STUDENT NAME: Mikaela Ceniti

MY COVID EXPERIENCE:

Being in one of the longest lockdowns in North America due to COVID-19 certainly has its challenges. Needing to be physically isolated for over a year impacted my quality of life both in a social and academic sense. Like all the other high school graduates of 2020, I was looking forward to prom, graduation, and everything that comes with a normal first year university experience which was unfortunately taken away due to the pandemic. However during the pandemic, I have also been able to learn more about myself and spend more time with family than ever before. COVID-19 has brought an array of challenges to myself, my community, and the world around me, but with any hardship, there are always silver linings!

Object Image: Sweatsuit

Hello

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND RELATIONSHIP TO COVID-19: :

For my object image, I decided to choose a University of Guelph Sweater and a pair of “lazy pants” to share my pandemic experience in the most meaningful way possible. During the lockdown, I made one of the most important decisions that will dictate the next four years of my life: accepting my offer to the University of Guelph. At the time I was accepted in early 2020, it was hard to imagine the coronavirus would have any effect on my first year of university since I thought the quarantine was only a temporary public health measure. Little did I know my whole year would be turned upside down: from having to learn remotely to attending Zoom socials as one of the few opportunities I had to connect with other students at Guelph. The sweater symbolizes a completely fresh start for me as well, even though it was mostly online. New classmates, new school, new teachers, new student organizations, and most importantly a new sense of community I know I will feel once in-person classes are back on. Like countless others during the pandemic, I wore sweatpants on the daily. They were the most comfortable pair of pants I had, and I could also go to all of my virtual classes, meetings, and socials with them on without anyone knowing. From grade one to grade 12, I can count on one hand the amount of times I wore sweatpants to school since I found they didn’t look the best on me and made me feel pretty sluggish when I had to be alert and attentive during class. However, once the pandemic hit, I wore sweatpants regularly since there were no birthdays, holidays, special occasions, or other celebrations I needed to look presentable for.

PRIMARY SOURCE DESCRIPTION:

For my primary source, I selected an email I wrote to the premier Doug Ford begging him to allow overnight camps to operate for the summer of 2021. Since the Government of Ontario made the decision to shut down overnight camps in the summer of 2020, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make an effort to fight for the reopening of overnight camps. Camp is needed now more than ever after the worsening of youth mental health and the decrease in physical activity amongst youth in Canada within the past year. At camp, campers and camp counsellors are off screens and active in nature all while making everlasting friendships with the opportunity to build social, communication, and leadership skills. All the benefits camp brings are things that youth have been recently deprived of for over a year during the lockdown. Historians will have a thorough understanding of what me and several other campers and camp staff went through in an attempt to flatten the curve in 2020.

PRIMARY SOURCE: Email

NEWSPAPER HEADLINE

PERSONAL REACTION TO THIS HEADLINE

When I saw the newspaper headline “Ontario to speed up second-dose eligibility” on May 29th 2021, I was absolutely thrilled. When this news article came out, I had already received my first shot of the Pfizer vaccine and had a scheduled appointment for a second dose approximately four months later. For the second half of my summer, I am planning on living and working in a congregate setting for eight weeks, so I knew that getting two shots before I leave was important, especially since once I leave for work, I am not able to return to the city (where I had an appointment booked for my second vaccine). It was also a big relief to see that other Ontarians were getting vaccinated at a quicker rate than expected. The sooner people are double vaccinated, the faster Ontario can move on from the lockdowns and start to inch back to a sense of normalcy.

Infographic

VISUALIZING COVID-19

The infographic I chose is titled “Class of 2020! Stay connected during social distancing”. The infographic is divided into four main sections: “scheduling regular social phone or video calls”, “engaging in acts of kindness remotely”, “take a walk down memory lane through old pictures and old videos”, and “get moving and take a virtual class”. The purpose of the infographic is to give suggestions on how recent graduates can keep living life to the fullest while following mandatory public health orders. The infographic is very well done by Kaitlin Scott since it is visually appealing through colours, bolded fonts, and clipart images with useful pointers on a page that is organized and easy to read. I also chose this visual because I have a personal connection to the infographic since I myself am a graduate of 2020 that did all of what Kaitlin suggests doing while social distancing in our homes. Talking on the phone with old friends, baking cookies for my neighbours, looking at old photos, and making sure I went walking or running outside or on the elliptical machine were all activities I did to help get me through the pandemic.

COVID Q&A

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

On March 17th, 2020, the Toronto District School Board made the decision to close schools for two weeks following the March Break due to COVID-19. This decision was made just under a week after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. It was shocking to see action taken so quickly, considering how rare “snow days” or other unplanned days off school (let alone weeks) occur due to emergencies. Although the World Health Organization declared a pandemic a week before the TDSB made their decision, I was still hopeful that I would be back in school after my extended March Break was up, however the TDSB kept extending our time off. At this point, I had realized how serious the virus really was.

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

Before COVID-19, I would have considered myself mostly an introvert who enjoyed some social interaction after all of my top priority tasks were completed (such as homework, club/ council responsibilities, university supplementals, etc.). However, now that I have experienced over one year of online learning, I did not realize how much I enjoyed socializing with other like-minded students in school until it was taken away. Other social gatherings like birthday parties, holidays, celebrations, and other special occasions I had previously lacked excitement for is now something that I miss the most. Another thing I have learned about myself is how quickly I am able to form habits (both good and bad) during the panic. For example, what started as the luxury of not needing to set my alarm for school in March of 2020 quickly formed into the habit of waking up much later than I normally would on a regular basis. This habit was tremendously difficult to break when I needed to start online school when it was mandatory for me to be able to function productively in the mornings.

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?

As a creature of habit, my routine from pre-pandemic to pandemic was by far the most significant change to my daily life. As a typical grade 12 student, I had a predetermined routine due to my class schedule and extra-curriculars. Back when I had in-person classes, it was actually difficult for me to not follow a routine since I had no choice but to wake up at the same time every day, eat lunch at the same time, go to club/ council meetings at the same time, etc. Exceptions to the week-day routine were weekends, however two days off my routine did not have much of an effect. When in person classes were canceled, my mandatory routine was now optional which made it significantly more challenging to stick to. Most of my courses were “distant education” courses which meant that they did not include any weekly lectures or Zoom seminars scheduled for a certain time. This gave me the freedom to do my assigned readings and listen to my recorded lectures whenever I wanted to. As a result, I did not stick to a routine for most of the 2020/2021 school year which I had never experienced before. I found that stopping my routine made me more sluggish, lazy and less energized throughout the day. I have faith that once all lockdowns are lifted, I will have an easier time establishing and being consistent with a routine since the University of Guelph has declared a hybrid learning experience for the 2021/22 school year. With some in-person classes, stores, and gyms opening up as the lockdowns ease, I am hopeful that I will form a routine that gives me the most out of my day, even though it will be a challenging adjustment.

Have you learned any new skills during the pandemic?

During the first few weeks of the pandemic, I took on baking goods that would not have normally fit into my busy schedule such as baking breads, loaves, and gingerbread cookies. Eventually, I was unable to fit into my jeans by the end of the first lockdown so I knew I needed to find another way to pass the time. Luckily, I started online school and I was able to practice using technology in ways I have not previously done. For example, I had a class that assigned a Zoom presentation followed by an interactive activity for the class. To prepare, I needed to learn how to use Zoom features like polls, Zoom reactions, and zoom backgrounds to run a successful and captivating game for my fellow classmates. All of my past presentations were always in person so there was previously no need for me to learn how to use Zoom or Microsoft Teams in a way that was not for the sole purpose of a traditional meeting.

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

As a first-year university student, I have not experienced university any other way than online so it is a bit difficult to compare online learning to in-person learning, however there were some aspects of the online school year that both exceeded and did not meet my expectations. To start, most of my courses only had the distant education option, meaning there were no lectures or seminars offered for students enrolled. I found just learning from reading the textbook and assigned readings very difficult because I was unable to stay focused and engaged for the duration of the semester. Distance education courses also made me feel less connected to the University of Guelph community and more isolated since there was limited interaction with classmates and professors. Conversely, with the few synchronous courses I had, I felt much more supported in my studies as a result of weekly lectures and seminars which allowed me to ask questions on course content I found confusing, connect with other students, and receive help from TAs. It was noticeable how TAs leading seminars with smaller groups of students made an effort to make first years feel some sense of support which was very comforting. As convenient as being able to roll out of bed and attend class in pyjamas was, I am looking forward to having an on-campus learning experience next school year.

List one positive thing and one negative thing you'll take away from 2020:

Like many others, I think that 2020 was the most difficult year I have ever had in my life. One of those difficulties that I can takeaway is that unfortunately life does not go as planned. Never in a million years would I have ever thought that there was a possibility of missing milestones like my graduation, prom, residence, O-week, and a normal 18th birthday celebration to name a few. Conversely, one positive I will take away from 2020 is to savour the little things in life and not take anything for granted. This will be easier said than done, but I will try to remember how many things I was unable to do during the pandemic so when normalcy returns, I will take the extra second to stop and look around.

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

The absolute best TV show I have watched within the past 18 months is by far The Office, which is available on Netflix. Not only are all the characters entertaining in their own unique way, but I find many of The Office lines very witty and creative. I would love to know what went on in The Office writing rooms where the scripts and story lines were created. In times of loss, and uncertainty throughout the pandemic, The Office never failed to put a smile on my face.

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

As a former member of the Mental Health and Wellness council at my high school, I understood how important mental health is, but nothing could have prepared me for the lockdowns that came with defeating the COVID-19 virus. The lockdown has negatively impacted my mental health in a way that I had never experienced before. Prom, graduation, being a camp counsellor, and celebrating my 18th birthday with a group of friends are just some things that were taken away. The constant feeling of missing out on the fun that usually comes with being a teenager fresh out of grade twelve last year was difficult to endure. Starting at Guelph online made me feel isolated from the U of G community I had once been lucky enough to visit during grade twelve campus tours. On the bright side, overnight camps were given the green light to operate this summer in Ontario, so I am hopeful my mental health will improve when I am in a bubble with good friends, have planned activities, and am lucky enough to experience the therapeutic effect of being in nature.

How has technology impacted your life during lockdown?

For the most part, technology has impacted my life in a very positive way. I am fortunate enough to own a cell phone, computer, and internet access which made it possible for me to experience the benefits of technology throughout the lockdown. To start, I would not have been able to finish grade 12 without the use of technology. Most courses I was taking in my senior year were pre-requisites for first year university courses such as functions and calculus, which meant I still needed to have access to the course material despite having in-person classes being canceled. Without the use of technology, I would not have been as prepared for my first year at Guelph since I was able to learn through online lectures from March to June of 2020. Another way technology has impacted my life is how I socialize and meet people! In my situation, not many students from my high school chose to attend Guelph, so I knew I needed to connect with other recent high school graduates going into the same program. Fortunately, social media played a significant role in successfully connecting with other Guelph students by being able to follow Guelph 2024 accounts and joining group chats .This gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with U of G all while staying in the comfort of my own home.

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

The COVID-19 pandemic helped shine a light on the systemic racism that exists within our society. Many marginalized communities, notably people of colour (POC) communities, have been hit much harder by the pandemic than their wealthier, white counterparts. The less fortunate faced many challenges throughout the pandemic that are often overlooked. They might not have had access to a computer or iPad, which were essential for online learning or working from home. Masks are required almost everywhere, so being unable to afford them is a huge barrier. A solution would be to get groceries and other necessities delivered; however this is very expensive. Not having a car meant that the less fortunate were forced to use public transit. Social distancing on buses, subways, and streetcars has been virtually non-existent throughout the pandemic due to crowding, making it more likely for a passenger to catch COVID-19. Many of these people were unable to work from home since they worked in congregate settings or worked in the service industry. This meant they had to physically go to work in order to make a living, once again leaving them more vulnerable as they could easily contract the virus at work. Losing their job (which was extremely common during the lockdowns) would be detrimental as it would likely leave them unable to afford food, rent, utilities, and other essentials. The upper classes have wealth to fall back on, whereas the lower classes do not. Moreover, several studies have found that marginalized POC are more likely to have pre-existing health conditions due to having less access to healthcare. They have also had less access to COVID-19 treatment and vaccines. All of these factors have left POC extremely vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus itself as well as its severe economic consequences. Seeing these discrepancies in how the pandemic affected different groups has brought wider acknowledgement to systemic racism and its devastating impacts on POC.

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

Society will be forever changed post pandemic both for the better, and for the worse. In the future, I am certain that “snow days” and other days where in-person learning is impossible due to weather or other emergencies will not be days off for students or teachers. Instead, it will likely move to online learning for a short period of time if need be, since most teachers, students, and other school board employees have had at least one year of experience with online learning. I also predict that some typical office jobs will have a “remote” option for people that still wish to work from home if the duties of the job are all doable from a home office. Another change in society will be the lack of public faith and trust in the government, especially the governments of Ontario and Canada, both of which had substantial difficulties in controlling the virus while other provinces and countries had rules and restrictions that were far more effective. People were furious about long lockdowns which were detrimental to the economy and people’s mental health. The city of Toronto is considered to have had the longest continuous lockdown of any major city in the entire world. In addition, the pandemic has also sparked an increase in anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists who are so skeptical of the government to the point where they believe their leaders are intentionally trying to harm them which could lead to other negative implications in the future.

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

The COVID-19 pandemic was certainly an experience like no other. As I mentioned earlier, there were several expectations I had for high school and university that felt like a given (prom, grad, starting university and living in residence, etc.) that either didn’t happen at all or happened very differently than how I had pictured them. Moreover, constantly needing to be isolated and not being able to see friends — when you’re used to spending at least a few hours with them every day — was a challenge to say the least. The constant feeling of uncertainty was not a pleasant feeling, however I am grateful to be living in Canada with a roof over my head, food on the table, and access to vaccines and hospitals. In addition, there were some positives that came out of the pandemic, especially when the first lockdown was put in place. Just like many other Grade 12 students, I found myself feeling very tired and burned out by the time school was cancelled in March. The thought of having an extended March break after a few months of senioritis was a pleasant surprise! I was lucky to be able to relax and spend more time with family. In all, life does not go as planned, but it’s important to be able to adapt to new and unexpected changes thrown at us.