As you know, the coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented
impact on all of our lives. Classes at Texas State have shifted to online-only
delivery for the remainder of the semester. Spring commencement has been
postponed to August. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for a year.
Major professional and collegiate sports have suspended or cancelled their
seasons. Many of us are worried about paying bills and staying employed. As coronavirus
cases have spread, more and more cities, towns and communities are shutting
down and encouraging everyone to stay home.
As we consider these changes, I know that this has impacted
us in powerful and scary ways. It’s disrupted everything that we do, in school,
in work and in play.
For this blog post, please share with us the biggest impact
that the coronavirus has had on your life. Please only share what you are
comfortable sharing. In other words, don’t let this question contribute to the
pressure and stress you may already be experiencing.
Also, share with us something positive about this change to
our daily routines. Maybe you have a particularly effective coping strategy, or
maybe you have found new (and safe) ways of interaction during this time of
social distancing. This may help serve as an inspiration to others in need of
suggestions to better cope with this unprecedented change.
I think it’s important and valuable to reflect on our daily
lives and how things are so different now. But it’s also good to recognize and
identify the resiliency of the human spirit and how all of us, together, can
endure and stay strong.
Please remember to include your first name, last name
initial and class (TTh, Online or Honors). The deadline to comment on this blog
post is 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 17.
185 comments:
The biggest impact this pandemic has had on me is ending my last semester too soon. I am a first generation college student, so there's a lot of pressure on me. With all the built of pressure weighing on my shoulders over the past 4 years I couldn't wait for my last semester of college. I got to see all my friends experience their last semesters and couldn't wait til I got to experience it too. Bad sadly that got taken away from. I didn't know that my classes before spring break were going to be my last classes forever. I didn't get the opportunity to sit and reminisce the last 4 years of college and think how fast time flies. I couldn't visit my college dorm and think about how much I've grown at Texas State. I didn't get to say goodbye to my classmates or thank my professors for a great last semester. It really didn't hit me how hard this is actually affecting until I sat down and started this post. This is it. The fear I was feeling during this last semester about graduating and not knowing what I'm doing with my life just came crashing down on me. As crazy as it is to be living in this era, I wish to be back at Texas State. I honestly didn't think I'd miss going to class so much until that choice was taken away from me. I'm scared how this semester will end because I learn better face to face. I get easily distracted and unmotivated when I'm home.
The one positive thing that did come out of this pandemic is my dog Clover. I've always wanted a dog but my mom wouldn't let me get one. So my uncle promised me he'd get me a dog for graduation. Not only have I been counting down the days to be done with college, I was counting down the days before I get my first puppy! Then the pandemic happened... we were forced to quarantine. With absolutely nothing to do at home I was going crazy. One day, I joked around with my mom and uncle about letting me get a dog now since I had nothing better to do. To my surprise my mom actually agreed. Then BOOM there she was. Clover is an 11-week old Red Merle Australian Shepherd. She's the biggest cuddle bug ever!
Adjusting to the dog mom life is a lot harder than I thought it would be, but Clover and I are taking it day by day. This pandemic thought me to appreciate all the small things in life. To live in the moment because tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
With all of this craziness surrounding the COVID-19 virus, it is changing everyone's everyday lives. For me, this virus has taken my two jobs away from me and left me struggling with what to do to get an income. It also impacted my mom's life by taking her job at SXSW away, leaving my whole family without health insurance and her with bills piling up. Luckily, I met this mother that has needed some help watching her 3 children so I have been working for her full-time at this point which is keeping me afloat. Although this is a scary time, it has brought some positive things into my life by letting me relax and focus on my mental health. With school coming close to an end for me I have been in nonstop mode, but because this virus is forcing us to stay inside, it has helped me slow down. I have learned some new piano songs, I have been able to catch up with my work, and I have been able to catch up on sleep. It has also helped me get to know this family that I have been babysitting more and they have become a huge part of my life. Change is definitely scary especially when it comes unexpectedly, but this could be a learning experience on how to roll with the punches.
The biggest impact that the corona-virus has had on me is in ending my semester early. As much as I complain about wanting school to end and all the schoolwork I have to do; I genuinely like school. I like the structure and the fact that I am not home majority of the time. Now I'm being forced to move out of my dorm and stay at home a lot longer then I ever wanted.
A positive aspect of this change is I have finally had the opportunity to relax and get my stuff together. whether its school work, actual work or personal stuff the time I have had off from reality had given me the ability to relax. It is the first time in a long time when I am reading a book for pleasure not because its required or I will be tested on it.
Jeremiah Haydel TTH online.The COVID-19 virus has everyone going crazy and it has impacted everyone's daily life. I would say the corona virus has impacted me hard because im not able to play football with my teammates. As much as i always wish to be a regular student and sit at home and do nothing. This virus just makes me realize how grateful i am for things in my life. I think the virus has made a lot of people grateful for what GOD has done for them. Because there are a lot of homeless people out here in the world that are not protected by shelter to prevent them from getting the virus. So to me its a blessing for me during these tough times to know that i am blessed.
This pandemic has impacted me in a huge way. On Sunday, March 22, my grandfather passed away from a stroke. He did not get the virus, however, he is in Florida and he passed away alone due to no one being able to be by his bedside during the lockdown. We are also not able to travel safely so, we are not able to give him a proper burial until everyone is able to travel. It has been very hard to see my mom so distraught in this time not able to be with her siblings but we understand that to be able to be with family, everyone needs to do their part and stay home so we can put him to rest. One good thing coming out of this time however is I know I will be able to see my family soon, and that we will be able to celebrate my grandfather's life altogether. Everything happens for a reason and I am grateful I was able to be home when this happened so that I could be with family instead of four hours away.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a big impact on my life. I went from living on campus and back home to live with my family all within the span of two weeks. I love my family, however, the point of college is to learn how to be on your own away from them. Classes I should be taking in-person have now moved online. I didn’t pay nor did I want to take online classes or I would’ve signed up for them. For me, it is stressful because I have to get acclimated to learning in a whole new way, one that is not my personal learning style.
However, I think everyone can say that COVID-19 has impacted us in a positive way in one form or another. Personally, COVID-19 has allowed me to reflect more. It has also given me time to rest and catch up on all my favorite Netflix shows. Not to mention I get to see my dogs every day now.
The Coronavirus has obviously impacted the entire world in ways we couldn't have imagined. For me, the coronavirus has moved me home to Houston, however it hasn't impacted me personally that badly. Everyone in my family is home all the time with both my parents working from home. I was actually able to be here for the birth of my very first niece which I wouldn't have been if I had been able to go on my spring break trip to New Orleans. While the virus did cause my friends and I to have to cancel our trip, it was definitely for the best and we even saved money in doing so! Being stuck at home, my family and I have found fun and creative ways to work out together with what we have at home. We are taking advantage of the chance to get creative with our food and make delicious dinner as I love cooking. I don't come home often from San Marcos during the school year so I am appreciating this time, though I would love to be caring on as normal in San Marcos if we could. I'm sad to not be able to go to my classes anymore because for some of my friends, that was the only place we would see each other. I am doing what I can to stay busy and productive while stuck at home, going outside while I can, and definitely enjoying being able to be home with my dogs. I hope that everyone has found something to help pass time and stay healthy throughout this madness.
Liliana J. Rodriguez (Online)
The biggest impact of the COVID19 has been if my parents are going to be out of work. As of right now, both of my parents are still working until Houston decides to make everyone work from home. That really isn't an option for my parents as my Dad works for Maintenance and my Mom works with an Orthopedic doctor. Since the authorities stopped Hospitals from doing surgeries, this has caused my mom's boss to not be able to make money. My mom was telling me that he was having an issue with it because of course they were working, but clients aren't coming in, which means no money in pockets. I on the other hand has been blessed to work from home. This week, SLAC had training for making tutoring to Zoom. Of course, this is a hard transition for everyone even the Lab Assistant (Me).
A positive that has changed my daily routine is that I am home with my family and my sister doesn't have school since they pushed spring break back for them. I get to eat home food instead of Commons food from campus. I do get bored easily, so I've been catching up on my t.v shows, but after I finish a series, I'm still bored. I need new hobbies for staying at home. I've noticed that I've been on my phone more frequently than before.
My plans to enjoy my last few months of college, walk at graduation in May and start my career in the fall have made adjustments for the circumstances.
It is definitely disappointing that college has "ended." I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Texas State. My family, that I rarely get to see, was going to fly out to Texas to attend my graduation. I was hoping to take steps towards building my career at this time. Now, I am uncertain what my future holds because no one knows how far the coronavirus may escalate or the impact it will have after the fact.
Despite the uncertainty, I woke up today with such an appreciation for life. I'm grateful to be healthy. I'm grateful for the people I love. I'm grateful to live comfortably despite the economic crisis unfolding. I'm grateful that I get to spend more time doing the things that I enjoy.
I think that a lot of people will have a new perspective once the virus subsides. I'm hoping a more positive and appreciative perspective.
This pandemic has really made a big impact on the economy and the job market which is what scares me the most. It's not an impossible issue to recover from, but at the same time no one is guaranteed how long this could last and/or how it'll affect next school year's student loans (if it does). The recovery is without a doubt going to be difficult, and there's nothing we can do but wait for it to happen.
I had plans to slowly prepare for my senior year, but now I'm unsure of whether I can carry out those plans of having an internship, getting a summer/semester job, etc.
Regardless, I've also been able to relax over these last two weeks of spring break. It might be difficult as the rest of the semester rushes forward, but it has also given me some time to catch up with my loved ones and practice some time management. I mean I just recently learned how to play Solitaire which is something I've finally found the time to do from just browsing through the app store.
While the journey may be rough, I hope the recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
The corona virus has impacted me in every way. I lost 2 of my 3 jobs, my last semester was switched to all online, my national conference that I was presenting at was cancelled, my thesis presentation is now online, graduation was moved to August, and my graduation trip to New York has been postponed indefinitely. All of these things are what I have been looking forward to doing all semester. My last semester was my best, i enjoyed all of my classes and some of them online are going to be much harder. I am extremely stressed for how the next few months are going to turn out.
However despite all this, the extended break has really allowed me to take some time for myself. For the last 4 years i have worked at least 2 jobs and gone to school full time, so I haven't had a lot of free time. I have been able to do puzzles, read, catch up on netflix/hulu shows, and take my dogs for walks which has been a nice little breather. Though I am going a little stir crazy as well. I have been paying more attention to news and media outlets as well, and talking to my parents much more often since we all are more available. These are the only aspects of the virus pandemic that I have truly enjoyed and honestly hope remain even once this is over.
Logan T (TTH)
COVID-19 has effected me in many ways, but luckily not as negatively as a lot of others. I am self-employed with a lot of my work being able to be done from home so I am able to work through this pandemic, however the amount of business has definitely slowed during this time. I was also able to side-step the consequences of the panic buying as I just always buy in bulk because I hate going to the store and it usually saves money so I have had more than enough supplies that I have accumulated over time to not have to worry about going to the store during all of this panicking. Another effect it had on me is that I am a type one diabetic so technically I am at risk for being immunocompromised and as such more at risk of catching a severe case of COVID-19. Due to that I have basically just stayed at home for the last couple weeks and worked on stuff which is very atypical of my usual lifestyle, but not necessarily negative. During this time at home I've been working on personal skills such as using the Microsoft office and adobe creative suites, finances, learning Spanish, teaching my pets some tricks and cooking. My girlfriend and I had also had started a real bad habit of eating out and going out and wasting money and the shut down and fear of the virus in general has really put a stop to all of that. The switch to online classes also had a positive impact on me as I commute to campus from New Braunfels so not having to do that has saved me money on gas. I feel bad listing good things coming from this because COVID-19 is destroying so many lives and is such a shitty situation, but overall the situation for me has not been that negative.
I think the biggest problem I have had with coronavirus is the fact that I have to stay home without anything to focus on. The drastic change really does take a toll on people who have mental health problems that need to stay busy in order to keep functioning normally. It has been hard for me since I can't get out of the house to go do the things I would usually do that help keep me sane. So throughout this quarantine, I have often been finding myself more frustrated and antsy for little things that I can't control, and everyday life has just been a bit more harder to get through. To make matters worse, I live in a small town that has growing cases of coronavirus, so it isn't like there was much to do in the first place and there definitely isn't now lol!
But there is always a silver lining to everything, and mine is that I have my boyfriend with me to help keep me thriving and prospering even through hard times, and I have no job right now so I am not required to have to be out. I'm blessed to be able to spend this time together with my parents and sister that we wouldn't normally get to do, and it has brought lots of good laughs and love. I even got my boyfriend to start Game of Thrones which is a huge win for me since he had never wanted to watch it before! Also, I have been taking online classes from the start of the semester, so that wasn't a huge problem for me, but sadly, it is a problem for others and I hope they are finding the solutions they need to get through this.
I hope that everyone stays safe and clean throughout all this and is able to overcome any obstacles that this pandemic has brought along to our lives. We can do it. Good luck with the rest of the semester everyone!
Covid-19 has impacted my finances the most. Due to covid-19 my job has shut down completely. I can't speak for most, but I pay my own bills so having a job/going to work is essential for me. My school life has also been greatly impacted, I don't know how I'm going to do with online classes, I purposely avoid online classes so this is going to be interesting for me. Not to mention the fact that everything is shut down, so there really isn't anything to do but be a bum all day. I can't even go to my apartment gym to workout... life just feels weird at the moment, but at the end of the day all of my needs have been met and God is still in control. The free time has made me count my blessings.
Constunce Brantley Online
The COVID-19 has slowed me down for sure. I am enjoying the free time have to myself to get things done and organize but it is also unfortanate that a virus had to come in and bring the world to a halt. It's hard because I have a funeral I am attending and it's hard because the ceremony has to be split into different groups. I fear being around friends and family because what if someone has the virus? It's just theres so many things to think about during this time and it's scary to be honest. It's taken a toll on my mental, finances and my electricity bill because all I do is hw and watch netflix.
Overall, I pray for those who don't have family to depend on during these times and have to go through this alone. And I really hope everyone starts taking this seriously and staying inside so that this virus can get somewhat undercontrol. It's a scary/weird time and people have been selfish, myself included. I wish at the beginning of this, everyone took it alittle more serious because alot could've been prevented. I hope everyone stays safe and keep pushing through.
Lauren C. (TTh)
The biggest impact this has had on me is forcing me out of my job too soon. I just started at an amazing company and was looking forward to finishing the semester with that job. I am trying to get my old job back in my hometown but they are trying to limit the amount of people coming in and out of the store.
A positive impact is that I have so much more time to do things I love to do. I run outside more (keeping 6 ft distance between everyone I pass of course), I paint, I bake, I journal, I get to play more video games, and watch movies and shows with my family. I have also been able to spend way more time with my family (my brother, mom, and dad). We take lots of family walks and me and my mom have started to follow a dance instructor on youtube for a cardio workout.
I have never been more creative in my life and that's what's been keeping me sane. I do wish that places were still open, so I am not confined to my neighborhood, and I feel so bad for all the seniors who didn't get to have their last year (my brother is a senior in high school and won't be able to do Prom or have his final jazz concert). But, my family is trying to be as positive as we can. We have already started planning my brothers quarantined prom for April.
This won't be our forever guys. Things will change and we can finally get back to our normal lives with just a bit more appreciation for it.
COVID-19 has had an extreme impact on my everyday life. I work at a restaurant and before they were shut down, I dealt with hundreds of customers a day. A couple days after getting coughed on by a customer, I fell ill. I went to the med clinic and was tested for the flu and for strep throat, both came back negative....they did not have testing available for the carona virus so they sent me home under mandatory quarantine for 14 days. Around day three, my fever spiked and I was coughing way worse so I was instructed to go to the hospital. At the hospital I was sent to the small trailer outside of the hospital where quarantined patients go. After being looked at, the doctors determined I had bronchitis and laryngitis from a viral infection but they still didn’t know what virus it was. They still refused to test me though because I wasn’t severe enough for them. So I was sent home again, this time with loads of medicine which did end up helping a lot. Once I finished the meds and started feeling a lot better, I started getting overheated and was nauseated and throwing up. I thought I was getting sick again...turns out I’m just pregnant...a huge surprise to me:/
So now when I need to save money the most, I can’t because my work is closed.
On the bright side I have had a lot of spare time to create a new life plan that now includes a baby. And planning a baby shower even though that’s months away!
This is a lot of life all happening at once for me and it’s hectic!
Brianna B. (HONORS) My life on-campus is pretty non-stop. Every day I have meetings to attend, deadlines to meet and a never-ending to-do list of assignments to complete. As fast-paced as my life gets with school, work and extracurriculars, I love every minute of it. I love learning, seeing my friends and getting the opportunity to work with amazing, talented students each day.
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, I am no longer on campus surrounded by the people and actives that bring me the most joy. I have moved back to Houston and as much as I love being surrounded by my family, I do miss seeing all of my friends and of course taking part in the day to day activities that make me feel apart of the university community.
Nevertheless, I have taken this unusual time period to reflect on myself and my goals. Each day I have made an effort to enhance an old skill or learn a new one. So far I have been loving watching tutorial videos online and learning new graphic design techniques. Additionally, I am in the process of learning how to embroider designs on hats, jeans, t-shirts, etc.
Although this has been a difficult time mentally, I am trying my best to look at the positive aspects of the situation. This time has really put things into perspective for me and I am grateful that I have the support of my family and friends to lean on during all of this.
Covid-19 had impacted my life in more ways than I would like to admit. One of the biggest challenges I'm facing at the moment is that I lost my job because of it. I currently work at chilis as a server but because all restaurants moved to ToGo only, all servers are currently out of a job. That job was how I paid for everything and it is worrisome that I don't have an income anymore. Thankfully I had some money saved up and my family is helping me through this time but it can only go on for so long before that money is gone. I sadly don't get to see my family nearly as much anymore, my mother recently had a baby and to protect her and the rest of my family I don't go over there nearly as much because I don't know if I had come into contact with the virus while out grocery shopping. But some good things have come out this, I have been spending more time with my roommate/ best friend recently since we are both home all the time and it's been nice to just have her around and be there for each other. I have also gotten more into cooking and making my own coffee at home so I can save money instead of going out. I've also had time to dive into hobbies like sewing, painting and sewing/ fashion projects. Admittedly this is hard on me and so many other people around me but I grateful for the people I have in my life helping me through all of it.
San'Tres B. (Online)
Fortunately, COVID-19 hasn't impacted my daily routine too much. I'm still working full-time (due to my retail job being classified as an essential store) which allows me to be financially stable for the time being. However, the job requires me to enter others' homes and install appliances, so I am constantly disinfecting myself and equipment. I still worry that I could possibly be a carrier so I attempt to REALLY practice social distancing when I'm not working.
A really positive impact is that I have a lot more time to spend with my pup. I felt that this current semester has caused me to ignore her a bit. It's my last semester, graduation was a priority. I'm also able to talk to friends and family that I haven't spoken to in a while more often.
I hope everyone stays safe and finish the semester strong. We'll get through this!
San'Tres B. (Online)
Fortunately, COVID-19 hasn't impacted my daily routine too much. I'm still working full-time (due to my retail job being classified as an essential store) which allows me to be financially stable for the time being. However, the job requires me to enter others' homes and install appliances, so I am constantly disinfecting myself and equipment. I still worry that I could possibly be a carrier so I attempt to REALLY practice social distancing when I'm not working.
A really positive impact is that I have a lot more time to spend with my pup. I felt that this current semester has caused me to ignore her a bit. It's my last semester, graduation was a priority. I'm also able to talk to friends and family that I haven't spoken to in a while more often.
I hope everyone stays safe and finish the semester strong. We'll get through this!
Kiana H. TTH
The Covid-19 outbreak has impacted my academics and my home life. I would love to go home and spend time with my family during this stressful time but my responsibilities as a student prevent me from doing so as I dont have access to internet at home. While my family and i would love to get a internet plan, we do not have the funds to do so which puts my family into unwanted stress. My step-siblings specifically as they are at home unable to succeed in their online school. This adds the unwanted stress of having a job that is not considered essential but bills that are still expected to be paid. Money is tight and there is no income from any parent, financial aid, or job coming in.
There are plenty of negatives in the world that are trying bring people down and it can sometimes be hard to find the positives out there. Ive found that all this time away from the public and being stuck inside has allowed me to take a step back and evaluate where i am and where i want to be as well as what i find to be truly important in my life. Ive made some careful considerations regarding my relationships with others and within myself even, this has been an opportunity for self growth in a way that i never expected and Im not sure what it would have taken to get to this point where it not forced upon me simply because its hard to detach from day to day life as a college student. Overall i am hurt and strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but I am enjoying this time to focus on me and the surrounding relationships than ever before (and my dog really likes having me home all the time).
LUCAS R. honors
covid 19 has made me move out of my dorm this along with social distancing has made hanging out with people difficult but I try and hang with small groups of friends when I can. I am very sad that I cannot attend classes in person as I've always found engaging in classes made learning easier. but we will have to make due and just keep learning. to pass the time I've gotten really good at Starcraft 2. I would suggest picking up a new hobby.
I am lucky to not be greatly affected by the pandemic as others have. As of now, other than school, my life has remained relatively the same. I am still working my regular ours and living comfortably. My main concern is the health of my family which I have isolated myself from for their safety. As for regular routines, the gyms I go to have been shut down so I rely now on house workouts using body weight and running around the block. On the bright side of things, I have been able to cut back on expenditures such as commuting to school and fast food. I am using this time to focus on hobbies that I didn't have time to do before and catching up on school work. I send my best regards to everyone out there and hope that this situation ends soon.
Kaitlyn M. (TTH)
A way the coronavirus has impacted me was disrupting my last semester in college. I was looking so forward to walking the stage in May, but as we all know that got postponed to August. While that does suck, I am grateful that it was not canceled. A lot of smaller schools are canceling or postponing to December. It has also affected my job. I worked through the YMCA and it is no longer open right now. after graduation I was planning on looking at jobs with them, but everything is at a standstill right now so it’s kind of hard to plan anything like that.
A positive aspect is that I am at home with my family and we are able to relax and enjoy each other’s company. I can’t stand being alone with no one to talk to so it is nice having my parents’ house so close. Also, hiking trails have not been closed yet, so I still get to go hiking with my dog.
Summer Diaz. (TTH)
The coronavirus has took away my senior year and that has hurt me, I had been dreaming of walking the stage at the end of Summer 2. On the bright-side I quit my job as a RA , and that was a relief because that was taking a big troll on my life. Now I'm with my husband and puppy in our home in Colorado Springs. Everything is out of my norm life, however my attitude in being optimistic has been extremely helpful and I'm blessed for that. My hometown were most of my husband and I's family isn't doing so well so were worried about our family members, however everyone is doing good and staying indoors. Many things are crazy in the world and I just keep reminding myself that "The world has always been crazy, but I have always been stronger." I am religious so that has been a big in keeping me sane through this pandemic. And I love seeing pets around the world being so happy that their hoomans are home.
Lexi Pruneda TTH
I was accepted into a program that was going to allow me to intern in Buenos Aires, Argentina for 8 weeks this summer. I had just been placed with a company abroad when I received the email from Study Abroad that all programs had been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Since starting school, one of my dreams was to intern abroad because in the future one of my goals is to hopefully work in advertising in another country. It's been hard on me because not only did it shifted my summer plans and fall course schedule but it took a dream away from me that I won't be able to achieve since I graduate in December.
Some of the positive outcomes from this shift online are that I've been helping my mom in the garden a lot more and I've been reading books. Throughout the semester I buy books to read during breaks but never make time to read them and since spring break I've read about four books. My parents have a rule that any TV in the house isn't allowed to go on until 3pm which has also made me appreciate the quiet and slowing down. Before this outbreak started I saw my friends almost every weekend but since we can't see each other we're constantly talking throughout which has brought us closer and made us appreciate each other a lot more.
Alec Burris TTH
The Coronavirus has had an awful effect on my life in the past month. My job was deemed unessential by this city of Austin, so for the past few weeks I have been unemployed. Moving classes online isn't much of an issue for me since I actually enjoy online classes and have done well in them in the past. Not being able to make money is the number one issue for me. The second issue is not having any sports on. Sports are a away for me to escape from the burdens of everyday life and transfer them into burdens of being a Houston sports fan. Without games being played it feels like the world is in limbo.
Some of the positives that I have experienced during this pandemic is that I get to spend more time with my dog and watch a lot of great movies and television. It is also a plus that my family has been able to avoid catching this awful virus and will continue to practice good hygiene and social distancing. If we all do the right thing and stay at home, we can hopefully beat this thing sooner than later and return to a somewhat regular lifestyle. I will do whatever it takes to get live sports back into my life.
The coronavirus has not effected me personally quite as badly as many others which I am grateful for. My daily routine has been adjusted and I have found myself searching for things to keep my mind and body occupied. That if anything has been key for me in getting through this difficult time. Daily exercise and mental stimulus is more important now than it ever has been before. Not being able to interact with people on a daily basis has made me realize just how much I actually enjoy going to school. It's an odd thing to think about given how much I may complain about going to school, it's definitely something I've taken for granted. My Uncle, Aunt, and three young cousins were all stricken with COVID-19 in Australia. Listening to my Uncle describe how it effected them is scarier than hearing about it on the news. They are all recovering now but the thought of it is constantly lingering in my mind. It is very important that myself, and everyone else follow the social distancing guidelines put into place to help limit the lasting damage that this virus will have. I'm looking for to the day that life goes back to normal, or as normal as it can be after all this. For now though I will continue to my part in preventing the spread of the virus.
The most stressful thing about living through the Covid-19 changes is work and paying bills. I originally had two jobs, but now one of them is closed for the time being and the other has reduced hours drastically. However, since everything is pretty much closed I'm not spending as much money on unnecessary things and can focus more on saving for bills.
A positive that has come from Covid-19 is that I love having so much free time. There were so many things that I avoided or couldn't do because I never had the time for them, but now I do! My apartment has never been so clean, I've gotten back into reading for fun, I get to play with my cat more, I started doing yoga again, and just so much more. I also discovered that I'm pretty good at setting a routine for myself and sticking to it, so the transition from in person classes to online hasn't been as stressful as I thought it would be.
The format of some of my favorite classes thrived in face-to-face discussion and occasionally going outdoors as a group. I’m hoping the new online format doesn’t confuse things too much as I’m still willing to learn but I understand many professors may also be in a position where they must now learn to teach online without much experience. Grocery shopping has also changed for me considerably. Since the curbside fees are being waived for everyone I figured it’s best to utilize HEBs service. But it’s only ever available two weeks from when I’m using it so it’s difficult to predict the groceries I’ll need, and they may run out-of-stock on necessary items by the scheduled date.
A positive is that since I save many hours a week from no longer commuting. I have more free time to practice hobbies, cook at home, clean, and organize all my belongings. Occasionally staying home can make me a bit restless so I find myself going out for physical exercise more often, it also helps clear my mind when working on assignments. I’m lucky to stay with my family during this time but I know plenty of people out there are struggling with finances, employment, etc. Let’s hope the pandemic ends quickly and the effects of Covid-19 are only for the short-term and we can continue with life as normal.
Kayla Altemus TTh
After over a year of planning, my sister's wedding has been completely turned on its head. From having a wedding with 250 of our closest family members and friends at a beautiful venue to limiting the guest list to only the essential people and moving it to someone's backyard. This change has been disappointing for my sister, her fiance and their families. Luckily, we still have a month to adjust the plans.
Something I am grateful for that the virus has given me is an extra week of spring break. I spent the first week of spring break traveling and being busy, but the second week was relaxing because I got to play video games, watch 3 seasons of Master Chef and be lazy. I have also been able to enjoy nature, spend time with my family and begin a new exercise routine.
I am looking forward to spending the rest of the semester online, although I will miss being in your class and seeing you teach.
With all of this craziness about COVID-19 virus surrounding us, it is changing everyone's lives all around us. For me, this virus has me extremely busy at work. Working at HEB during this time has been super difficult with the crazy long hours, extremely rude people and risking myself with catching this virus has been a lot to deal with. But I am extremely grateful that I am still employed and helping people through this difficult time. I am super sad because this summer I was supposed to study abroad which was going to gain me a lot of credit so I could graduate in the fall but due to them canceling all study abroad trips I had to change my school schedule around which makes me graduate next spring.
Considering all of the changes the COVID-19 virus has made on other peoples' lives, I consider myself to be pretty lucky given many of the heartbreaking situations we have all been hearing about on the news right now. As of the moment, all of my family members are well and healthy, and as far as I know, so are my friends, which is honestly all I could really ask for. With that being said, I think that the biggest negative affect it has had on my life is not getting to see my friends at school or go to class in person. I feel that I am a better learner in an in class scenario. I also had to cancel many of my spring break plans which was also a bummer, on of which was going to visit my grandparents but given that my grandma is 94 years old, everyone knew it would be best to not visit them in person and risk exposing them to anything. One other negative affect has been that so many of the internship positions I have applied to have since been canceled because of the virus. This has been one of the biggest disappointments because I have been working really hard on building my resume and portfolio in preparation for an internship going into my senior year and that is beginning to look less and less likely.
On the positive side, I will be able to go home for the summer earlier than I had anticipated. As simple as that sounds, I am actually really excited about this. Obviously I will still have class work to do but being able to go home to do it means that I will get to spend some extra time with my immediate family which is something I really value in life. I will also have more opportunity to go outside and be active and play with our newly adopted dog as well as help cook, clean, and do whatever my parents need. So in this time of separation, I feel like it is also allowing for families to become closer.
Rebecca Schaefer- TTh
One of the biggest impact the corona virus pandemic has made to my daily life is not going to work or school. I have a lot of free time now to get my life in order. I have been going through a lot this semester so I think it has been good for me to slow down my pace and get things back to normal. My house has never been more clean and I have been talking with my family more on FaceTime. While my sleep schedule has gotten worse, my overall health has gotten a lot better. Not only mentally better, but physically better as well. I have also lost a bit of weight since I have been eating out less and taking more walks- so a little positivity in the middle of a lot of negativity.
The biggest impact the coronavirus has had on me is easily the separation from others. I am a very social person by nature, so it is rare that I spend a lot of time alone. When I am alone with my own thoughts for too long, it becomes very easy for me to feel depressed or lonely, as I start thinking about very negative things sometimes without the presence of others. The biggest threat/impact the coronavirus currently has on me is the threat it poses to my mental health and possible depression. The good outcome from this is that I have found some more activities to keep me occupied on my own to try and avoid being alone in my thoughts, such as painting or playing guitar. I have also made the ultimate decision to move home for awhile to preserve my mental health which I would say is a step in the right direction.
The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on me in multiple ways: the study abroad trip to France that I had been looking forward to for nearly six years of my life was cancelled; I was forced to move out of my dorm, in which I lived with most of my friends, and move into my parents' home; and the company for which I was to intern this summer (a backup plan that came into place once my study abroad was cancelled) is no longer taking interns this summer due to cost concerns that came about because the coronavirus, of course, caused a recession.
My primary method of coping with isolation and distance is through keeping myself as busy as possible. I started an online clothes-selling business in order to bring in some money, I signed up for an LSAT prep class, and I have laid out a routine for myself in which every hour of every weekday is planned with tasks to fulfill. Otherwise, I believe my mind, allowed to go idle, would begin to slip into a maelstrom of depression. In addition, doing things like the LSAT prep class gives me something to look forward to and reminds me that there's something beyond the pandemic that I am still working and living for.
I have been home in Amarillo since the early days of the quarantine, which is about seven hours from San Marcos. To most, and especially my parents, this doesn't seem like a big deal, but I feel as though the pandemic has stripped a year of college away from me. I am going into my senior year and I had an internship lined up and I was going to work and save money over the summer and also enjoy what time I had left as a student to hang out with my friends and family. It seems selfish to admit this during such a difficult time for others, but I really can't help but be a little disappointed. However, since I have moved home I would say that my schedule and everyday routine have settled in nicely and I have plenty to do. I live on a farm and ranch operation, so my dad has kept me pretty busy along with school and helping other members in my small community.
Right now I'm back at home in Austin which isn't too far away from San Marcos but definitely feels like it. Being home can be super hard sometimes because I really value my independence and me and my family can bud heads at times. I was also supposed to go to California for spring break to see my mom and that was cancelled. So, this pandemic has been taking a toll on my mental health.
At the same time, I do try to go on long walks as much as I can. Exercise has been my friend as of late. Talking to my friends and my mom also helps a lot. Spending extra time with my sister is always great. Reading, listening to music and journaling are things that I do to make me feel better in this uncertain time. I'm just trying to keep positive as much as I can.
As an avid gamer, the coronavirus quarantine hasn't disrupted my hobbies in any way. All the extra time at home just gives me more time to do the things I love, and online socialization platforms like Discord and Twitter keep me in touch with my friends. It is a bit weird not being able to go out with said friends, especially in the case of the Arcade, but I still have plenty of ways to have fun regardless.
Believe it or not, I'm actually getting outside more often than usual. I've made a habit of walking my dog every day, and I sometimes get even more exercise on my bike. Of course, I'm still practicing social distancing, but getting a bit of sunlight every day is doing wonders for my psyche.
I usually try to stay focus when problems arise. So far, I have maintained well. The biggest impact is living with the fear that any change in my health makes me overthink if I am a carrier or not, especially now that I have my diabetic mother staying with me until this is over. But, I have to say I am most proud of myself that I took it as my own responsibility to bring her here to keep her safe. In any situation like this, you wonder what kind of person you will be. For instance, two years ago I shielded a cousin and his girlfriend when we thought there was a shooting in Austin 2 years back. It makes me happy with who I am and that I'm far from being an asshole. I am eating healthy for a change. I think I am just trying to keep my head up. I think most of us are. I have grown to hate this administration even more. That's really about it. Currently doing a story on assisted living facilities, so journalism is still a thing for me, which i am happy. Overall, decent things. I hope that everyone here is safe.
I think one way the coronavirus has impacted my life is that I’ve experienced a loss of motivation in my studies. Something about physically attending classes kept me focussed and on track in my school work. It can be difficult to focus on what I need to get done when I’m home all the time. But, while online courses are not necessarily ideal, I feel like I’ll be able to adapt with time as I figure out a workable routine.
I also moved back to San Antonio to help my parents. However, they are both over 60, have prior health conditions and don’t think they are at risk of contracting the virus; so persuading them to be a little more careful in their daily lives has been a bit challenging.
On a lighter note though, I’ve enjoyed being home because I feel like I have more time to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When you’re spending most of your day at school or work, you usually put your health needs to the side. Now that I’m at home all day, I’ve been able to get more sleep, eat more regularly and have had more time to exercise. And I've got to say, feeling like a person again is pretty great.
I think the biggest impact that the corona virus had on me was my daily life. First slowly, then all at once. I have two jobs, an internship at school, and go to school full-time. I work for the school's athletic events, and my second job is at Ross. My internship is for the study abroad social media team. When the news of the virus first broke out, the study abroad program was uneasy about sharing information about trips, but wanted me to continue to make posts anyways. Then come to find out, all trips were cancelled, events were cancelled, school was cancelled. Then I get a random phone call from my boss informing me about Ross closing down and we were getting paid based off our positions. I only work part-time but I was pretty upset because I usually work more hours than what they were gonna pay us for. Nevertheless, I was happy to have some type of income coming in.One week I was preparing for spring break, the next I was jobless and on school vacation. It has been pretty relaxing to not have to worry about anything but also a little boring. I'm so used to always being busy that quarantine has made me a little lazy. I've also been back and forth from San Marcos and Houston because of my family. My sister is currently very pregnant and can go into labor any moment now. It's a little scary because of the events going on, but we fight through. My family is also very close-knitted so I couldn't imagine taking advantage of all my time off to spend some time with my family. I absolutely miss going out to eat and hanging out with my friends. I hope people will start taking this more seriously and staying safe because I miss regular life. Also, my 21st birthday is in the summer and I want to be able to celebrate in public since it's the year I've been waiting for the longest. I do worry often about my bills, my family's bills, but I know that we will get through this.
For me, the biggest impact that COVID-19 has had on me is that it has ultimately closed down my full-time job that I work to pay for school and rent. This has caused financial struggles as of late, but I am thankful for the extra help I’ve been receiving from family and friends as well as with government aid. It has also caused me to have difficulties in trying to maintain a positive outlook on school and my studies. The two week spring break and quarantine has definitely contributed to stress and a want to not focus on school, rather my health instead .
However, with the virus, it has caused me to stay inside and really get some early spring cleaning done. As well as keeping up with friends and family members better in this time making sure everyone is healthy and strong. It has made me lazier in ways; however, I think it has also helped have some self reflection time.
TTH
Currently the biggest impact I have had has been my job. I have been very lucky to be one of a handful of people still working. Although I am still working, I am only making a portion of what I was before and I have a limit to how many hours I work. Makes me a little stressed how many of my necessities I can afford since I pay everything by myself. To add to this, I basically live by myself, and it gets very lonely and frustrating having to so much time alone, and I do not have the option to back to other family because I do still have a job and trailer that I have to pay
The biggest impact of COVID 19 for me is the closing of all nonessential stores and parks. I love going out and being at the river with friends. I miss seeing my friends and going out to public places. Work has been affected as well with less hours to give, so I'm more bored at home than anything.
In positive light, I have been focusing on my artwork every day and making some really fun pieces. Making art every day has been really therapeutic and relaxing. It requires me to post daily on my art social media accounts, and will help grow my art business once we are able to go into public again.
The biggest impact made by the response to the coronavirus to my life is the switch to online New Student Orientation. I was an Orientation Leader last summer, and I was really excited to help the incoming freshman once again. I also worked hard to get a chair position, which meant more leadership opportunities for me as well as a chance to make some more money to help pay for rent and school. Making NSO online this summer results in my job not being needed anymore. I know that I can find another job for the summer, but I loved being an Orientation Leader. Having it disappear is a hard pill to swallow.
One positive thing I think can come from this is learning how much we need other people. With all the advances in technology in the last decade or so, we have become independent and often use the advances to shut out the world. Now being forced to do that, many are realizing how important interacting with others is to our mental, emotional, and physical health. I hope that after this is all over the world will make spending time with people a priority instead of an option.
Victoria Holland - Online
The biggest impact the pandemic has had on me is the end of my last semester. As I've faced several obstacles throughout my college experience - as serious as life and death matters - I quickly got over my anxiety of graduation once spring semester started and began to get super excited about the next steps in my life. While I was cherishing all of my lasts, everything completely changed as the virus rapidly spread. While still staying positive and excited to graduate and have the personal accomplishment of getting my degree, I'm also filled with a lot of fear of what my next steps are going to be. Unfortunately, I have to prepare for going the next 6-7 months minimum without the start to a real career. Currently, I live off being a social media intern (currently on leave) and the money I get from Texas State. However, money runs out and I fear that I'll have to focus on "busywork" to afford my regular necessities rather than focusing on what direction I want to go in career wise, etc. It's a lot to figure out for someone who will be thrown into the real world for the first time. Needless to say, it's been really hard to even focus on schoolwork or the fact that I still have deadlines. Luckily a lot of my professors have been really kind and have removed a lot of their assignments which has definitely helped the stress factor as there's so much to worry about now.
The positive is that with the extended spring break I was able to learn more/focus on skills and things I've always wanted to do. I was able to sit down and crack open a book, do some home renovations (still in progress), get my passion hobbies back together (slowly but surely) such as blogging and social media, as well as binge watching Netflix, working on my second language and getting my summer body ready for 2021!
Honors -
I have struggled largely with fear of the unknown during this pandemic, mostly from being immunocompromised and seeing predictions for the number of deaths on social media. However, I know my family and I are doing everything we can to effectively isolate. I had just been hired for the job I wanted in San Marcos and had to be laid off with their closing. Moving back home is a huge struggle as we have poor wifi and I had finally adjusted to life in the dorm. But, I am grateful for this time to be forced into a pause on most things. I have had an extremely overwhelming semester and now I have time to breathe and try to understand why my blood sugar has been so bad.
Negatives: I can't hug my Parents or Grandparents. I don't get to walk the stage in May. I had to cancel events that I had been planning for 6 months for a university club. My anxiety is through the roof (or maybe it's fear-based adrenaline?). People are dying every single day and there is nothing my "fix it" personality can do about it other than stay home and let it happen.
Positives: No one I know is infected. My family is safe. My friends are safe. This is ALL I care about right now and is the only reason I'm anxious/afraid. I have a quarantine buddy who is adhering to my overly obsessive cleanliness needs. My cat is super happy that I never leave. I still get to graduate in May. I might still have an amazing summer internship. We are all going through this and I always have something to be grateful for. I'm not even close to a situation that some people are in and I just wish I could help.
Goals: Trying to finally have a decent exercise routine that was difficult when I was working and going to school full-time. Getting every single certification online that I can possibly earn. Read all the books I've been stockpiling for "one day when I have time". Develop new hobbies.
India Sherman
TTH
Biggest Impact: The biggest impact for me was going home to see my family this spring break. My family is located in Houston and Dallas. We planned a spring break trip to the Big Bend and because of Covid-19 we weren't able to go through with those plans. I havent seen my family in person since Christmas break and I get home sick after so long. I can't go out to them because I dont want to contract anything while traveling and possibly bring something to them that their immune system won't be able to handle and vise versa. I just really miss my family and which I could be with them at this time particular. I pray that it doesn't reach anymore of my family members ( My aunty in New Orleans has contracted these virus through working at an elderly home. One of her patients died of Covid-19 so she got checked and it came out positive) and that we stay strong as a nation and don't be frighted, but just be careful.
Positives: Because of all of the quarantine time. I have plenty PLENTY of time to myself and to my thoughts and to do things that I just haven't been able to do because Ive been moving around a lot. I am taking this time to form healthy habits with my life and get my Charkas in order. Learning new things about myself everyday. I have deleted my social media for the time being so Im not on it all day. For my news, I go to the news or to websites. Instead of relying on twitter for the information. I'm really just becoming more spiritual during this time and looking at the positives on all of what is happening rn.
Although there is ALOT happening in the world rn. I just try hard to look at the better side of this all and try my best to keep my head up and occupy my time with things that are beneficial to my me. I've been working out more, spending quality time with myself, eating right (since I now have time to cook), lots of painting and dancing and just a lot of other things that will make me a better person at the end of all of this.
The COVID-19 pandemic has actually been very difficult for my family and me. I lost two jobs that I truly enjoyed (one of which would have probably helped me start my career), and my grandpa has been in and out of different hospitals with any unrelated illness - making him a high risk patient.
Everything is really intense and sad, but there is always a silver lining! My family dog has moved into my apartment with me, I have a lot of extra time to relax, and I have a lot more time to devote to creative projects outside of school.
I hope all of you are doing okay and staying strong! :)
Kaitlin Broadbent HON
For me the biggest loss has been my study abroad program. Not only did I lose a lot financially that I had invested in the trip but I truly lost an opportunity to see England, Ireland, and Scotland through the lens of history. I'm a junior so I won't have another summer semester in college and I won't be able to make the trip next year. Dr Bryan Mann is perhaps my favorite professor I've encountered and I'm truly mourning the loss of opportunity to see England the way he does. While I've always got the chance to go to England I'll never get the month long guided tour of it.
I also lost my summer job where I travel to Orlando to do event photography for DATT Summit. It's honestly a favorite job of mine because of the people I meet and the experience of working with the DATT team and Ulyssix. It's nice to be a hotel and Disney VIP for a week. Not to mention the lost wages.
I was declared and essential worker. As a supervisor at Starbucks. It feels ridiculous that expensive coffee is essential but I didn't choose it. Starbucks ordered all cafe stores to close down, which mine was. Drive thrus remain open but many partners have chosen to take the 30 (paid) days off provided to us by Starbucks. Any partners from a cafe store may pick up open shifts from drive thrus that need help. I've honestly seen such kindness coming from my fellow partners. Everyone truly cares about each other, at least within my store, and we're all looking forward to being reunited. I've gotten the opportunity to meet new partners by working at other stores and they've been some of the most genuinely sweet and kind people I've encountered. I've elected against picking up shifts, not because I'm sick or worried I'll become sick, but because I prepaid my rent through July and I know most of my store isn't afforded the opportunity to plan ahead. I had a discussion with my manager and I'm pretty much on emergency call only, should no one else be able to cover a shift any of the managers can call me personally. As a supervisor that happens more than I care to admit but I'm trying to do my part to make sure everyone else is making ends meet since mine have been met. This has the unfortunate side effect that I haven't left my apartment since I arrived from Florida on 3/23. My cat and I are both coming out of this with separation anxiety.
My biggest impact is not being able to hug my nieces and nephew, I do facetime regularly to check in with them. I'm their only tia and have a very close bond with all four of them. Also my parents my mom recently had surgery and my dad is diabetic, so, I get worried about their health. I do facetime them every day as well mainly my mom they seem to be in good spirits. I just can't wait to hug them. I am very family-oriented, so, not being able to see my family in person kinda crushes me.
I have been staying busy with my job, I got hired with a tv station in San Antonio. Since we are considered essentials workers. I have been working a whole lot. During the two-week spring break, I worked practically every day. I can honestly say with all the nonstop news I haven't been able to actually ingest all of it. I'm grateful that I am able to work I have been learning a lot about the business and adapting quick during this pandemic. I'm also happy that I was able secure a job during my last semester of college.
Christopher B. TTH
The biggest impact COVID-19 has had on me in terms of school is ending my commute. I don't live in San Marcos so everyday I would commute to campus which took up a large portion of my time each day. Waking up extra earlier, driving, then finding a parking spot, then walking nearly a mile to class each day was normal for me. The switch to online classes has taken a lot of stress off of me when it came to commuting. This is definitely a silver lining for me.
However, one perspective I am not hearing from students is regarding tuition. As students we pay tuition based on an on campus experience not an online course. But now we are still paying for a full semester of classes on campus but are now getting online courses. Even my parking pass that I paid for doesn't have any use because there is no need to come to campus. This of course is disappointing however, it is to be expected.
Mariana Logan,T-TH
Firstly I find myself with a now constant reminder of how privileged I am. Before the pandemic I was trying to find a work school balance (something I'd never done before) and was failing miserably. My performance in both was rapidly dropping and somedays the best I could do was show up. Now thanks to the virus and the help of my parents I don't get to try and find that balance anymore, the stress of work has been forcibly taken away from me and I'm lucky enough to see that as a silver lining.
Of course now there's a whole new source of stress, with one sick room mate, one anxious/paranoid roommate, and the fact that I've never made above a C in an online class. I was already failing and now... I don't know what I'm gonna do.
While I am a big introvert so this hasn't created much of a difference in my life, it has made me realize how much I care for the people in my life. The only person I haven't actually been able to see if my boyfriend. I have been dating him for almost two years so it just means I can't see him for a while. This quarantine has also made me realize how much I love to snack. I have worked on snacking less throughout the day and I am trying to just stick to eating three meals and I get a dessert once a week.
During spring break, I visited my home in Houston and never came back due to the spread of COVID-19. Other than school transferring to online, the company I intern at suspended its internship program and furloughed 6 full-time employees. I am at least fortunate enough to have supportive parents to help me as I am unemployed and finishing school. I started stressing about how I'm going to find a job to start paying for my student loans and felt helpless about having no form of income. I had to clear my head so I just went back to the basics. My routine so far includes making my bed in the morning, drinking water and taking vitamins, eating healthy, exercising, and practicing gratitude. I'm glad that I no longer have to commute to Austin every other day or worry about getting to class on time. I like how I have more free time to practice my guitar and other things I have been putting off. I also learned how to bake a cake today. :-) I hope everyone is coping well and staying strong!
Like most students, I had to move back home with family. It was difficult living alone, worried about food delivery, groceries and maintaining sanity. I commuted back and forth until Hays county mandated stay at home orders with an 11pm-4am curfew. I was deeply saddened and only had a few hours to pack until the curfew to avoid a $500 fine.
Most of my appointments and essential meetings have been moved to Zoom. I lost all of my gigs and income. To make things even more chaotic, my sister is about to go into labor with her second baby.
The hospital would not let her bring her other child into the hospital. She had a babysitter arranged just fine until she got sick as well. In turn, my mother and I rushed to California to pick up my niece. Our flight got cancelled four times. We were stuck in airports and helpless wondering if and when we could get to California or Texas.
I just got back to Texas and I am finally starting to regain some energy and a grasp on things. My niece gives me hope and joy. She is only two-years-old and always happy to see me. She doesn't have a care in this world but to play and have fun.
I am thankful to have her in my life. People are starting to really get things moved to Zoom so I am hopeful that I can resume my life. I have had terrible back problems and those flights and this computer does not help.
Luckily, I was able to call my credit card companies and other bills to setup deferred payments and gain some credit on services. I made a tough decision to upgrade my computer chair and other accessories to enable me to sit longer and work more comfortably. I look forward to finally picking up the pieces of my life, reflecting and centering myself out here in the country. The fresh air and bright night sky is beautiful.
Teresa V. Online
Thankfully, I am not having a life changing crisis from this virus. Yes, there are a lot of disadvantages from this occurrence but I believe everything is going to turn out okay if I stay inside as much as possible to try and stay healthy. I am trying to do my part. I did have to move back to my hometown and it is a lot harder to focus on my school work here but that will just take some time to adjust too. Overall, I think I will be fine and I hope everyone else’s friends and families staying safe and healthy from the virus.
I believe one positive thing being changed throughout our daily lives is our society as a whole. Now I could be wrong about this but since all of us are going through this hard time, I think that this is actually bringing us all together. Instead of seeing these negative posts about people disagreeing and arguing over certain topics, I am seeing people agreeing on one specific topic which is the corona virus. What I mean by this is, we all want this thing to end. We all want to flatten the curve. We are all struggling with lack of work. We are all dealing with unpaid bills. We see the healthcare workers struggling with supplies. And overall, we see our friends, family, and other random people struggling with different things. But because we are all feeling for each other and fighting for the same thing, I see people actually reaching out and helping people by creating masks, supporting local small businesses, the rich making more donations, and a whole lot of other things. Individuals are actually going out of their way and making a difference in peoples lives instead of waiting for someone else like the president or government to solve a problem. I came across a possible answer to building a better society in a philosophy class I took my freshman year of college. And that is that us people are in control of our society. Not the government and not the president. Yes our leaders are important to have, but if we want to improve our society, it is up to us to literally make the difference ourselves. And that I believe is a positive factor that I am seeing people do in our society today. Going out, helping, changing, and fixing problems in our society during these struggling times. Hopefully, once this is all over everyone can learn from this and continue on doing these things to help better our society.
Evan Dayton
(T, Th)
COVID-19 has brought me back home like many other students so I have thankfully been able to spend more time with my family and dogs. I did not realize how homesick I was until I came back home to see Blitz (German Shepherd) greet me at the door. Moving home I am actually eating better than I was all semester because my diet does not consist of mostly Whataburger and Taco Bell anymore. Corona has also unfortunately closed down bars I had been wanting to try since turning 21 and it seems as though I will be spending my 22nd birthday in quarantine.It will definitely be a birthday I will always remember.
Jordan Wooldridge (TTh)
This is my last semester of college, I had an amazing internship and my friends and I had started to play softball games at least once a week. Now, unfortunately, the campus that I have loved so much is off limits, the work for my internship is scarce and all remote so it's not the same experience and our weekly softball games are canceled... However, In struggling to come to terms with all of this, I have discovered a painting talent that I never knew I had and have found that it really relaxes me. Also, I finally have time to do all the little chores around the house that have been pushed back for so long. Even though I don't get to see all of my friends, one of them is my roommate so we go out and play catch or practice pitching and batting in an empty field next to our apartments. I'm just trying to make it through this without losing my mind.
April M. Online Class
I don't even know where to start, this whole situation is terrifying. Staying home is definitely challenging, but I am so busy and thankful for that. I am now homeschooling my son, which makes it hard for me to do my school work, I don't sleep enough, but it's important to me to give him structure and a routine.
I am truly scared. My husband is still going to work everyday and everyday I wonder if this is the day that the virus attaches to his person to bring home to us. I have asthma and even though I've been in remission from soft tissue sarcoma, a rare cancer, for 10 years, my immune system is not what it should be and I worry a lot about that.
I worry all day everyday. My father is 75 and refuses to stay home. I take him groceries every week. I leave them outside his door and talk to him through the glass storm door. Every time I walk back to my car I wonder if its our last visit.
I turned down a full-time job with the city that was going to work with my school schedule to work at SXSW, now I worry that if my husband won't be able to work, we'll lose the house...
I've always been a pessimist now I'm a pessimist who doesn't get to drive down I-35 singing at the top of her lungs with the windows down.
I think there is no right or wrong way to do this. We move on, stay strong, and take things one day at a time. This will pass.
Lacey H TTH
During this unprecedented pandemic, I have experienced a few terrifying things. Getting laid off from a job that is my livelihood has been one of the scariest things that I have ever experienced. A really devastating thing is the ending of our semester. Graduation being postponed and moving my final semester to online only, was not what I was expecting. This was not what I was expecting for my final semester at Texas State. All that being said though times like these I believe teach us how resilient we all are. How we deal with the unexpected truly speaks to who we are as people.
During this time I have rested more then I think I have in my entire life. I am getting a full eight hours of sleep, which is nothing like I usually do. I also have found myself being forced to slow down, which is something that I never do, I am always on the go and moving from one thing after another. If anything this time has taught (forced) me to slow down and appreciate how lucky I am, even if things do not turn out how you had planned.
Megan Hodson _Online Class
I feel that what is most stressful is space. I am at my parents house with my mom, dad, brother, three cats, two dogs, twenty chickens and four ducks. My parents house sits on a acre of land, so if I want to go outside I can. Though If I want to stay inside I pretty much have to stay in my room. My brother gets has practically moved into our game/ home gym room, my mom has made the living room her spot and my dad now works from our family office. The walls are also paper thin and I am getting tired of listening to my parents watch The Office. I love my family but spending all this time with them and not being able to leave the house is making me stir crazy. The only place I can't even get a break in the backyard because as soon as I step outside my chickens will come running up to me because they think I have food. I really hope I am not the only one going crazy in quarantine.
Lynsey L. TTH
The biggest impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is that my study abroad trip to London and Hamburg got cancelled, not only is this an experience that I won't be able to have now, but I also have to adjust my classes to include the ones I was supposed to take on study abroad in my normal semesters (unless I can study abroad next summer). On the bright side, I can be home with my family now, which is the hardest thing about school for me. There really is no place like home!
The biggest impact the coronavirus has had on me has been overall pretty negative. This is my last semester and it really bums me out that it is online. I know that is not much to complain about but It means a lot to me. I also have had some friends lose their loved ones to the virus and I can't imagine what they must be going through. I mean here I am complaining about not getting to be in class for the rest of my college semester and they're losing people they love. My heart goes out to those people, truly.
On another note, one positive thing that has come from this quarantine is that I have started exercising and eating healthier. I have been working ion cooking and getting pretty good at it. I just can't believe it took the world going through apandemic to make me a good cook ad start exercising.
Ryan Huntington TTH
Prior to the corona virus outbreak, I was incredibly busy balancing school in San Marcos and my internship in Austin. I drove back and forth from San Marcos and Austin Monday-Friday and had very little down time. As the situation with the virus became more dire, I was let go from my internship and have had school move completely online. At first I really enjoyed having more time to relax and hang out with friends, but as the situation grew worse, I struggled to find productive ways to spend my time being unable to socialize with friends and family.
I played a ridiculous amount of Animal Crossing (a new video game that came out over spring break), but eventually I got to a place where I wanted the satisfaction of feeling productive in real life and furthering my own skills and knowledge.
I do music as a hobby (piano, music production and DJing) so that has been a good outlet for me during the shelter in-place ordinance. I also started teaching myself how to use Photoshop because I was able to get Adobe Suit for free through the school with everything being moved online.
To stay active, I have been going on walks almost everyday. With all the rain, the greenbelts around Austin have been teeming with life, I highly recommend hiking in remote areas if you have access. To help stay a bit active indoors, my friends and I have a rule that for every beer or white claw you drink you have to do 10 push ups or 10 squats.
I feel fortunate that none of my friends or family have caught the virus (at least we think), but it is scary seeing how quickly the virus has spread across the globe and especially the United States. I hope that everyone is doing alright and making the most out of these crazy times we are living through.
Ashton Price TTh
The greatest impact that COVID-19 has had on me is cutting my last semester of college short. I was a member of the Texas State production team and it was my favorite part of my week. With sports seasons being canceled, there was nothing for us to broadcast, therefore meaning we no longer had jobs. This was my only chance to get some experience in the production field before graduating, so I feel like I was cheated out of a really fun opportunity. It has been hard to accept this and realize that it is actually over.
One positive thing that has come of this is that I get to spend more time with my family. Sometimes it's more than I would like and I'd rather be alone, but at the end of the day, it is nice knowing that they're there if I need someone to talk to. We also help keep each other busy since we have officially lost track of our days.
Channing A
TTH 12:30-1:50
I would say the biggest impact on my life has been choosing to stay in San Marcos rather than going back to Fort Worth to stay with my family. I visited spring break while we watched the beginning phases of the virus unfold. My mom wanted me to stay, however I felt that mentally I would be much better in San Marcos. I think the most impact of the virus is on my relationships. It's hard on my family to not be with me during this time, but I also have gotten closer to my roommates and boyfriend.
I have bad anxiety, this year has been especially hard, but with classes being online and everything taking a pause, I have felt much better. The best part about quarantine is time. I am able to slow down and breathe and work on forming habits to help my anxiety like working out, reading, organizing, and doing things that I have put on the back burner that stays on my to do list for months.. now I can do those things and not worry about not getting to my other priorities.
The biggest impact that COVID 19 has had on me is probably being relied on a lot more. I have moved back in with my parents during this pandemic and I am the one to go to the store, pharmacy, wherever we need something for my parents, my sister who has a compromised immune system, both of my grandmothers, and two elderly neighbors. I especially feel for my grandmother who recently lost her husband. She has always done things with him and was finally starting to do more with her friends. She started playing bridge twice a week and going to bible study. Out of everyone, I am not worried about her. When she has to be at home by herself she doesn’t do anything. She doesn’t have any hobbies, she doesn’t watch tv other than the nightly news, she doesn’t read books. All she does is sit in silence. So for 3 weeks she has been alone, doing nothing. I don't worry that she will get coronavirus as much as I worry about her getting depressed. We have tried setting up a smart TV for her to watch the crown, getting her puzzles, and other activities but she remains uninterested. I think that is the biggest shift post corona. Before I went on with my life not worrying about my loved ones like I do now.
Caroline Biggs (online)
COVID-19 has already left a large mark on population slowing growth and staggering prosperity. Many families have been torn apart and left heartbroken by this virus and although I am fortunate that no one immediately to my family has come in contact with it I still have been impacted. COVID-19 cut my freshman year short by forcing me to take online classes for the rest of the semester. I'm sad that I wasn't able to spend more time with the new friends I've met but it has taught me to cherish those memories with them. Now I'm really excited to head back to San Marcos to see everyone and move into my new apartment. This spring semester was my first semester working at KTSW. I was having so much fun learning from my predecessors in the sports and music department. However, that fun was cut short due to COVID-19 most of the operations that I take part in are unavailable to do. Moving out of my dorm has made me move back into my family home early. Also, it has forced my family and me to stay put in our home without going to public places. It was fun at first spending time with my family but after four weeks I'm kinda losing my patience with everyone. Also, I haven't been able to hang out with my girlfriend or any of my friends at all so I've been watching every single anime I haven't watched yet.
The Corona Virus has effected me negatively by limiting the amount I can see my loved ones, and travel over school vacation. Although, In the positive light It has changed my life in making me 10x more cleansy. I also took it upon myself to build a small half pipe in my garage to skateboard on. While these times can be hard to endure, I think there is a good side int hat we all have to get down to what really actually matters, try new things, and stay sane.
Coronavirus has impacted me in many ways, including my daily routine of going to class being disrupted. My only roommate is my boyfriend, and he prefers to quarantine at his parents house, so I was left with a choice of either being quarantined alone at my apartment in San Marcos or to go home to my parents house as well. Because I didn't want to get too lonely, I chose to go home, but both my parents are working from home and my sister is doing school from home so we are all constantly at each other's throats and have never been locked in the house together like this before. I also live a very active lifestyle and normally go to the gym every single day, however as gyms are closed I have been working out at home using a TV and YouTube videos (if your looking for good ones check out Popsugar Fitness) which my family finds very annoying but it makes me feel good and helps me feel like I'm still in my normal routine somewhat. These ways coronavirus has impacted me are all very trivial, and I know many people have problems way bigger than mine so I am grateful that these are my biggest problems. Working out, doing online classes, and keeping my remote internship have all helped me find a new routine to keep me sane.
Ashlyn Hubertus-- online
Covid-19 has impacted me financially with my work shutting down, luckily my restaurant (Chilis) is open for To Go orders so that keeps me busy.
Coronavirus has also impacted my family drastically because my grandmother is in the radiation stage of her triple negative breast cancer treatment. She does her treatment in Houston, so originally, since I take all of my classes online anyways, I was going to be with her during radiation (it is M-F 15 mins a day for 6 weeks). But since I had been working leading up to her radiation, I did not want to expose her to Covid-19, possibly. While in Houston, we would've stayed at a non-profit housing facility where most cancer patients go to stay during treatment, but it shut down as well. So, my grandma is with my aunt and mom currently in a VRBO rental in Houston for the next 6 weeks.
A positive to this, is that i'm not spending as much money as I would if life would be normal, and i've learned to whistle while in quarantine!
I am so ready for this awful virus to go away, I miss the daily life and being able to go to the square, let's do our part and please STAY HOME!
Melissa Cruz (Online)
COVID-19 has impacted me financially like many others. I work at a restaurant in New Braunfels in my free time to make some extra money for groceries, and bills and I haven't been able to work because of this pandemic. It's crazy because some people have families they need to support and have lost their jobs because of this and it's really sad. I fortunately am basically taking all online classes this semester and have taken them before in the past so it didn't really affect me in that case but I do miss being on campus and having social interactions.
I guess a positive that came out of this is having so much free-time to organize, stay clean and get in better shape. Hopefully now that i'm doing all of this stuff consistently I make a habit out of it and stick to it when all of this craziness is over with.
I hope that everyone is staying home and doing their part so that all of this can be over soon!
The corona virus has disrupted my final semester of college. I was very excited to graduate and walk across the stage with my family watching. I was denied my high school graduation due to homophobia, so I was really looking forward to enjoying my last semester and getting to celebrate graduating with my family. I've also been hit with having my schedule messed up. I need routine to get things done, and not having a strict school schedule anymore is hurting my ability to concentrate.
Plus side is that I get to spend time with my cat and show her off in my classes. I can also do other things while watching my online classes like paint or sew to keep my hands occupied.
Stay safe and home, everyone.
Mekayla C. TTH
Covid-19 has impacted me in many ways. I was starting my own business and brand during this time. I had the business plan drawn and I began executing everything I needed to do right before the virus surfaced. I am very disappointed because I have been putting off this goal for a long time and when I finally decided to move forward, forces beyond my control placed me back. However, I am grateful because I am able to spend this precious time with my family. During this time I am studying the business and learning how to perfect my craft.
Be safe and use this time wisely!
Vanesa S. TTH
The biggest impact that has been made in my life due to the virus is my living situations. I am unemployed now so I cant stay at my apartment anymore. I had to move back to Fort Worth to stay with my parents. It's hard to get into the groove of things because everyone has their own thing that they do here. They also dont have wifi so it makes it difficult for me to complete assignments. It's been a real struggle but I have been trying to cope with it the best way that I can.
The positive side is that I get to spend more time with my siblings. They are also out of school so I tend to help them with their work from home. It gives me something to do each day in my free time. It also lets me bond with my family more which is really needed in this stressful situation.
Covid19 has shifted a complete 360 in my life. I would have never thought in a million years that I could or would be jobless. When I did lose my job I definitely panicked but I was lucky enough to receive unemployment benefits to get me by. Having to adjust to all online classes have been challenging, I am a very hands on/person to person type of student and learn better that way. It's been hard to stay focused but I am doing my best.
The best thing I got out of this was learning to be patient, social distancing and I've spent a lot of time learning and cooking new things.
I am blessed to say that my routine has not been shaken as others have been. I live with my brother, so our senses of humor keep each other sane and happy. I already cook, so the food prep isn't an issue. The only thing that hurts is not being able to see my mom or the rest of my family. My three brothers and I do game nights so it's sucked not being able to do that. I am fortunate though, that is my biggest gripe, as well as the shortage of half & half when the pandemic first broke out. Horrible.
My coping strategies have been indoor exercise. I have a decent home gym set up and I do yoga to try and keep peaceful. My advice is to just try and enjoy any downtime you have.
COVID has had a pretty big impact on my life. Obviously everything being moved to online was a huge change, and I'm glad I'm not in my final semester of college yet - I really feel for the people whose graduation ceremony got delayed, or those who were involved in clubs, sports, or other extracurriculars that got interrupted or even cancelled.
Honestly, I have clinically diagnosed anxiety, so being able to stay home has actually lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. That said, I think it will be a huge readjustment when I'm allowed to resume daily life. Aside from that, I was laid off from a new job I really liked, which was a huge bummer. These couple of things have made being stuck inside the house sort of a negative - after all, there's nothing we all want more than to just have the freedom to leave.
A big positive that has come out of this has been increased time to spend with my fiance, time to play animal crossing, and not having to commute from round rock to san marcos twice a week. I'm saving a lot of money in gas! I also get to spend a lot more time with my three cats, Haz, Thor, and Kakashi.
Reed Parris TTH-
The coronavirus has affected me in a number of ways. We will start with the positivity because who doesn't like a little positivity in their life. I have not been working for about three weeks but am fortunate enough to still be receiving full pay. With that being said I now have had a lot of free time to take my dogs on walks, enjoy the great outdoors and find new and creative ways to stay busy with my girlfriend and dogs. For the most part we all enjoy the time we get to spend together in this time period and are glad were safe. Now lets go to the more depressing side of the situation. I was supposed to graduate in may but like you mentioned that was pushed back to august which is a bummer. I also have a feeling Career searching will be a lot more difficult since companies will be on a hiring freeze. I also deeply miss the my favorite bars, restaurants and friends.
The coronavirus has affected my life in a couple ways. Whether seen by others as insignificant, having my last semester of undergrad thrown to the curb and my commencement ceremony postponed, it caused lots of discouragement for me. I didn't get the the chance to say my proper goodbyes to my friends and I truly wasn't ready to end my senior year this way of course. I am a bit worried about searching for jobs right now because I have heard others have been denied jobs due to the pandemic On a positive note though, I now have time to read books more often like I used to, and find a new hobby of some sort. I get to really have that space and time to focus on my goals with no outside distractions and realize the reason why I'm really chasing for my dreams.
My coping strategies consists of resting and readings books. I'll even watch the Food Network or HGTV to sort of bring myself back to reality.
This pandemic has changed my life in a number of ways, but first and foremost, I am extremely bored. There are no sports to watch on TV, or to attend, and there is no where to go sit down an have a drink or two with a few buddies. Sports are my life and enjoy watching them every single day. Also, my brother is still playing baseball and I was traveling to watch him play quite a bit, and his team's season got cancelled which is bummer for my family and him. My job is currently closed down as well so I am struggling to keep afloat but will be alright. having school from home, and not being able to go anywhere to do something has me staying up till 4 AM every single night and sleeping in every day. My life has done a complete turnaround and I cannot wait for things to get back to normal, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Haley Peters TTH-
The biggest impact that COVID19 has had on me is making it impossible to get a job. I am graduating this May and had applied to several paid internships [that would hopefully lead to a full-time job]. All of those internships have been canceled. I also really needed to work part time for a bit in order to move from my current living situation, which isn't great. On top of that, the NSAC competition has been moved to online only, which is alright because we can still compete with the project our team has worked countless hours on; however, I was looking forward to the bonding experience of traveling with the team! The bright side is at least Texas State University made it possible to finish out the semester and still graduate. I know some other colleges just completely canceled the semester and messed up tons of students school/graduation plans. So yay to our school for going online. Another good thing is i've been getting to see my family a lot more than usual which is always great. Also, maybe this virus will teach society to be sanitary for once haha.
Ashley H TTH
The biggest impact COVID-19 has had on my life is taking my last semester of college away from me. I won't be able to walk on campus again as a student. I also won't be able to see a lot of faces again like classmates and professors. Corona also took my last spring break away from me which is unfortunate because I was using it to visit my mother in Florida. I only get to see her when we have breaks and this was my last one ever.
The positive impact it has had in my life is I am growing closer to my family. We started a huge family group message and we have zoom meeting every once in a while. I think this time to myself has helped me work on my creative skills and communication skills as well.
Garrett C - TTH
COVID 19 has changed my life in a number of ways. Some positive, some negative. My job at the outlet mall has completely shut down for an unknown period of time. However, the company is still paying us for the time being which is unbelievably nice of them. I know I am one of the more fortunate to still be receiving income from a job I am not preforming during this time.
Absolutely no sports being televised has changed my life because I have to watch things I would not normally watch. It kills me that March madness was canceled even though that was one hundred percent the correct call. I had been looking forward to baseball season starting in April but unfortunately, COVID took that away as well.
Obviously, online classes have affected me and my normal schedule. I have found it difficult keeping up with all the deadlines of all five of my classes. I am still trying to get a routine down even though finals are right around the corner.
Thankfully, my family has not been affected by this horrific pandemic.
Monique Lorette - T/TH
Obviously life is so different in so many different ways, both positive and negative. Personally, the hardest part about all of this is losing my job. I know everyone is struggling with this as well though. It is a super tough time for those who worked at places that are considered non-essential.
On a positive note though, I really have really enjoyed being quarantined with my roommates because it is good company. We are all getting our school work done, but also making the most of all of it. We got a kiddie pool, so it's nice to be able to hangout by some water again. We also play the Wii a lot, so I'm getting really good at Guitar Hero and Mario Kart.
I know it could be a lot worse, and I am extremely thankful I am safe and healthy.
Julia Reape- online class
The coronavirus has impacted my life in many ways the past month. The biggest one is that I lost my job due to restaurants closing and budgets being slashed. However, the biggest impact is that I fear I will not find a job after graduation due to the crashing economy. Right now I have had many interviews canceled and many companies say they are canceling internship programs and freezing hiring. I am also having a hard time doing long distance and not being able to see my boyfriend right now. I know that isn't the biggest deal but I still struggle not knowing when I will ever see him again.
On a positive note, I am grateful my parents are supportive and that I have food on the table and roof over my head despite all the uncertainty. I am also grateful my family is together right now and that we can enjoy some quality time together. We usually only see each other at Christmas so this is time I will
cherish.
I am grateful for my family and for my many blessings and I know that this will pass someday.
The biggest impact that this virus has had on me is the ease and ability to shop for groceries. I think a really interesting cycle starts forming during these times. People panic and buy lots of things, the grocery stores run out of these things, when they become available again people like me (who aren't panicking, just trying to have enough for another week) get worried and buy multiples of things, therefore becoming part of the problem.
One of the more positive tings to come out of this time is that I've been exercising and home more and going for more walks than ever! I get to spend more time with my puppy. I've been able to clean and organize more. I've even been able to do more with my previous hobbies like writing, video editing, and designing.
I'm really trying my best to see positive in everything that happens.
Hannah Cox (Online)
The biggest impact the virus has had on my life is the ability to interact with others and socialize. I just had a baby boy in February, so he hasn't been able to meet my brother or my grandma yet and he's already 6 weeks old. Although we are blessed to have technology like FaceTime and Zoom, it would be nice to see them and my friends in real life. Sometimes I feel like I need to go somewhere and socialize with someone other than a baby, I really looked forward to church every week, my bible study classes, and seeing my friends, but now we aren't able to.
A positive impact of the virus is that it gives us time to slow down and really focus on what's important in life. I have spent a lot of time with my family, which has been great and I cherish that time, although they can get on my nerves sometimes.
The biggest impact the virus has an on is how much Texas State has given me and how I kinda took it for granted. College is about getting the education we students pay and work so hard for, but with that comes friends, memories and moments that we will cherish and remember for our lives. I feel like I am missing out on a lot events and quality with people that I care about that I might not get back in the future. Even being back at home, we still can't really interact with friends with the whole social distancing, everything is closed besides groceries stores. This just makes think of what and who are important in my life and why I miss being at school right now.
On the flip side, I am learning a lot more about myself. Being alone a majority of the time has given me time to work on the bad habitats I didn't realize I have. Also, spending more time with family is very important. Trying to develop new habitats as well like reading more and running outside more. Overall, this whole quarantine thing really sucks for all of us, but I am a believer that everything happens for the reason. I think not only will this whole experienced help us as individuals, but it will bring us more to together as a society.
Be safe and stay healthy everyone!
Marifer Angulo (T/TH)
This pandemic has impacted me the most in the social realm. I am a pretty social person and I love going outside so staying inside is hard but it is an even bigger impact to see that I have it easy compared to others during this time. The positive in this is I think this crisis has forced me to work on having the best mental health and perspective and it has also pushed me to be more creative with how to go on about my life
Dane Gancas (Tuesday Online)
The Corona Virus has made my mental state a lot worse and has made it harder to want to be productive and get stuff done. I am a person who needs activities, such as climbing, the gym, swimming, etc. so to not have any of that stimulation has made me very unproductive and unmotivated. I am working on ways to stay motivated, but I find it to be 10x harder than it was prior to the Corona Virus.
A positive has been reflecting on my abilities while alone and focusing on the things that I took for granted when it was available to me all the time. It has made me more grateful for what I have and had prior and think I am more level headed and humbled because of it. So I guess there are two sides to the argument, it has been truly difficult time, but also a prosperous time in the sense of quiet time diving deep into my own thoughts.
This entire situation has been more of a blessing than anything. Before the pandemic started, I was running myself into the ground. Like most college students, I was trying to juggle going to school full time and work. I was taking 15 hours of coursework and working 4 days a week. I had absolutely no social life and struggled to even get an adequate amount of sleep. It certainly started to take a toll on my physical appearance and mental state.
I recently heard Naomi Campbell say that the world needed this time to calm down. I think most of us have such full and busy lives that we forget what is really important. Such as staying connected to people and being with family. I know going forward I will move at a slower pace and keep my health a main priority.
Arantzazu Beltran (TTh)
The biggest impact in my life was not being able to work and make the money I used to make while going to school. Gladly before COVID-19, I was able to save enough money to pay tuition for this semester. I am the type of person who likes to stay busy and have something to do every day all the time. I dislike having so much free time. I am still getting used to this new routine but at the same time, I am starting to enjoy it. It sucks that we are not able to interact with others like we used to. I go to H-E-B and it feels like everyone is your enemy, because who knows who has this virus. People look at each other awkwardly. I miss school and my classes and my daily routine.
Something positive is that I can spend more time with my family, we bought like 5 board games and on the weekends we have been playing spending time with each other. My family is super competitive. Also, we have been deep cleaning storages we had full of unnecessary items and donated what we did not need. To stay busy we have been building stuff, we are currently building a mini studio outside my parent's house. Also, something super positive is that now I have extra time to do homework and not stress so much about the deadlines, I can finish assignments before the due date. Hopefully, all this happens soon so we can all go back to our daily routines we love.
The biggest impact the the Coronavirus has had on me is...well it’s a lot things. School basically shutting down has been very hard on me because I already struggle on staying on top of things and having all my classes switch to online as well as have the due dates change hasn’t made school related life the greatest.
The worse part is my depression. Most of the time, I’m able to manage it perfectly fine, to the point that I don’t even notice it, but having to be inside all the time and isolated from physical content is making it so much harder.
I’m someone who needs structure on my life and this virus has blown up my structure beyond repair it seems, but, even with all this chaos and mess there is still a silver lining. I’m back with parents again, which has been nice because it’s been a long tome that I’ve been able to be with them. The increase of free time that I now have has allowed me to jump start of my portfolio and really push my skills in photoshop.
All in all, life hasn’t been the greatest right now, but it could be a lot worse, for me at less, and I’m thankful for that.
Jamie Negri TTH
Madisyn Voight TTH 12:30
The biggest impact that this pandemic has had on me is changing my entire daily routine. I lost my summer job which was extremely disappointing for me, especially since I got promoted :( I am the kind of person who does not like change so with literally everything around me changing, it has been difficult. I love to have my daily routine of going to campus for classes and my on-campus job, then coming home and relaxing. It's been a struggle trying to balance everything at home and make sure I am still separating school work from my personal life and taking care of my self. However, I have tried to stay positive by acknowledging that I still have my other on-campus job (just virtually now), i have a roof over my head and that my family is safe and healthy. Even though times are rough, I try to remind myself how grateful I am and help others whenever I can.
Brianna Malota (TTh)
The hardest impact that the virus has had on me is not being able to work. I only had a part-time job, but I loved my job as I worked with children and not being able to see their faces everyday hurts me. Another thing that impacted me is no being able to see my family and friends. I am the type of person who loves to get out and loves to see my friends and family every chance I can so not being able to do that is hurting a lot.
I would say one thing that has been positive is I'm getting more in touch with my creative side and definitely starting to appreciate everything I have and taking time to slow down and enjoy the things I have now.
Ally Bolender- TTh
The largest impact that this pandemic has on my everyday life is definitely my stress level. I am not able to work, and I have been saving up to be able to pay off student loans ASAP. I don't work well learning behind a computer. I am having to teach myself more content than I was anticipating. I am constantly worrying how and when I will be able to get a job again after I graduate in the fall without a summer internship.
I, however, am very grateful that my family has stayed safe and healthy throughout this pandemic. A large portion of my family has health problems and are very vulnerable. I am grateful to be able to stay home and run out to get things when necessary.
I have found that making daily to-do lists and scheduling certain times in front of screens/checking emails makes this situation a bit easier. I try not to stretch myself too thin. I get a snack when I need to, go on walks for fresh air and remind myself that I'm not alone in this situation.
Justice U. Vega (TTh)
[I’m a glass-half-full kind of person in anything and especially as of right now. I’ll also preface that I am a Christian so my faith is what guides my life.]
To say COVID-19 has not impacted anyone’s life would be absurd. Some more than others, of course, and I realize that; but for a lot of people, worldwide even, struggle and hunger is something they endured on a daily basis pre-coronavirus. Not trying to offend anyone or say that we are all equally experiencing the same things right now, because in the grand scheme of things we are not. However, an initiative to count the blessings small or large, and everything in between, helps me make it through each day because I know who holds tomorrow. Yes, there’s been cancellations of events I was hoping for (2 weddings, 5 of my cousin's college graduations, the first birthday of a niece, etc.) and a cut in work hours has made me feel a bit uneasy when thinking about making apartment rent, but when it’s all said and done, and I remained healthy (along with my loved ones), there will be more to celebrate and plenty of memories will have been made in the midst of it all. I also have a great grandmother about to turn 100 and she has always been my (very large) family’s humbling factor. She still resides in her own home and miraculously functions just fine. Recently, when I have called to check on her she often reminds me that, “this too shall pass,” and I have full confidence in a woman who experienced the Great Depression and World War 2, amongst other things.
What I struggle with the most, is acknowledging how it has always seemed like humanity needs to endure hardship in order to cause a “rise up” mentality. Personally, I’m just trying to do my part, while respecting governmental regulations, whether it be running errands for elderly members of my church, going for a bike ride, enjoying my parents’ home cooking and overall just enjoying a slower-paced life.
The coronavirus has impacted everyone no matter what. It impacted me because my busiest semester got moved to online. I was already living at home and commuting to Texas State twice a week. I was driving over 240 miles a week, so I am happy to be saving gas. I have a lot more time to do schoolwork. I miss the interactions with all the teachers. Being home, it makes me procrastinate more because my classes are online. My spring break trip to Disneyworld got canceled so we postponed it to July, I am hoping we can go! I am starting to get bored and getting a little stir crazy. I hope we will see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.
The Coronavirus has impacted so many people in so many ways. For me, I am blessed to be able to live at home with my family during this time. In my case, this virus has affected a lot of my Summer plans as they are up in the air at the moment. At the beginning of this year, I was granted an internship opportunity that I have been so excited about.Now, I am not sure if that is going to be happening anymore. I really was looking forward to it, and now I am in the unknown at the moment. This was going to be an opportunity to grow my knowledge in my future career, and now I am a little worried I may not get to experience that.
On a positive note, the Coronavirus has allowed me to open my eyes and become more appreciative of the small things in life. I took advantage of going to work, hugging my friends/my family, and going to dinner/restaurants. Because of this virus, I know once we are granted the time to finally get out, I will appreciate the smaller things in life, because they can be taken away at any moment. I have also enjoyed getting to spend time with my family and rest. I appreciate resting more now, because my life was so busy beforehand. I truly needed a break to slow down and take a break from my crazy schedule.
The Coronavirus has impacted so many people in so many ways. For me, I am blessed to be able to live at home with my family during this time. In my case, this virus has affected a lot of my Summer plans as they are up in the air at the moment. At the beginning of this year, I was granted an internship opportunity that I have been so excited about.Now, I am not sure if that is going to be happening anymore. I really was looking forward to it, and now I am in the unknown at the moment. This was going to be an opportunity to grow my knowledge in my future career, and now I am a little worried I may not get to experience that.
On a positive note, the Coronavirus has allowed me to open my eyes and become more appreciative of the small things in life. I took advantage of going to work, hugging my friends/my family, and going to dinner/restaurants. Because of this virus, I know once we are granted the time to finally get out, I will appreciate the smaller things in life, because they can be taken away at any moment. I have also enjoyed getting to spend time with my family and rest. I appreciate resting more now, because my life was so busy beforehand. I truly needed a break to slow down and take a break from my crazy schedule.
Natalie A -TTH
The biggest impact that COVID-19 has brought into my life is uncertainty about the future. Obviously, I didn't know what my future held but I had a pretty good idea as to what it would look like concerning jobs and my personal life. I realized just how hard it is to go through the job-hunting process as a senior ready to graduate. It adds an extra layer of pressure knowing I need to start making an income for myself with a job market that is drying up. It's been really tough in my personal life figuring out everything. I recently had to move my wedding date to the fall in hopes that my fiance and I can have our wedding then and decided the best solution for us is to elope to save money right now. I never imagined my senior year of college to look so odd and unknown but I am just trying to lean in on my faith to get me through this tough time!
I've seen a lot of my personal family get hit pretty hard financially and seeing the detrimental effects of stopping the economy and I am hoping that the president will open up the job market again to slowly start getting everyone back to normal.
On a positive note, I have had a ton of time to job hunt, pick up tennis with my fiance, and spend much-needed quality time with family. It has been a great time getting to play board games and stay in PJ's all day. I am living out my dream.
I can't complain too much about how things are going, just more worried about others affected worse than how I am effected.
I never had much of an outside social life, so the coronavirus pandemic didn't affect me the same as everyone else. I spent half of my spring break sick and still have some of the aftereffects and symptoms. Aside from being sick from the thing itself, the virus hasn't really changed my life all that much. I still do schoolwork, still read the news, still watch TV, still play games with friends - all online. I had never really considered how dependent I'd become on the internet - it was just a product of living a busy life. It's ironic how clear it is to me now that my routine has become socially acceptable. I think after all this is over, I may try incorporating some outside social time into my schedule.
The biggest impact COVID-19 has had in my life is not being able to leave my home. Before all this, I didn't think I left my home often; I would go to campus for class and work, so I didn't consider that much of an outing. Now that I don't leave my home, I realized how much stepping out of my apartment even to go to class really helped motivate me. If I spend one day in my apartment doing homework, I feel like I'm going crazy, so I now see how much I relied on leaving my space in order to remain sane. I also miss going grocery shopping and going to drink coffee while I do homework. On the plus side, I am learning how to make coffee. An effective coping strategy for me is to keep a routine. I try to get up at the same time every day, and I try to get up early as if I were still in school. I then work as if I had a 9-5 job. If I need a break, I'll make coffee as if I were in a coffee shop. It is not the same as going out, but it helps.
TTh Media Law
The biggest impact has been moving from San Marcos. I am staying with my family in my hometown. It was a hard decision for me to make, but I knew I wanted to be with my family during this time. It sucks saying goodbye to the life I had in San Marcos. It sucks leaving my apartment, friends, school. It is also one of my last semesters in college and I was looking forward to spending a lot of time with my friends and going out with them. I found out the first week of the semester that it is my senior year now. I didn't know I was ahead a semester. While that is a great thing, it means I have less time at the university that I love.
I have been considering my own luck that I have with my job online and my health. I am lucky to have a house to stay in. I wish I could do more to help others who are struggling.
Some positive things that have come out of this though. I have been creating a lot of art over the past few weeks and working on my novel. I am hoping the extra time means I will finish editing it by the end of the semester.
Lauren Ashley Guzman
TTh Media Law
The biggest impact has been moving from San Marcos. I am staying with my family in my hometown. It was a hard decision for me to make, but I knew I wanted to be with my family during this time. It sucks saying goodbye to the life I had in San Marcos. It sucks leaving my apartment, friends, school. It is also one of my last semesters in college and I was looking forward to spending a lot of time with my friends and going out with them. I found out the first week of the semester that it is my senior year now. I didn't know I was ahead a semester. While that is a great thing, it means I have less time at the university that I love.
I have been considering my own luck that I have with my job online and my health. I am lucky to have a house to stay in. I wish I could do more to help others who are struggling.
Some positive things that have come out of this though. I have been creating a lot of art over the past few weeks and working on my novel. I am hoping the extra time means I will finish editing it by the end of the semester.
Brendan Husfeld TTH
My life during the pandemic really hasnt been that. Before the quarintine I was a hermit.. I rarely go out unless its to a friends house, never been to the square or a TXST sporting event. Yes I know.. kind of pathetic, but im not 21 is my excuse for not going out, and the thought of crowded public spaces even before that pandemic gave me heebie jeebies. Now Im back in my hometown, and life has turned into a shitty version of high school. Online classes are not motivating and unsatisfying. I miss hanging out at friends house, going to restraunts and even going to my classes.
Lily Zamarripa-Saenz TTH
My day to day life during the pandemic hasn't been too bad or harsh. I do have cousins and friends who are nurses or first responders, with that being said, my family has kept them in our thoughts and prayers. I am very close with my family and have a large family on both sides. With Austin's stay at home order it has been difficult as I am not able to see either of my grandmothers or my cousins. Easter weekend was different, it did not seem like a holiday at all, but my mom usually hosts my entire family (usually about 30-35 people) to attend brunch at our house and swim in our pool. Of course that was not the case this year.
My family has attempted to use Zoom to communicate with one another but of course there have been some hiccups. Similar to the SNL skit that aired over the weekend. Some of my family doesn't understand technology. Which is OK, there are some apps that I don't get either.
I have had some peaceful moments where I go walking with my little pup and there is not as much noise, there are no cars so you don't have the background of honking or sirens which is nice but a little eerie. Still, trying to soak up as much nature and walks as I can. Sitting inside my room watching TV day after day can get depressing and uncomfortable.
One of my neighbors that I grew up with is quarantined with his family across the street but even with social distancing we have had a chance to reconnect by sitting on our porches at night talking about anything that comes up...
I am learning more of my mothers cooking which I hope will come in handy because she is the family cook and like I said, I have a huge family.
That's my life during COVID 19.
Jessie Bonner, TTH class
The biggest way the pandemic has affected me was my jobs. I was laid off from my serving job. It is a family owned restaurant in Austin and due to the loss of business, they couldn't afford to keep any staff. They filed a mass unemployment claim for us though, and have been texting us every week to see how we are doing. I also work for KTSW on campus, and many events I was looking forward to working at were cancelled, and a lot of hard work went down the drain. I also feel like there is MORE work now that everything is online, and i feel myself getting overwhelmed with all of my coursework.
A positive is that I am quarantining with my boyfriend, who is usually long-distance. We live 7 hours away from eachother, but we were coming back from a trip when all of this started happening, so we drove through San Marcos, packed up some of my stuff, and continued on our way to Lubbock and I am glad to finally spend time with him for more than a few days at at time. I have also started painting again, which I used to love and be pretty good at. I miss my family, but I know I'll see them soon!
Emily Garcia- TTH
The biggest impact the coronavirus had affected me was ending my college years at Texas State too early. I sat in my college class the Thursday before spring break and didn't even realize that would be the last time. I was supposed to be taking my senior pictures this weekend. I know it is affecting everyone differently and it's so sad to watch all this happen to everyone around the world. The coronavirus has definitely opened up my eyes on how I take the little things in life for granted. Being in quarantine has been rough because I love to be out and about and do things, so that's been rough adjusting to. Online classes are miserable for me, I do not feel like I learn the same way compared to learning in person. Being in 18 hours and keeping up with all the different technical things as well as due dates for 6 classes isn't easy. I definitely feel like classes going online made stuff harder. I did have one professor slim down the assignments to make the stress a little less and that helped a lot with one class.
The only positive thing that coronavirus has brought me is being able to spend time quarantining with my family. I have a 13 year old brother who is on dialysis at home and we love watching movies together when its time to do his treatments. It's different being back home with my family because I am used to being on my own and a quiet house. It's a little harder to focus here, but I enjoy the quality time with my family.
Bianca Cano
online class
I would say the biggest impact corona has had on me is not getting to see my family and friends. It's hard being so close and having to resist being together for holidays and my birthday. But we do understand its for the better. It's just hard to think that we don't know how long this will last. My grandpa had planned a party for his birthday next month in Mexico and it makes me sad to think he'll celebrate alone. But the thought of going and taking the virus or endangering him is so much worse. I know that he understands though because Mexico is taking this very serious and has accommodations so that most elderly do not have to leave their houses at all.
I am fortunate enough to not be affected super negatively because of this pandemic. The biggest impact I have is not being able to celebrate my twenty first birthday on the square. It’s not that big of a deal but my birthday landed on graduation day this year, so I was going to celebrate with all my friends and especially those who are graduating. I’ve never truly experienced the square with all my best friends, so I was really looking forward to it. And I've been planning my outfit for months! I am grateful that this is my biggest complaint though I am still just a little disappointed.
A positive thing that has come out of this pandemic is that I finally have time to pursue all the hobbies I never had time for, for example, painting. I’m not very good but I enjoy doing it so much. I’ve been practicing my guitar much more and I’ve also been learning to sew and alter my clothes. Things that I’ve always pushed aside I finally have time for. It’s a bit bittersweet but at least I am enjoying my time indoors.
The current state of the pandemic has forced me to move back home for the remainder of the semester. It isn't too bad, but has had a social impact because normally when I'm home the beach is the place to be at. Since there is no public gatherings all the beach access are closed until further notice. Schoolwork has also been modified because all instructor think it's a great idea to assign more reading since they think we have nothing else better to do. That wouldn't be bad for one class, but for all it's a different story.
A positive thing that has come from this has been I take more frequent walks with my dog on my street, listen to an audiobook, I've cleared out 3/4 of my closet to donate after this quarantine is over and I've learned to enjoy old board games with family. It is a time to stay away from each other, but also a time I've gotten to spend more time with my family!
Seth De La Fuente TTH
I would say the biggest impact the pandemic has had on me is not being able to hang out with all my friends and being stuck at home because I really like going out. Also having classes online has been hard because I have a small attention span so I'm constantly getting distracted and feel like I'm not learning anything because I can only half pay attention to lessons no matter how hard I try.
The positive side of this has been I'm back at home where my room is bigger and I'm able to go swimming on my free time. I also can practice playing my piano which is something that I couldn't do that often before and cook different stuff.
Considering that I work for retail at the outlet mall, I was fortunate enough to not lose my job during this pandemic. And even more lucky to still be getting paid during this time of hardship. The only thing that I felt impacted me was the instruction online. I am a visual learner, I like an in person environment to learn and absorb more knowledge. I miss going to Starbucks then to Alkek to study for my classes. I miss extracurricular activities I involved myself with at TXST. Such as, intramural sports, my honors fraternity, or just simply running into old friends on campus. Another way I felt impacted was in my active lifestyle. I love going to the gym, I love working out. Home workouts are just not the same.
One way I learned how to cope with all this, is by coming back home with my family. Quarantine by myself felt too isolating and depressing. I didn't used to run outdoors much, but now I do and I enjoy it so much. I also go hiking sometimes or just on walks to clear my head. Before quarantine, I remember when I used to complain about not having enough time in my day to workout, do homework, go to work, and cook me a decent meal. Let alone, have a whole day to myself where I can just stay indoors and do nothing! Online instruction takes a little getting used to, but I’m not complaining anymore. I do miss the outside world, all my friends and all my school endeavors; but God always has a plan. Brighter days will come.
With the coronavirus pandemic, I've moved back home to San Antonio which thankfully isn't too far from San Marcos. It's not ideal as I enjoy being in San Marcos in school, working and being out on my own, but I am so grateful to have a home to go to. The online classes haven't been the easiest for me. I learn much better in person rather than online. I've already struggled with remembering assignments and trying to figure out a schedule for my schoolwork but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it somewhat. The first week of online classes I did have somewhat of a mental breakdown. I know all of this is so stressful for not just me, but everyone in the world. Mental health is such an important thing that I've been trying to pay attention to for my well-being and encourage others to pay attention to their mental during this time.
I've given myself time to just do nothing some days if I feel like it. With everything being closed down and really only have school as a part of my regular routine, I've allowed myself to be okay with not having a to-do list, which are usually huge for me. I'm so blessed to be home with my family and three dogs while I know some didn't have another home or place to go to when all of this starting happening. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and can find the little joy in their day-to-day lives whether it's watching your favorite show, reading a book or calling a close friend just to talk. We can do this.
TTH ONLINE
My boyfriend is a professional basketball player in Europe from Houston and he went back to play for the season in November. I haven't seen him since and was planning on coming to visit over the break...the week international travel was banned. It was heartbreaking to say the least. But our relationship is strong and I'm just hoping that his organization will let him come home soon. They are still getting paid, but not playing. So I don't know what exactly his bosses are waiting for because they are losing money but whatever.
In a positive light, I have loved the change to online classes. I have learned how to play the ukelele and started painting, cooking and cleaning much more. It's given me time to center myself and figure out who I am and what it is exactly that truly makes me happy and brings me joy. School from my bed is nice plus too!
I know it's hard for a lot of people out there right now and not everyone is handling it as well as me, so if you're one of those people, and you're reading this for some reason, the end is so so near. Please count your blessings, stay positive and always remember, this may not be ideal- but it could be so, SO much worse.
As they say in one of my favorite childhood musicals, "We're all in this together"! So here's to our new "not-so" normal, and I gotta say, it's personally not so bad.
Cheers!
Mariaemma R. Rivera (Online)
The biggest impact that the coronavirus has been that is has triggered my anxiety. I am anxious about what is to come with this situation and can only hope that my family and loved ones take the precautions necessary to stay safe. I work from home so mu job has not been impacted I am still able to continue my daily duties. I will say, that this crisis has greatly contributed to the current work load I am experiencing at work. I was very set in my routine prior to this situation, I really miss being able to go to the gym and just go sit and enjoy dinner.
During this time I have been trying to stay busy and really staying positive. I have been reading my favorite books, staying inside and making sure that I am still going on walks and that I am staying active. The positive to this situation is that I get to spend more time throughout my day speaking and catching up with my loved ones. I am trying to stay positive about the situation and I know that this too shall pass.
Mariaemma R. Rivera (Online)
The biggest impact that the coronavirus has been that is has triggered my anxiety. I am anxious about what is to come with this situation and can only hope that my family and loved ones take the precautions necessary to stay safe. I work from home so mu job has not been impacted I am still able to continue my daily duties. I will say, that this crisis has greatly contributed to the current work load I am experiencing at work. I was very set in my routine prior to this situation, I really miss being able to go to the gym and just go sit and enjoy dinner.
During this time I have been trying to stay busy and really staying positive. I have been reading my favorite books, staying inside and making sure that I am still going on walks and that I am staying active. The positive to this situation is that I get to spend more time throughout my day speaking and catching up with my loved ones. I am trying to stay positive about the situation and I know that this too shall pass.
Zack A, Honers (T,Th)
Corona hit me hard in a lot of ways, school, family, work and life, you name it, it has been affected. This was my last semester, I worked so hard to graduate on time and do it all in four years and walk that stage knowing how proud I’d make my family. But classes went online and commencement got pushed back to August, and I fear if things don’t get better even that might be ruined or pushed further back. Like other student, a number of organizations and teams I was involved with had planned events cancelled. Our model UN team couldn’t go to North Carolina, a competition we spent weeks and worked hard in preparation for. Another org I was proud to be in, TRIO SSS had all its fundraisers and events cancelled, something I was so proud to have direct and impactful involvement in. Corona took the reward and satisfaction from so much hard work put into this semester and my initial reaction to it was gloom, sadness but most of all I was angry. I know this was out of our hands, but corona had me feeling like I was robbed.
My initial reaction took time to get over but my adjustment to our current predicament hasn’t been much better. The urgency to graduate is bigger now, but my motivation for doing the best I can with the class work asked of me is just not the same when everything is online. I loved every single class I had this semester, which only adds to the sense of anger for things ending like this. Outside of school and myself things with my family has been affected worse. My parents are struggling to keep our business afloat due to the economic impact. Like with me, something they have worked so hard for might be taken from them due to a situation out of there control.
If there is one small good or positive coming out of this situation, I guess it could be some prospective, thing could be worse for me and our nation. I am blessed to not gotten the virus itself or lost a loved one to it. Our nation could be hit worse, things can always be worse, not matter how much they suck right now. If nothing else, corona is going to change our country for the better, hopefully force us to make better more responsible decisions down the line. For me personally it has been a maturity of sorts, things happen you can’t control and one must rise to the challenge when the rug is swept out from under you. I wonder how we will look back in ten years and see this moment of inconvenience, pain and misfortune in our hopefully long lives.
Jameson M. TTH
This quarantine period has been pretty unique for sure. It hasn't had a CRAZY impact on my life but it has definitely caused me some trouble. I'm not totally sure how it is related, but as soon as classes went on line and everything closed my sleep schedule just became nonsense. Now I just sleep in intervals when I'm tired, but it started because I can't sleep from around midnight to 7 am. I'm not sure what it is about these hours but I can not get my body to stay asleep. I even tried staying up a full 24+ hours to try and reset and fall asleep at a decent hour, and I ended up waking up at 2:30 in the morning not being able to sleep until about 8. Luckily this is manageable because I can do most of my work when I want to. I only have one zoom call I need to make it to during the week so its not a big trouble, but It's frustrating for me because no one is awake at these hours so there is no one to talk to. I also enjoy being awake with the son but I just can't seem to manage it. The next trouble is for some reason I'm getting due dates mixed up, I suppose because I'm not getting in class reminders. It's just oversight on my part but I just missed the forum post due a few days ago because I thought it was talking about the blog post.... Other than that I'm doing just fine. I would have to say that one good thing that has come of this for me is that I don't have to make the commute from Austin every day! Last semester I only had classes two days a week so the commute wasn't that bad, but this semester I was going back and forth four days a week, and it was getting seriously expensive for gas and also just becoming mind numbing ESPECIALLY when I would hit that I-35 traffic. One night I got stuck on I-35 for about four and a half hours just sitting still with my phone out of power so all I could do is listen to the radio and pray that it would end. But thankfully I don't have to worry about traffic right now! Also another thing, I was a server at a dinner/movie theatre, and I'm still technically employed but it's closed. I thought about it recently and I don't think that even after the quarantine is over people are going to start returning to places like movie theaters, so I may really be out of a job. But, if all goes well I should be taking the last of my classes this summer, so I can start applying for a full time career position!
Madison F. TTH
The biggest impact the coronavirus has had on me has definitely been the move. Because I only have a Summer one class after this semester until my graduation, I have moved out of San Marcos, Texas and back to Corpus Christi, Texas to live with my parents. It simply wouldn't make sense for me to keep my apartment in San Marcos now that all my future classes will be online. I have applied and been accepted to participate in graduation ceremonies but I can't help but feel anxious about the possibility that those ceremonies will be cancelled.
Graduating college is likely to be one of my greatest achievements. Now, after all the hard work and money I've put into this, the last few months have been taken away from me. Months ago, my friends and I had created a shared Google Doc of a list of activities for us to do together before we graduate and move to different places. Now, that list will never be completed.
I have also found myself to suddenly be in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend rather than being able to see him multiple times a week which has been difficult for us. Another significant change has been that I was forced to quit my job and quit my krav maga classes. I have been attending krav maga in San Marcos for about two years and it makes me sad that I can't go to one last class and say goodbye to all the friends I have made there. I realize that there are much worse issues arising from this situation currently. But this is how it has affected me personally.
Erin Shevlin (TTH Online)
For me the biggest impact that this pandemic has had on me is realizing how connected my usual schedule is. My usual form of fun was going to work, restaurants, shows, parks, my apartment pool.. basically everything that has been taken away from us. I have been struggling to adapt. I miss my family and friends so much and I even miss working and school.. As for school, I always avoided online school because I have a tendency to forget things when I don't have a concrete schedule so it has been a bit of a challenge for me. I guess a positive for me has been forcing myself to remain calm which has tested my anxiety in ways I never have before. I haven't really picked up any new hobbies but I have watched so much Netflix that I could talk shows and movies with anyone for hours. Also, ubereats is my best friend now. Another cool thing is that my family met for a zoom meeting for my uncles birthday which was super different but fun. I see a huge change coming in the future for how our world works in terms of stay at home jobs, etc.
Erik Reyes (TTH 12:30pm Online)
When it comes to evaluating the effects of the corona virus, I am finding that retaining optimism is a virtue. In order to propel ourselves forward, we must use the most efficient fuel which is positivity. In my life, I am encountering a share of both opportunities of challenges. Not having access to a traditional gym has been a fairly noticeable challenge to my fitness goals and daily upkeep. I think I speak for a whole lot of you when I say that the gym is more than a way to stay healthy and maintain physique, it is an outlet to exhale stress and inhale positive energy. Never the less, this challenge is not unique, like all other obstacles it can be maneuvered by adaption. I've had to expand my mind to embrace the benefits of weightless workouts, not get lost in the differences and comparisons, but embrace the new. In terms of opportunities, I've found that I now have more time to read. Reading is a mind expanding tool that I often shy away from or simply don't have time to engage in. I finally finished a book that has taken me about ten months to read. I've also almost finished a second AMAZING book called Talking To Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. I've also spent a fair it of time studying for the LSAT, hopefully I'll be taking it in
August and applying to law schools by winter of this year.
The biggest impact that the coronavirus has had on me is that I have had to move back to my hometown. I lived in my sorority house on campus, so we had to move out once the campus and dorms were cleared out as well. It has been difficult adjusting to living with my parents and sister again, and it is much more difficult to focus on school and responsibilities with everything going on in my house around me. Change and the unknown are very difficult concepts for me. I find it difficult to not know what the next day is going to bring us, so I am learning to be better about that during this time as well. Something positive that has come out of this experience is that I am more focused on being positive and thankful for the things that I have and am able to experience. Although it is difficult to be back living with my family again, it has also been really great getting to spend so much time with them, especially with my younger sister. After this experience I don't think that I will take anything in my life for granted again.
I would have to say that the biggest way Coronavirus has impacted my life is that I cannot go home to see my family. Once Texas Sate decided to extend our spring break and put us on to online schooling format, all of my friends went home to be with there families. I chose it was best to not go home, as my family live in Florida and both of my parents are considered high risk, I did not want to chance getting them sick. I made the decision to stay in San Marcos, even though basically no one else is here.
The positive that has come out of this is that I do have people here in Texas who care for me and check in on me regularly, I am lucky to have so many people in my life that love me and I think that it's times like these where you really have to know and appreciate the positives in life. I am also usually a very busy person, and this has forced me to relax and focus on my self for a change.
Chris Huckabay (TTh)
The biggest impact the corona virus has had on me is ruining all the plans my friends and I had for spring break and for the rest of the semester. A lot of my friends have moved back home because of classes going online or because they don't have a job anymore and can't stay. With everyone staying inside and almost all businesses being closed me and my roommates have been stuck in the house with nothing to do. A positive that has come from this though is me still being able to work while others might not have that opportunity.
Austin, Hightower (TTh, Online)
Not long ago I was laid off by my employer. Shortly thereafter, I was approved for unemployment by the TWC and was offered 6-8 months worth of income to compensate for my lack of employment.
Now I'm stuck with rent, car payments and no job. As of now, I'm relying on my savings, unemployment checks and help from my parents to keep my bills paid. I'm not complaining though, I'm doing better than a lot of people out there. At least I get help. Hopefully this ends soon so we can get back to work safely.
My girlfriend and I have been quarantined together since the beginning of this and we've definitely had days where we're feeling down. On days when things are really hard it's because the future seems to be so uncertain. I get sick feelings in my stomach whenever I turn on the news and there's no good news in sight. We've heard the media speak about life not returning to normal for as much as 2 years because a vaccine needs to be created. We've seen stories about areas of the world that have already overcome the virus, now seeing spikes in cases again. I like to compare this to running a marathon because it almost seems like it would be more bearable if we knew that there was a finish line in sight.
I'm a Type 1 Diabetic and that makes my immune system weaker than most. Knowing my life could end at any moment due to an invisible killer, it almost feels like we're going to war every time we leave the house.
I’d say the biggest impact the pandemic has had on my life is the everyday anxieties of leaving the house for essential errands.
Whenever my girlfriend and I get groceries, we order them from H-E-B and pick them up curbside without contacting anybody. Then, whenever we get home, we take out sanitizing wipes and sanitize every single item inside the bags and put them inside of a clean crate to take them inside. Whenever we get gas, we wear gloves just in case. Whenever we want a snack, it's not as easy as just going to the corner store because we've sworn off going into any enclosed spaces. If we want something, we have to add it to our grocery list and it's at least 7 days out from there. We also made bandana masks and began collecting sanitizing products.
Originally my mom wanted me to move back home with her and Dad about an hour north in Round Rock, Texas. However, with me not being sure whether I've been exposed to the virus (because people can be asymptomatic), I didn't feel comfortable doing that. I need to protect my family. Especially considering they help take care of my grandparents who are much older and have health problems. This was also the case for my girlfriend whose family lives in the valley in south Texas. Not seeing our family has certainly been hard.
As for school, it was a little bit difficult transitioning to online courses but it wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be. Yes, I may have missed an assignment in the chaos of transitioning, but overall things are mostly good. At least school has kept us busy.
These could be the most difficult times we endure during our lives but we understand that once this is over, life will return to whatever the new normal is and things will be okay.
My girlfriend and I make sure that we go outside regularly and stay active. We go for drives with the windows down and enjoy the weather. We regularly call and talk to our friends and family in order to maintain our sanity and the strong bonds that we've built with them. Although we can sleep in as late as we want on some days, we found it's best to stick to a regular sleep schedule just as we would if we weren't in the middle of the pandemic because it helps it feel like things are normal again. Some days we get lost in a movie, or a game, or activities outside the house. We laugh and have fun because we are grateful to have each other and be alive each and every day.
On the bright side, this daily routine has brought me closer to those I care about and I'm most grateful for that.
I tend to suffer with a lack of structure, so moving back home and entirely online with no social obligations really did put a wrench in my way of being. I've had people I live with test positive for COVID-19, so that doesn't help too much, but it has given me an appreciation for any period of good health I get. I miss San Marcos, even if I rarely left the house while there. My habits were teetering on hermit, but I had made some new friends this semester and I would turn 21 in spring break. Now, I've definitely plunged into hermit, especially in the facial hair department. It feels selfish to miss and yearn for such tiny things like going out or just living on my own, but they can help keep a grasp on what normalcy was. Hopefully the return to what life was is safe and soon - I'm more willing to sacrifice the latter for the sake of the former.
Gabriel C (TTh)
Coronavirus has changed my life. I lost all my side income from comedy. Life has been hard for me the past month. I have always been a home body, but this takes it to the extreme. I do miss seeing people and being able to perform every night. I am excited for things to get back to normal as soon as it can. I have gotten help from some friends, but I did not qualify for unemployment nor did I get a stimulus check. I am living with my girlfriend until I can get back on my feet and that helps me focus on school. Although I am worried about money and slipping into terrible anxiety and depression spells, I am trying my hardest to remain optimistic. I have been cooking everyday a healthy meal. Doing yoga and breathing exercises and applying for freelance comedy writing work to supplement my income from home. My parents also wont help me or let me come home out of fear of contracting the virus because they are in their old age. It is a very awkward time, and everyone is feeling it. All I can do is hope for the best and try to not get too down on myself because I have it bad but others have it far worse.
The biggest impact that the COVID-19 virus has had on my life is the lack of sports. From playing fantasy basketball to watching whatever sports might be on at any given time, I lived and breathed sports. However, I will say that I took sports for granted. I couldn't have ever imagined that they would go away for any reason other than lack of interest and funding. A world-wide pandemic never once crossed my mind and there is definitely a feeling of emptiness for me and sports fans all over the world. As an Astros fan yourself, I am sure that you are feeling the same kind of emptiness with the season so close to starting. All I ask is that football doesn't get cancelled, then I'll be content.
The biggest change of my daily routine is that I am actually eating three meals per day being at my mom's place in Dallas. Wild! It has also been great to spend some quality time with them as well. In the midst of playing way too many video games, I have decided to teach myself some new things. For example, I have been trading stocks quite a bit. Now, I am no Warren Buffett, but it has been thrilling seeing how much the market moves each day. Even though trading on the stock market sounds pretty intimidating during a pandemic like this, there are some great stocks out there that could be a big win in the long run. Another thing that I have been doing lately is applying for jobs for when I graduate. I was surprised to see that so many companies are still actively hiring. Recruiters still have a job to do, too; I suppose. With that, I have found a strong interest in becoming a Financial Professional. Once I graduate, I hope to be able to accept a job with a pretty large financial brokerage in Denver, Colorado. This means that I will have to test to be certified in stock brokerage, insurance, and financial planning; which could be another thing that keeps me busy during these times. Hopefully, the remaining interviews go well, including the one tomorrow! Overall, this downtime has been a blessing and a curse. Sure, it sucks not being able to go out and have fun with friends. On the flip-side it has been nice to focus on myself and grow some high-income skills that will help me in the future.
Matthew Fercher TTH
The biggest impact coronavirus has had on me personally is the abrupt campus closure resulting in leaving San Marcos and going back to Dallas. The going home part usually would be a benefit, but the fact this was my senior year kind of bums me out. The overall feeling I have had this past couple of weeks in quarantine is a sense of loss and confusion. Although I have online classes every day, the physical aspect of college is all but over. And I am, like many of us, confused about what the future holds. This is the first time my generation has been exposed to a global life-changing event and although it was scary and still is, we can all in one way or another start new and begin to rebuild our lives and society knowing what things in life truly matter and how fragile they are. I think as a nation and globally, we can learn from this pandemic and become stronger and smarter in hopes of a better future. My family has been directly affected since my parents own an Austrian restaurant in Plano, TX. Business went down tremendously, but working with food delivery services has really helped sales during the quarantine. Throughout my time in quarantine, I found it beneficial to go outside first thing after waking up. Either by walking the dog, running, or even just standing outside for five minutes can wake you up and give you more energy to start your day. Another positive thing has been the ample amount of time I now have to watch movies. Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime are running 24/7 and I love it.
The biggest impact COVID-19 has had on my life is canceling my study abroad trip to Vienna, Austria this summer. I found out the trip was canceled an hour after our first study abroad meeting! Studying in Austria would have been an amazing life-changing opportunity, and with the cancellation of the trip, I am now prolonged in my German minor. I would have graduated in fall, and I still may depending on what they can offer during the summer, but it is not likely; it is all just very unfortunate and unexpected. I am very grateful that my family and friends are staying safe and have not been affected by the virus, and I hope it stays that way. Things are changing a bit around town, but for the most part, it still feels normal to me. H-E-B not being open 24 hours sucks because I am a night shopper. I like to go in the middle of the night, or the wee bits of the morning when barely anyone is there and get my shopping done, but now I always try and arrive at 8 a.m., right when they open to avoid a line if they have one. I plan to go back home to Houston soon to stay with my great-grandmother and be around family. It is beyond sad to see such an invasive virus go through and tear the world apart so rapidly. I just hope this all blows over soon.
A positive impact is that I have gotten back into reading books for fun. I loved reading growing up and now I have time to fit it into my schedule. Another positive is that I am working on my time management skills, which are in desperate need of managing. I am no longer in school mode, so it is honestly very hard remembering to stay up-to-date with classes, especially with my unreliable WiFi.
Jaden Edison, TTh
The biggest impact COVID-19 has had on me has to do with the switch to the online classes format and work.
When it comes to classes, I'm normally a person of routine and structure. Going and sitting in a classroom keeps me on course to do the things I need to do consistently, such as taking notes, following along and asking questions. Those things are still possible virtually, but I'd say my time management in those areas has suffered.
When it comes to working, my job at The Star normally requires me to be out and about and interacting with people in-person. I also enjoy newsroom culture and being able to work in our office among everyone in student media. Everything is now limited to Zoom meetings, more phone calls and very limited in-person interaction, which has obviously been difficult for us all.
I also understand that there are people whose concerns stretch far beyond anything I'm experiencing. I really feel for those individuals and families and send nothing but well wishes and love. I'm confident we'll get through these times stronger than we were before.
As far as a positive impact, I've gleaned more of an appreciation for the day-to-day things many of us took for granted before this pandemic hit us. Sitting in restaurants, being around friends, walking campus, attending in-person meetings, watching sports, etc., all felt like things that would always be there. As we see now, that isn't the case, and life can change at the snap of a finger.
There's a lot of uncertainty that lies ahead, but I'm excited to continue challenging myself to be the best I can be under these circumstances. I think when it's all said and done, we will all have some amazing stories to tell.
Athey M. TTH
the biggest impact that has affected me during this quarantine is the switch to online classes. the way my mind works is that i need a actual class structure in order to succeed, i don't know why this is but i've always found that online classes just don't work for me.
a positive note is that my roommate and i get along pretty well and have not tried to kill each other (yet). having another person to talk to in isolation helps tremendously. i also went thru my entire collection of movies, including the Japanese spider-man series, which i dont know if that helps or hurts my insanity...
COVID-19 has affected my job and every day hobbies, I am aware that in this time today we should focus on health first, but even your mental state is starting to deteriorate. From being able to go outside and experience the world for all of what it is.
My life has changed a lot because of the coronavirus. The biggest change is definitely not being able to go to class. I'm an extrovert so being stuck in the house and not able to see anyone is really hard. I never thought I'd miss going to class as much as I do. It's hard to constantly be worrying and paranoid about the virus. It's hard opening my phone or turning on the TV and seeing thousands and thousands of people dying from this. Throughout all the struggles, there are some positives that have come out of this pandemic. I have really enjoyed getting to spend time with my family. Not having classes in person has allowed me to go home and be with my family for longer than I ever get to. I have also had more time to catch up on sleep and exercise which I am happy about.
Delilah A (TTh online).
The virus has bascially put my life on a pause. I can no longer walk the stage in May like I have been waiting for for the past four years. I am no longer working. I am still in school however the work has just become excessive and it does not feel like I am getting what I paid for anymore. I am also unsure about any future internship/job opportunities that might be on hold as well.
The nice thing out of this is I have been able to spend more time with my dogs and take them on more walks. I've also had time to be creative with my indoor hobbies such as drawing and painting. There is not much else to do to pass the time but luckily I still have a solid support system.
Jared O. (TTh)
Out of the all the struggles with the shutdowns, I would say the gym closures and the lack of daily structure that makes it the worst. The gym was a routine for me that I looked forward to. Furthermore, I had just started a new training regiment which required a variety of weight training. Second, I'm a commuter. So getting to and from San Marcos got my mind right for the school/home sphere. It's been a struggle staying on task and up to date on my schoolwork. Fortunately, all this time at home has allowed me to work on other projects I've been overlooking. Also, I really have no excuse to not pay attention to what I eat...
Ashlyn C. TTH
The biggest impact that the Coronavirus has had on my life has been not seeing any friends or family. I live alone, and while I don’t mind it, it definitely is a bit of an adjustment, and I find it harder to manage time. This was especially difficult right when spring break began because I was supposed to work on a group project face-to-face with a team and it was not the same having to work remotely and complicated the process. There were several important school functions and outside of school events I was excited for this semester that were cancelled or postponed which is unfortunate, and I also miss being able to have classes face-to-face.
With all of that said though, this has been an adjustment for me, as it has been for everyone, but I am very fortunate to say that these things are my biggest impact. I cannot express my gratitude that my family, friends, and myself are all safe. I am very grateful to have my apartment to live in even with the isolation. I really and truly hope for everyone in this time to be adjusting okay, and I know there are so many worse ways that people’s lives are being affected. I really hope that life can be okay for everyone impacted.
A positive thing that has arisen from this for me though is that I have been cooking all my meals since this began which is a first for me. I am not the best cook, but it has been fun making food and gives me something to work towards.
Audrey Garcia - TTH (Honors)
Parts of this pandemic have been difficult. Job insecurity is rough and not being able to hug my grandma has been heartbreaking. To be honest, that's been my life's pattern. My grandparents weren't always around to give me hugs, and my household didn't always have secure income.
This time has provided me time to reflect on growing up with a young single mother of three. Though money didn't always come, she found a way to provide food. Though bills weren't always paid, she found a way to keep us housed, and though we weren't always happy, we weren't always sad.
This is just another one of those times, except I'm now grown and pay my own bills and provide my own food. These old challenges, made new to my adult-self, have given me a profound appreciation for my mother, who's only 20 years older than myself.
Getting a school-schedule back in order was probably my biggest challenge at the beginning of this pandemic. School has always been my main focus, but once income insecurity hit I had to find a secure way to pay my bills and feed my family (who's just me, my boyfriend, his little brother, and my two animals), which is nothing compared to what my mother had to do.
Thanks to my mother, I know how to make so many meals with so little resources. The endless amounts of delicious "peasant" meals makes me proud of my Hispanic culture.
During this difficult time, I noticed that stretching resources is an instinct of mine. Apparently, I don't have to shop every three days. After my initial freak-out with my school-schedule, I've been able to relax and get back into my academic flow. I've also been able to start re-reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
I would like to take the time to thank Martinez for his continued patience and empathy during this time.
Oh boy. Where to start. The first thing to come to mind is graduation. I won't have the opportunity to feel the pride of jumping into the river after walking across the stage in May. That kind of sucks. But it's a necessary sacrifice. Also, I work in local news as a digital journalist and its been a crazy time for that. It's constantly busy and scary and exhausting, but feels so incredibly rewarding at the same time. It's interesting going through these uncharted waters and learning the ropes of journalism at the same time. I'm very fortunate to be in the position that I am.
Makenzie H. T/TH
This pandemic started out as the worst thing ever for me. I lost both of my jobs - one of which was actually a job working with ESPN that could've led to a career. I cried for hours when we were told that all sports were over and my job was done. Now that I'm graduating, I won't get that opportunity again, which is extremely discouraging for my future - but I have plenty of alcohol to cope.
On the bright side, I've been able to rewatch Game of Thrones for the third time and I've been hosting movie nights with my friends over Zoom - which has gone shockingly well.
The thing that I have struggled the most with is school. I went from taking 19 hours in-person to online and it has been a huge adjustment. Staying on top of when stuff is due for what class and all the different forums and quizzes. Especially this being my last semester, I am very distraught about not getting to walk the stage in May. I have had my graduation date set in my calendar since junior year and now it's been postponed.
One thing that has changed for the good though is that my relationship is no longer long-distance and I get to spend every day with my boyfriend since I am staying with him during all of this.
This change in life due to the current pandemic has been a shocker and what could happen to people if you don't have all your ducks in a row. I lost my job and it was experience needed to develop into a real world career. The impact has been somewhat negative but I see light in all of this. I look forward to staying safe and read up on knowledge valuable to me. Its said if you find something you love doing, you will never have to work a day in your life, I believe we all should gather our thoughts and seek out something we love to do. Thanks for everyone else sharing.
Tyler C TTH
For Me the largest change to my life comes from my housing. I still pay for my apartment, but I haven't been there in weeks. My girlfriend and I have gone to her parents house in San Antonio. The family is struggling to adjust to all being so close. Screaming matches between everyone makes me feel extremely awkward and unwanted, but I can't leave my girlfriend here. I want to stay by her side no matter where we are. That's the good thing, it doesn't matter how much the family gets on each other's nerves. She and I still have each other, and nothing can tear us apart.
COVID-19 has made my life so different. I am in my last semesters of college, and they have to be through online. I don't currently know whether I will even walk across the stage. My diploma is possibly going to be virtual now. I won't get to jump in the sewell river with my gown on. I also feel like the quarantine is getting to me. I am fortunate to have my brother staying with me at our parents place in San Antonio. I hope that this isn't how we are going to have to live from now on. Every time that we leave the house we are putting ourselves at risk. So we don't usually go out and do stuff anymore. I have never been a fan of taking courses online. I feel like you can easily fall behind, and the work loads can feel overwhelming sometimes. Hopefully this weird time will end soon and everything can go back to being normal.
Malcom Marshall TTh
For me the biggest impact from this Covid-19 situation has been school. Taking 18 hours is already a lot but now 18 hours of online classes is even more tough. I'ts been tough to keep up but you got to do what you got to do. Now o a more bright side I've had more time to catch up on TV shows I didnt have time to watch and also running in early morning. It's had a lot of benefits, I feel a lot better throughout the day. Good energy
Being quarantined with my family has had its ups and downs. I have enjoyed being back home because I'm a very family-oriented person, and it has saved me a lot of money since I'm not driving back and forth. I have enjoyed being able to spend time with my parents and younger sister because we have played lots of Mario Kart on the Wii these last few weeks. I also missed my mom's cooking, which has been really nice. On the flip side, my fiance has been quarantined on the army base he is stationed at and I have not been able to see him since we got engaged. It has been a struggle, especially since his base is in Louisiana. I also am a contracted employee for speech and deabte for multiple different schools, so I lost all of my upcoming contracts which is now causing me to struggle to pay for a few months of my apartment next year.
Kadey. R (online)
My fiance is an Orthodontist and we own a practice here in Austin, TX which had to be temporarily closed due to CDC regulations. My Fiance has an A-type personality and feels the need to always be doing something aka being productive at all times. So for me, its been hard watching my finance being contained in the house when I know he wants to be out in the world killing it at the practice.
However, there have been some positive outcomes with these CDC restrictions. They have gotten our creative juices flowing and made us think outside the box in terms of accommodating patients with virtual consultations and still produce income.
I enjoyed reading this article because it had a positive outlook on the COVID situation
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/19/coronavirus-effect-economy-life-society-analysis-covid-135579
CHRIS DUNN- COVID-19 has had an unprecedented affect on so many different aspects of life. Parks are shut down, sporting events are postponed ( makes me really sad because I wanted to see Lebron James bring home an NBA championship with the Lakers), Public Schools are shut down as well as universities, the list goes on. The biggest impact COVID-19 has had on my life is the transition from traditional style classes to on-line classes, especially since the classes I signed up for in the fall were very interactive and group project oriented. Personally, I do not consider my self the type to excel in online classes and have had to make minor adjustments to my schedule but am very blessed to be in the position I am in compared to those who are out of work and are struggling in ways I am unable to imagine. On the positive side of this setback, I have been able to play my instruments mire than I ever have. Infact, I just bought an electronic drum kit and have dedicated many hours of my day to jamming out on that bad boy.
Taylor Gonzalez-Batey TTH
I have had a pretty upsetting experience because of the corona virus. My sister-in-law passed away a couple of weeks ago (not because of the virus) and because of the virus, we were not allowed to have a normal funeral for her. Only 10 people were allowed to attend her funeral so I was pretty upset when I could not go. I did however break the rules and attended the gravesite since it was outside I did not see an issue with me standing a few feet away from her gravesite as I watched the service.
On another note, I am currently spending A TON of time at home with my two year old. This is actually both a blessing and a curse. Have you ever tried to study or do any type of schoolwork with a two-year-old banging on your laptop keys?
The biggest impact coronavirus has had on me is that it has effectively canceled my senior year. I'm due to graduate in august and was thoroughly enjoying my last full semester when it came to a screeching halt. Now I feel like the normal amount of uncertainty and anxiety one would normally have about graduating is amplified because everything is so chaotic.
On a positive note I am communicating with my brother and friends more because we're so bored all we have left to do is text and call each other. It's very important to me that I get my facetime with my nephew.
The best advice I have is to just get up everyday and shower and brush your teeth. It's such a little thing and does wonders for mental health while you're locked up inside.
Alexis Patterson / Online
Unfortunately this has had a lot of negative impact on me but the biggest impact that I feel like sharing is my job temporarily closing. My job recently opened in December and we were finally getting the swing of things and I was earning good money but since we were so new the owners couldn't afford to pay us and keep the lights on.
Through all this, it has been a blessing to be home with my family. Spending time with family is so important and as college students we get sucked into our lives in San Marcos, that we might forget to visit home every once in a while. Luckily, my family and I are really close and enjoy hanging out so me being home has been comforting!
Guillermo Macias (T/TH)
The biggest impact for me when it comes to the coronavirus would have to be the distancing and the disengagement when it comes to communication. Especially since I work at HEB there is a risk factor coming in to work and not knowing if I will ever catch the virus. Sometimes I had to reflect on the impacts that may results and being prepared for the worse. Though it may be a hard pill to swallow I try to think positive and keep my surrounds on notice. Which is a concern to my family because since I work most of the time to try to tell them in advance when I come home so I can keep my distance away from them until I disinfect my cloths and everything I might have brought to work. Which results less communication with my family because I fear of spreading this virus that I try to communicate by facetime or call. However, there is always a sense of void and loneliness I get especially not being around with my family. Hopefully this virus will end soon so we can reflect and make better decisions to prevent something like this again.
Bailey F. (Online)
COVID-19 has had a huge impact on all of our lives. One of the biggest impacts it has had on mine would be losing my job. I work at a bar in downtown Austin and haven't had income for over a month now. It has been extremely stressful, and not knowing when I will get to work again is even more stressful. Also with everything being closed, the gym is one of the things I miss the most. It is extremely hard to find motivation to do at-home workouts, which is making me feel depressed and out of shape.
I am trying to look on the bright side of things. My boyfriend and I have been taking our dogs hiking almost everyday so they are extremely happy and loved! We also bought bikes, so I have just been enjoying nature as much as possible. I think after all this is over, everyone will have a new found appreciation for the little things. I know I will. I will never again take for granted the ability to hop in the car and go visit a friend for drinks. I pray that we take the lessons and challenges we are currently facing and create a new normal.
Ian M. TTh
Covid-19 has impacted my life in many ways. From stress and anxiety, to completely altering my routines and my ability to interact with people. I personally suffer with anxiety and the past few weeks have been nerve-wracking to the extreme. In the first few days of quarantine, I found myself checking my temperature at regular intervals throughout they day, and not being able to fall asleep at night. I would check every few hours to see how many confirmed cases there were in Hays County. It quickly became a pattern of behavior and caused me to start to feel sick. Finally, after a week of this, I began to consciously try and change my behavior. Within two days of not thinking about it as much, I was starting to feel good again. I am still stressed, but pursuing my interests and hobbies, and keeping busy helps a lot.
On the bright side, I have been able to focus more on the things that make me happy. After half a semester sitting on my work table, I finally turned back on my 3D printer and started to make things with it again. I even started making face masks with it!
Times are still scary, and the worst may still be to come, but I’m going to try and do my best to keep those around me and myself safe and virus-free by following all of the social distancing procedures and good social practices.
The biggest impact the Corona Virus has had on my life would have to be me moving back home. Due to school being closed and everyone moving off-campus, as an RA, I did the same. Until I got back home to Houston, I did not realize how much of an impact environment actually helps me with my academics. Being home and doing work is not ideal, it has been so hard to stay motivated, but I am just blessed that I did have a home to come to and family to help me during this time.
On a more positive note, being home has allowed me more time to spend with my parents. I am especially happy to be back with my mom, we are so close. While social distancing, I have attended several Zoom birthday parties and chats to keep up with my sisters and friends. Walking around my neighborhood has also become apart of my new normal. I have never been a big outdoors person, but now I appreciate anytime I can get.
Despite everything that is going on I am still here, alive and well. I can say the same for my friends and loved ones. If we all continue to do our part, I know we will see brighter days ahead. Looking forward to the future and all it has to offer!
I work in CPA firm that deals with bookkeeping, payroll and currently the most important thing, taxes.
At first, we were bombarded with calls about the stimulus package. A lot of people were excited about the money coming in and therefore we were quickly overwhelmed with even more work. Then things turned sour. You see not only do we do taxes but we are also in charge of payroll for both small and big companies. They started laying off people and soon they themselves stopped payroll in its entirety. Receiving calls from these companies on who they laid-off and who needs to be removed became a little hard on us. It's a dark reality on what's going. After the layoff's started we then also started to receive calls from people asking for help on how to file for unemployment. I'm extremely lucky to have a job that is essential, it pays for my school and my bills. Even though I have to risk my health every day and leave my home, I still think I'm one of the lucky ones.
Most of the people who come in to do their taxes are relying on the refund and the stimulus packages to help them get through. Disregarding politics for a moment, I think these people need more help. It's not fun coming into work. Taxes are supposed to be boring, not sad too.
In the bookkeeping department, it is interesting seeing how these companies are being affected by the pandemic. Restaurants are having to rely so much more on delivery services to make profits and those profits don't compare to previous months.
Having this unique perspective during the pandemic has made me even more aware of the many other worlds out there. It's crazy to think how much of an impact this is having on the public health and its economy.
The biggest impact this pandemic has had on me is cutting my last semester shorter then expected. This is my second go round at school. I had gone right out of high school and it just want the right time. I took 3 years off and finally figured out what direction I wanted my life to go so I came to TXST to finish that chapter. I had been looking forward to jumping in that river for 4 years. We all do. It's a moment where we get to wash all the stress away from the last 4-5 years of you lives and start fresh. I know I'll still get my diploma but to finally get to this moment (like many others I graduated high school with) and not get to celebrate makes me a little said. This paired with the increased anxiety has made for an interesting quarantine experience. That being said, the positive form this pandemic outweigh the negative.
So many positive experiences have come for this shelter in place. I've gotten to spend more time with my dog, Charlie. He's probably so confused because of the amount of time I'm getting to spend with him on walks and just being outside has doubled. I've also gotten to make time for hobbies that I had put off because there were "better" things to do with my time. I've started reading again which is something I haven't done for joy since I was in 8th grade! I'm discovering so much about myself in the short time that I'm a little more confident in where life will take me....after I get my diploma in the mail. I've also gotten to spend more time with family then I have in the last 4 years. Having zoom dinners or just calling to talk through the anxieties has been a daily highlight of mine and I look forward to the day when I can go home and see them in person. For a short amount of time of course...don't want to push it.
After all of this is "over" and we can go back out into the world, I'm excited to see how this will change the society in a positive way. I know it will take some time to realize it, but I know we'll get there.
Joshua O. (TTh)
The biggest impact the coronavirus has had on my life throughout the past few months is the cancellation of sports. Not only am I a huge sports fan so that really is mostly all of what I watch, but both of my jobs/internships both revolve around the sports industry. With no sports, the crew I'm a part of won't be able to broadcast Texas State games on ESPN+. Also with social distancing in place and school activities are halted, the staff and I at KTSW can't produce in-studio episodes of a weekly talk show about Texas State sports knowing there's no sports in progress.
With those negatives though, I have been able to go back home and reconnect with my family to spend the most time together I've had with them in a long time. Even after a few weeks I'm still trying to adjust and have a clear schedule to work on all of my classes but with the help of my girlfriend and family, I'm staying positive and hopeful that this pandemic slows down.
Aidan K, TTh. The impact of Covid-19 has been much, much more severe than I initially thought. The first weekend of our spring break, my roommates and I traveled to New Orleans for a pre-planned spring break trip. We all downplayed the severity in our head, as we had already paid for the trip. We ended up leaving town the day before they shut down all the bars and clubs. Luckily, none of us contracted the virus but I was really worried about giving it to my parents. I decided to quarantine myself in San Marcos for 2 weeks after returning, just to be safe. It was tough, seeing my friends go home and knowing I had to wait it out.
Fortunately, I'm in my hometown with my family now. My Aunt also had a close call, she had a business trip in Italy right before they got hit hard. She lives in Norway, and couldn't see a doctor for two weeks to get the test so she had to quarantine as well.
One positive thing that has come out of all this is a collective realization of how important family is. I often feel like I hang out with my parents more than my other friends, but in a need of crisis, it really helps being around your loved ones. Everyday my family and I either do a puzzle or watch a movie to help bond and take our minds off the news.
CHRISTINA M. - ONLINE CLASS
I was recently laid off from my job at the Austin airport and it was incredibly difficult to adjust to my life’s new changes. I have always worked two to three jobs and when I started to continue my education again at Texas State, I was super eager to find a good stable job that would help me finish my degree with less stress. When I got my job in public relations at the airport I was over the moon and eager to learn so much. I got laid off right before my second year work anniversary and I dealt with many tears and a lot of uncertainty like many others who lost their job. All of my stability that I worked so hard from was pulled away from me and I didn’t get to even say goodbye to everyone I worked so closely with. I’m part of the millions who have filed for unemployment and although I’d like to find comfort in knowing I’m not alone, it gets really hard to remain optimistic about what lies ahead for my future career.
Now that a month has passed I have been able to find better ways to navigate through my anxiety and depression and have kept myself busy with DIY projects, gardening, and Netflix. My mom has also loved my facetime happy hours together and we drop food off to each other outside at least once or twice a week.
Living this new life was not easy but as the days go on I find more and more ways to be grateful for my good health and all the possibilities that will be waiting for us once this is all over.
Brittney Kearley- ONLINE
The biggest impact that the coronavirus has had on my life is the abrupt change of moving home from college a semester earlier than planned and being laid off from my nannying job in San Marcos. Graduation was moved to a later date in the summer (which I won't be walking now) and my graduation cruise has been officially cancelled.
A positive thing about coronavirus is that I've been able to spend a lot of quality time with my family and have been able to try out new recipes in the kitchen.
I found myself feeling guilty for being sad about cancelled graduation plans, etc. when people are truly suffering, but quickly realized we are human and it's normal to feel sad about change or a lost experience. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy!
Coronavirus has changed so many lives in a matter of days and to me thinking about how quickly life changed is crazy. I am thankful that my biggest impact is my last semster in college ended early. I am graduating a year early already and for the final spring semster to already be over canceled a lot of the plans I had. Thinking about not every being in a physical classroom again is crazy to me because we spend our whole lives in school and then i read an email about classes being online for the rest of the year and summer session one and it was over.
I am thankful however for that to be my biggest problem at the moment. I always try to look at the positive in any situation so I am using this time to focus on my next career steps. I have spent time creating a resume and looking into jobs after graduation. This is something I have put off for a while, but I am glad I am getting it done now.
During Covid-19, minor changes have happened to my daily routine but I have adapted just like the average college student.The transition to online classes is a bit challenging for me and I also lost my on-campus job when all this stuff broke out. The biggest impact on my life is probably the situation both of my parents are in. My mom is temporaily out of work due to the virus. My dad was in the middle of a mayor campaign but it is also postponed due to Covid -19.
Something positive about this coronavirus is that I have got to spend some quality family time with my siblings who I have not seen in a long time. I have also got to get some work done that I didn't really have time for. My resume is edited and up to date and I have applied for a couple of internships.
Dedrick J and TTH
The biggest impact that the coronavirus has had on my life is the abrupt haunt in my job searching process. Before everything started to get crazy i was interviewing with a company by the time i had reached the third round of interviews, he gay at home order was issued so the company put a pause on all interviewind processes. This was definitely a bummer for me because i graduate in May and need something long term so i am able to afford to live on my own!
Alexia Jones - Online
The biggest impact that the coronavirus has had on my life is now having to do pretty much everything online. I had some hard classes and now it's more difficult because I feel like I'm trying to teach myself how to do the problems. Another impact the virus had is graduation. It got moved to the summer instead of May like I was planning.
The positive side of the coronavirus is that I am able to work more hours at my internship even though its remote. I almost doubled the amount of hours I work during the week and I am so grateful because I needed the extra money. Also, I stay at home more and because of that, I tend to clean up and cook from home versus eating fast food and being unhealthy.
Mycah Forrest TTh
The biggest impact COVID has had on me is just losing all of my plans and being cooped up at home. Before this all happened I had an internship lined up for the summer that’s now been canceled so I won’t have any work for the foreseeable summer/fall. It’s also hard being in such close proximity with my parents when you have nowhere to go let off steam so hammocks have become my new best friend.
On a positive note because I’m so bored I’ve forced myself to do all the things I never had time to get around to and spend time with my sister. We’re becoming real grandma’s, learning to embroider and bake bread.
Micah C. (TTH)
The biggest impact Corona has had on my life is my lighting job I had lined up for work on film sets. Obviously the whole entertainment industry is down, so there's no need for Grips or lighting crews. This has also somewhat stunted me moving out, which sucks, but also gives me more time to save up.
All this has been s positive twist however. I've been coaching League of Legends for awhile, and the company I'm contracted under has a program on Outschool for EDU classes on Minecraft for kids 8-13 and they've had a SURGE of parents enrolling kids into classes, so some of the coaches and I took the opportunity to get more hours by learning the material and assisting the existing counselors with the courses.
I've mostly just been trying to keep busy at this point. Initially I was playing through Oblivion again because I loved that game years ago, but within the first week it got old fast, and right now LoL's servers are wack in san marcos so playing it is kinda inconsistent.
It is what it is though. I'm thankful to be working and still able to graduate.
Robin H (Online)
The hardest part of this experience for myself is being without a job. This situation has shown me how much of a workaholic I am. I have always worked full-time/overtime because I love to work no matter the job. So in saying that being without a job or manual task has been a struggle. I do appreciate the break, but would much rather be working! To stay positive I have been spending much more time outdoors going on long walks to be with myself. It is soothing to feel the winds and refreshing to see sights other than the walls I live in!
Ritchie Portillo TTh
These are scary times. I believe things start becoming a lot more serious when people we know start getting diagnosed with the virus.
The biggest impact that this virus has had on my life is the uncertainty it has brought to my career plans. This is a scry economy that a lot of us are soon graduating into. I'm in the hospitality industry, I lost my job, the interviews I had lined up canceled, it's just a waiting game for me now. The whole industry went to shit in a matter of days and that is scary.
The good from all of this is that I've learned to become my own best friend again. I traveled for 5 months back in 2017 and the biggest takeaway I got traveling the world for 5 months was that I learned how to become my own best friend because I was traveling solo. With this pandemic, I found that once again.
I think the most important thing to do for yourself and others is to correctly participate in social distancing. This virus doesn't discriminate as you can see. We all need to do our part in order to one day do what we love most. I'm thankful my family is safe and healthy, I'm thankful that I'm about to graduate in a couple of months. Always check up on people you love most. You never know the condition of someones mental health and these can be dark times for some people.
Stay safe and cheers!
Devon B, T/TH
I really have to say, I NEVER imagine something like COVID-19 causing a lot of shutdowns and world-wide panic at our age as college students. At the beginning of the crisis, I honestly was feeling a little lit about spring break and actually having an extended spring break but after seeing and hearing what’s been going on in our world, I am more in shock than anyone.
I’d say the biggest impact that the coronavirus is just seeing a lot of my family and friends lose their jobs, barely working, and not being able to hang around their family and friends. It’s hurt to see that but it huts even more that I can’t even see my own family and friends as well. Since I work for a Retail store here in San Marcos, it has been insane lately. Since people aren’t at there jobs, not physically sitting in their face-to-face lectures, etc. They are all at home very bored after finishing all their school work ahead of time. They would want to find something to do, they would come to Lowe’s and get some items for gardening, cleaning supplies (before they run out), wood for building, and replacing and fixing items like toilets, tubs, kitchen items, etc.
Trust me, I have had several meltdowns at work with a lot of people working me to death. Mostly the times when I’m scheduled to be a pro-loader than the cashier, everybody of course would want to stop the one person working there that’s not wearing the same color vest as everyone else, and that was me at one point. Since I had a meltdown with one of my supervisors a few days ago, I haven’t really been back to work since that day. The next day after that, I left two (2) hours after getting there, called in the day after that, and debating on not showing up again (tomorrow) since I would be off for four (4) more days until next Thursday. It’s hard to believe that all this started after all I asked is one question to stay longer to help and clean up after the store was closed for the evening, also since I could never get what I was scheduled to do the entire day done in time. Since that supervisor didn’t want to listen to the one person that did want to help, she can do it all on her own now since I haven’t been going. She basically doesn’t want the extra help and I am not going to stay longer to help a person that clearly doesn’t want help and prefer to hear it from management if she doesn’t believe the person willing to go the extra mile to make sure things are done. That’s the latest story on how work has been going lately.
I feel like the virus has impacted our store little-by-little because students that did work with us had to leave because those students were living in the dorms, since they were kicked out, they all had to quit and move back home with their parents. When that started, they’re were open hours available the whole nine yards. I do know VERY soon that all of this will blow over. We may have lost a lot of people world wide but at the end, we will rebuild as a nation and all come together to rebuild a new earth.
For me, the biggest impact this pandemic and its subsequent lockdown policy has directly affected my wallet. I was a bartender at the EVO theater here in town and we were the among the first to close. I never expected that I would have to file for unemployment at the age of 23. Without the money I was relying on coming through, it has been a struggle to pay rent. Even though evictions are being halted for the foreseeable future, my apartment complex still expects its monthly installment for the rest of the lease contract. Although the rebel in me wants to participate in a rent strike, I don't want to damage my credit.
Another impact on on my life has been not being able to see my coworkers who have become my closest friends. I took for granted the time we all had together, not worrying about spreading the disease to the people who are most vulnerable to it.
Although I have experienced hardships during this time, I have found a new comfort in my family. I am lucky to spend this time reconnecting with my parents and interacting with them as adults. I have also enjoyed this time to become closer to my young nephews and aiding my pregnant sister as she navigates bringing a child into this changed world.
Stay strong everybody and stay healthy!!
Deborah O (TTh)
The biggest impact of coronavirus is my whole college experience and life-changing unexpectedly. A lot of people were on their grind and 2020 was meant to be this great year. The year itself sounds and looks good, but COVID-19 happened.
I went from a junior in college to feel like a high school student at home. It is a weird switch because I got used to adulting, being on my own and being independent. So it was a transition. My dad is in Lagos, Nigeria, right now and can't come over due to this. He had been living alone and it has been hard on him and us. My whole family is here in the States and we wished he could be here. Thanks for technology, it has been useful to keep in touch. My internship for the summer is now going to be done remotely, which changes the whole internship experience, but it is better than nothing.
I am also get affected by seeing all the news of the virus, especially the death toll. I am going to be 21 and quarantined this is going to be a birthday to remember. I am very grateful to God to see another year during a time like this. To cope during this time, I will advise reflecting on the times when life wasn't like this. This helps me not think about this new reality and I noticed I feel better and relaxed. Work on hobbies or side passions to keep you going, catch up with people you haven't spoken to in a while. Honestly, do whatever is best for you while following social distancing rules. Life isn't over and there is a way to still live life through this. Find your self, still plan your life like it was because life isn't over. Stay safe!
I don't even know where to start, the virus has affected me greatly at work and at school. School has become harder and work has picked up. There is not much to say, that isn't similar to what other people are going through. I was very excited about this semester and I was doing well. Now I am falling behind and not doing as well as id like to. Sometimes i wonder if having an essential job is worth potentially getting my family sick. I do not know how it could affect them.
I am grateful for my family because so far we are still healthy.
Madilyn Beller T/TH
Because of the virus, I am not able to work the usual nannying position that I have. I am currently staying at my parent's house in Dallas and getting help from them. I stay occupied by running, biking, cooking, reading and writing. I am very fortunate that my parents are able to help me during this time and recognize how important it is to stay at home as much as I can and just pray that people recover.
One thing I would recommend to do is start writing or drawing because it's ways to strengthen your brain while also not feeling too strenuous. Also, listening to new music and watching new movies has helped me a lot!
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