My Life During Covid-19

 

Hi everyone! I want to share the story about the experiences of going through the troubling times throughout the global pandemic. I understand that it’s been a tough year for everybody and that many people all around the world are suffering. Because COVID-19 is one of the most dangerous and highly contagious diseases in my lifetime, avoiding catching it has been the only thing that I have really been doing since March, as we’re all put under lockdown measures to slow the spread of the virus. It’s challenging and insane. Millions of people worldwide got infected, however the government mandated wearing masks and social distancing in many states/territories to prevent it. So, I am updating the summary of what it’s like to live this way as a person with RTD. The story I’m telling will explain the important things people who are like me should do to keep themselves safe and healthy. I hope this information is helpful to give readers a better idea of accepting the terms of our lives during the pandemic. The summary provides the knowledge about the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the challenges you all have faced.  This is important to understand and recognize the precautions against the virus. 

 

I have RTD Type 2 which means I’m at a higher risk and I was told that I must avoid being around others in public. The risk for catching the virus causes symptoms that are temporarily difficult to control over a short time. I usually remain at home almost everyday with my family so I don’t go anywhere without an important reason. If I have to leave the house, I just stay in the car outside public facilities while waiting for someone to return so I have to sit around and follow the precautions.  Wearing a mask doesn’t always work for me since I am a high risk person in which I have to be careful not to expose myself anything. So avoiding shopping, doctor appointments, or social gatherings for me is important unless its completely necessary. The only thing I go out is for food...especially drive-thru and carry-out. My family goes to pick up dinner every Friday night from each other’s’ favorite restaurants. It is a fun activity that has made the lockdown enjoyable. I feel isolated and bored when being stuck at home right now. But I am doing online classes and personal projects which has been going well and keeps me busy. I’m currently taking a class that introduces me to social work and offers opportunities to explore professional pathways to see what type of career I would be interested in someday. Before the pandemic I made plans to do volunteer work and find a summer internship for work experience that I had to cancel once it started. It messed up my goals for the year as a result of frustration and uncertainty about the future. It saddened me and I feel like it is creating a life that I have no control over.  The transition to a virtual world brought new challenges we have overcome because we are so used to being social and everybody is forced to separate from society. For me, because of RTD I spend most of the time online throughout the pandemic and am struggling with face-to-face interactions more than usual. I haven’t been able to see any of my friends in person for a long time, however it helps to write to them back and forth as often as possible since it’s the only way I can socialize safely. Believe me or not, the health and safety are the highest priority to take care of and go through these challenging times.

 

 While many people lost their jobs, my father is able to work remotely so he still gets paid to support my family.  The government is sending checks to those who are unemployed as a type of financial assistance many people are eligible for.  I think they are trying to make a new stimulus package come together for those who need it. The Republicans are fighting it so there isn’t any new help yet. You know how lucky I am to have family around? I turned 23 in March and still live at my parents’ house so I can still rely on physical assistance with my daily routine. I have an assistant who works for me four days a week to help me with my schoolwork and other things around the house. My younger brother started his junior year of high school recently, but classes are all online.  My sister and I both are college students doing the same and it’s absolutely a difficult way of learning. Schools and community centers in my county remain closed following the outbreak. Remote employment and learning are the best ways to avoid putting your health at risk, although it doesn’t sound like fun. Therefore, when some businesses reopened too soon it led to a spike of COVID-19 cases and that’s reckless behavior. That’s why I can’t go in the public to get the chances of catching the virus. Hopefully it will go away, however it will take time to get this under control. This is how life is for everyone as the pandemic flourishes.

The good news is that we live in a time where technology makes our situation a little easier.  There is fast internet available that allows us to access school, business media and networking. People have the option of ordering groceries online and then driving to pick them up. I found it slightly overwhelming when the situation changed and we were beginning a virtual experience to help prevent COVID-19, but I am getting used to it. In my free time I’ve been trying to relax, create my artwork, and practice drumming to cope with the troubling times.

 

The advice I have for you is to hang in there. Things will improve when the case rate declines and the world gets back to normal. I’m hoping scientists will find a vaccine to work against the virus and allow lockdowns to be lifted safely. After that I hope to restart my planning for the career and get ready to enter into the independent life.