom being a health care worker directly with COVID-19 patients. She is not allowed to see her mother right now in case she could be carrying the virus. This affects Ashley directly as she says, “ Everyday when she goes into work, I worry that today could be the day that she gets COVID-19, although nothing is stopping her from doing her job and making sure other people are getting the medical help that they need” (Nault).
Although I do not have family working in the healthcare field during this pandemic, I can connect to Ashley. I hope to be a physician assistant after graduating and will be doing everything I can to help others.
DRAFT #5:
