John Smith

MY COVID EXPERIENCE: 

The COVID-19 global pandemic has been very draining, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Uncertainty of news, what is considered legal and illegal, and how to revise a routine that fits suit with these uncertainties has been challenging to say the least. Everyday for the first couple months of the pandemic felt like I was surviving more than enjoying my time- a sad reality in which many of us can relate to. However, there have been many valuable lessons learned during this pandemic. I appreciate the times I was allowed to see my friends and family members in a social setting, going inside to a restaurant, even golfing. I am more appreciative because health has taken these privileges away to ensure these activities can resume again, which is difficult to comprehend. I am thankful for the experiences and lessons I have learned during this difficult time in the world and will use them to my advantage in the near future. 

OBJECT IMAGE

An Iconic Album in Music History

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND RELATIONSHIP TO COVID-19: 

      This particular object evokes so many powerful emotions to me I become speechless. I listened to the entirety of this album during the pandemic and became obsessed with the beautiful sounds, storyline, and lyrics. The raw emotion Pink Floyd presents about life is jaw-dropping as the simplicity captures the essence of life. I purchased my record player and first vinyl back in Febuary 2020, a month before the pandemic became had took society by storm. Listening to my vinyls has helped ground me in ways I never could have imagined, a purchase I am eternaly greatful for. I chose to put this particular vinyl in this digital archive because the album is cemented its place in music history, just as this global pandemic will in human history. 

 

 

PRIMARY SOURCE DESCRIPTION:

       I added this primary source to the digital archive because I do not think I ever remember gas prices declining this low- and so quickly- in my life. This will help future historians think about what is valuable in our society and how the economy responds to human behaviour. Places begin to shutdown, individuals are told to remain in their homes, thus causing gas prices to drop. Although it may be more complex than that generalization, this will help historians understand the magnitude this global pandemic brought onto our society. 

PRIMARY SOURCE: Gas Prices Declining at the beginning of the pandemic. 

NEWSPAPER HEADLINE: Digital Divide affects many Canadians and becomes a more concerning issue since the COVID-19 Global Pandemic. 

PERSONAL REACTION TO THIS HEADLINE

      Despite the fact this newspaper headline was produced by myself and not an actual newspaper company, I thought the digital divide is worth mentioning as it does not receive as much news coverage as it should. This issue in society was brought to light until the global pandemic exaterbated this social distancing made education and jobs inaccessible in person. People had to resort to working on their education and careers remotely on their technological devices, whether it was a phone, laptop, desktop, or tablet. The problem with this is that technology, although highly efficient and convenient to use, is costly for those who cannot afford it or do not have sufficient technological skills in order to use it. For example, my laptop costed me over eight hundred dollars, a significant amount of money for an individual who struggles to pay rent each month. This convenience needs to be accessible for all Canadians, lowering the digital divide for a more equitable expierence for all. 

 

VISUALIZING COVID-19 
This data is from the, "Roll Tape: Documenting Ad Hoc Measures to Encourage Social Distancing" an article that we read during this course. This visualization is much more than just a park bench with tape on it. This symbolizes the social distancing measures that took place in society when this pandemic became more serious. These tape directions and rules were incredibly effective in the beginning of the pandemic as it provided individuals a sense of rules and helped them navigate this tumultuous new normal lifestyle everyone had to adjust to. 

COVID Q&A

Describe the moment you realized how serious COVID-19 was:

     I work at a grocery store and the moment I realized how serious this virus was when I heard a local grocery store nearby had one of their employees who had a case of COVID-19 in their store, and had to shut down immediately to clean the entire store. This was quite shocking, especially when after the fact I realized the store was going to reopen in the morning after the cleaning crew left. Shortly after, ensuing anxiety about the severity of this pandemic. It may not seem like such a catastrophic event, but I was truly shaken that this was real and serious health protocols were going to have to be implemented and followed by citizens in order to overcome this global pandemic. 

What did you learn about yourself or the people you live with during COVID-19? 

     One thing I have learned about myself is that I have to contain the amount of news I consume directly regarding covid-19. I found it very overwhelming to decipher what the state of the world was at and what professionals and experts have differing opinions on the same issue. Therefore, I tried to limit my news intake only when I was doing school work, rather than actively and constantly searching for news, which helped reduce a significant amount of anxiety. 

Other than wearing a mask, what was the biggest change you made to your daily life? Do you think this change will remain when all lockdowns are lifted?

         Unfortunately, the biggest change made to my daily life besides wearing a mask is a lack of exercise. University education online made it difficult for me to incorporate exercise into my daily routine because I always felt guilty leaving my laptop to do something other than school work. This will change once the lockdowns are lifted because I will feel more comfortable leaving the house, such as walking to the bus stop, intramurals, playing basketball with friends, running, etc. 

Have you learned any new skills during the pandemic?

     I learned how to say ‘no’ during the pandemic. Pre-covid, I was always a yes for any and every plan whether it be with friends or family. However, due to new social distancing guidelines, I had to learn how to say no to things, a tough but valuable lesson. Life becomes draining at times and prioritizing yourself instead of accommodating others into their plans has become a very useful skill I have learned because I believe it is a healthy form of self-care. I am continuing to learn this but putting this skill into practice has been very beneficial to say the least. 

How do you feel about university education in the last year? 

       University education in the last year has made me realize how valuable time management is. Being able to develop rigid skills with a full course load without entering a lecture hall, but rather in the confines of one's home, is difficult to separate home from school. Overall, I felt very overwhelmed and isolated in my education in the past year, due to the inability to attend lectures on campus, a critical learning style for myself. 

List one positive thing and one negative thing you'll take away from 2020: One positive thing that I took away from 2020 was starting a relationship with my girlfriend. She has helped me so much throughout this pandemic and has made it bearable to say the least. I’m truly thankful for our relationship. Although it is difficult to pinpoint one negative thing from 2020, it would be that the news is obsessed with fear mongering headlines to keep distressed viewers on sight. 

What is the best movie or TV show you've watched, or the best book you've read, in the past 18 months?

 The last dance was the best TV show I have watched in the past 18 months. I’m an avid sports fan who has grown to love Michael Jordan. I watched this with my Dad and it was a truly breathtaking experience watching Jordan’s career and life from start to finish. The cinematography and rawness of the stories and highlights from this show is the reason why this was the best TV show I have seen in the past 18 months.

How large of an impact do you think COVID-19 has had on your mental health?

      This global pandemic has made a somewhat large impact on my mental health. I used the word somewhat because I was already diagnosed with mental illnesses prior to the pandemic, thus not coming to fruition because of the pandemic but rather exacerbated. I have depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, AKA BPD. Although these issues do not define me as a person, it affects how I go about my day-to-day life. I was in the hospital for mental health reasons the last week of February in 2020, just days before the world was sent to a chaotic and frightening place. I cannot imagine going through a hospital visit (for the reasons previously mentioned) during the pandemic as the rigorous testing and health protocols that must be in place combined with the already ongoing mental health issues must be so distressful.

How has technology impacted your life during lockdown?

     Technology has tremendously impacted my life during lockdown. I am able to conveniently check what things are open during certain phases (i.e. restaurants, patios, golfing, drive-inn, beaches, etc) along with news regarding the pandemic, such as vaccine rollout plans. Also, technology has helped me be connected with certain things or people is illegal during lockdown like talking to a friends who I haven’t seen since this pandemic begun, streaming shows and movies, going to lectures and seminars on Zoom or Microsoft Teams, online shopping, watching sports, all of these things have brought a sense of normalcy during an unprecedented time in most individual’s lives. But, it has also negatively impacted my life during lockdown because I am constantly staring at a screen all day, I feel disconnected by using so much technology for things that I could be doing in person, confusion with how to adjust to different technology in areas of my life, all these things have became stressors that I have managed throughout this pandemic and have learned to live with.

How has the pandemic brought wider acknowledgement to systemic racism in Canada?

    I think systemic racism is being brought to light not only in Canada, but globally. The #FreePalestine movement has been an international story of discrimination and islamaphobia, unmarked bodies of stolen children found at residential schools, and the #BLM movement continues to gain traction after Geroge Floyd’s death in 2020, all of these things have been brought to attention due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. It is impossible to think of this global pandemic without acknowledging the widespread areas of racism that are being brought to light during these gruelling 18 months. COVID-19 has exacerbated these problems to dizzying heights which is safe to suggest that racism is as big of an issue during any period of time, as it is more of an enlightened time. 

In what ways do you envision society changing due to the pandemic?

 

    I believe that masks will still be a part of society when an individual is feeling ill, or some may still continue to wear masks when going out in public because they may feel more comfortable with it on. I am also very optimistic that society will continue to address its entrenchment of systemic racism in society. We are currently seeing this unfold with Canada as Indigenous kids who were a part of the residential schooling system in Canada, unmarked bodies are being found at certain sites. This is disturbing and a part of our history we cannot ignore anymore, there must be more initiative taken by our Government to rebuild the culture of Indigenous communities around the country that were destroyed due to assimilation and discrimination. 

Now that you are done with both the course and your additions to the archive, is there anything you'd like to reflect on?

   My Dad has reiterated a saying to me, especially during my darkest days, that has helped me keep in perspective during life. “This too, shall pass” is the phrase. So simple, yet so meaningful. This phrase helps me reflect when I need to ground myself whether it be due school, work, relationships, or covid-19. 

 

Gallery

Other archival items connected to my experience of COVID-19. Click on any image to enlarge.