The thoughts, opinions and experiences from a group of friends during this pandemic who are all experiencing it differently.
Over the weekend I jumped in the group chat and asked the big questions...
"What are your thoughts on the pandemic? What affect is it taking on your day to day life?"
The following are responses from 6 different girls.
Paton Manzara - Western University Student, home in Trenton, ON during the pandemic. Paton is supposed to start a summer job in her field in London. She is currently enrolled in the a Bachelor of Arts program with an Honours Specialization in Anthropology.
"I realized that I am having casual drinks... everyday. I have also spent a lot of my time on social media websites and the occasional dating website" - PM
Jenna Lajoie - Fanshawe and Western collaborate nursing student. Jenna is home in Trenton for the rest summer due to the cancellation of her four month trip to Yellow Knife. Jenna was planning on going to YellowKnife with her boyfriend to experience what it was like to live in a van. They both had plans to find work once they arrived there. With nursing experience and a heavy heart Jenna has decided to donate her spare time to screening patients for COVID-19 at local hospitals.
"It's very stressful, especially in small hospitals like TMH [Trenton Memorial Hospital] because there's not a very good system set up yet. I find a lot of patients are still walking by me but theres not enough PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] in the hospitals so I don't get any. As well as the PPE that's being donated to Trenton is being taken away and given to Belleville instead....So ya, stressful." - JL.
Danielle Brazeau - Western Bachelor of Science with a Specialization in Environmental Science graduate for the class of 2020. Danielle's final semester was cut short due to the outbreak which led to her decision to move back home to Trenton as well. Danielle is currently spending her days working on school assignments when she if feeling up to it and keeping her social distance. She is finding it difficult to keep up with the school work while being at home.
"I'm used to being on campus either at the library or at a table in a building. So having nowhere to go and having family around is extremely distracting. It takes me almost double the amount of time to complete stuff." - DB.
Laura Perrault - Fanshawe third year student enrolled in a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning program. Laura has decided to stay in London with her spouse as it has become his place of employment and where she plans to work over the summer. Laura is finding she has been sleeping in late and has no motivation.
"All I want to do is enjoy some drinks on a patio with my friends" -LP.
Laura has however found the motivation to complete at home workouts and to go out and get fresh air.
Amanda Lajoie - Amanda recently finished her degree in .... in December of 2019. After completing her classes she moved back home to Trenton to begin looking for work. Amanda is currently employed at both Saputo and a Retirement home where she teaches ___classes to residents. Due to the outbreak, Amanda is no longer teaching at the retirement home but is still required to work at Saputo. Between work and spending time with her family, Amanda has managed to keep busy.
Janessa Duffy - Janessa is in her final semester of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing duel degree that was taken both at Loyalist College and Brock University. Janessa has chosen to finish the semester in St. Catharines while she continues to work as a PSW (Personal Support Worker) and complete her online classes.
"I am scared because I'm immunocompromised but I chose a profession where I don't have a choice, so going to work everyday is scary." - JD
Janessa has noticed that a lot of people are skeptical about her and fellow employees coming into their homes while they too are risking their health to care for their patients.
"It's frightening for everybody and there is definitely not enough PPE provided and none to buy because people who are not HCP's [Health Care Providers] have been using them." - JD.
Brianna Brake - Brianna recently decided to go back to University of Toronto to complete her degree in Philosophy and Sociology. Since the outbreak Brianna's classes have been moved online and she too has found it difficult to keep on track.
"I am also going to bed at approximately 4/5 am and waking up at 2 pm every day."- BB.
It is clear that we are all trying to cope with this pandemic the best that we can. Everyone seems to have some similarities in how the virus is affecting them, while also having different schedules. It is most likely that all of the students will be finishing their semesters online, including exams, and not returning to the school physically.