Draft #1:
At the start of the second semester within my freshman year in college, I came in ready to further my friendships, and work at school. I was never expecting to be completely locked into my own house while a worldwide pandemic spread. When I first heard about the Coronavirus, I didn’t even consider it as a threat. Previously in my life, I have experienced the outbreak of both SARS and Ebola in foreign countries. Never has a serious disease like this been a real life threat to me however. The only thing that I have to relate this to is the 1918 flu pandemic. Although I wasn’t alive, I have been reading multiple passages from people who were living during that time. The isolation, and constant feelings of fear and unknowing parallel perfectly with how people are feeling today. After reading the narratives of my classmates Kaleigh Ward and Ashley Nault, I found many of their feelings to coincide with mine. If there is something that I am learning throughout this whole ordeal, it’s the importance of both friends and family in my life. Caring for those closest to you is something that everyone should be doing right now.
Once the Coronavirus began spreading into the United States, and the word “quarantine” began circling the news, people began to take it more seriously. Still however, no one could have predicted how fast it was going to spread, nor how quickly everyone’s lives would change. When schools and businesses around the nation began closing their doors for the season, people started panicking. Students within every grade level of education were being told that online classes would be held for the remainder of the semester. For many, including myself, this was a very scary fact. Online classes were something that were so wildly unfamiliar to me, I didn’t even know where to begin. For Kaleigh, “[she] has learned how much school and [her] career path means to [her]. [She] would do almost anything to be back in the classroom right now (Ward).” This statement, coming from a freshman year college student is interesting. Usually, living on campus and attending class everyday is not something many students crave to get back. However, for many the importance of college, and the nostalgia of not being there is becoming very apparent.
Draft #2:
At the start of the second semester within my freshman year in college, I came in ready to further my friendships, and work at school. I was never expecting to be completely locked into my own house while a worldwide pandemic spread. When I first heard about the Coronavirus, I didn’t even consider it as a threat. Previously in my life, I have experienced the outbreak of both SARS and Ebola in foreign countries. Never has a serious disease like this been a real life threat to me however. The only thing that I have to relate this to is the 1918 flu pandemic. Although I wasn’t alive, I have been reading multiple passages from people who were living during that time. The isolation, and constant feelings of fear and unknowing parallel perfectly with how people are feeling today. After reading the narratives of my classmates Kaleigh Ward and Ashley Nault, I found many of their feelings to coincide with mine. If there is something that I am learning throughout this whole ordeal, it’s the importance of both friends and family in my life. Caring for those closest to you is something that everyone should be doing right now.
Once the Coronavirus began spreading into the United States, and the word “quarantine” began circling the news, people began to take it more seriously. Still however, no one could have predicted how fast it was going to spread, nor how quickly everyone’s lives would change. When schools and businesses around the nation began closing their doors for the season, people started panicking. Students within every grade level of education were being told that online classes would be held for the remainder of the semester. For many, including myself, this was a very scary fact. Online classes were something that were so wildly unfamiliar to me, I didn’t even know where to begin. For Kaleigh, “[she] has learned how much school and [her] career path means to [her]. [She] would do almost anything to be back in the classroom right now (Ward).” This statement, coming from a freshman year college student is interesting. Usually, living on campus and attending class everyday is not something many students crave to get back. However, for many the importance of college, and the nostalgia of not being there is becoming very apparent. Being isolated from all your friends, and even possibly family members is proving to be a much more significant change than people thought. For many people, this is a new experience, and they have never even been alive for something as significant as this. Many people are beginning to realize the importance of all the small things in life taken for granted. In reading Ashley’s narrative on her coronavirus experience, I found that she also has realized the significant value family holds. For her, “this pandemic has made [her] realize how important it is to make sure your family members are okay and have what they may need. If [her] grandma needs anything, [her] dad makes sure that he’s the one to go buy it and not risk her going into a store and becoming infected”(Nault). It’s simple things like this that people are doing more and more now, as they realize that keeping the people closest to them safe is the most important thing.
Draft #3:
t the start of the second semester within my freshman year in college, I came in ready to further my friendships, and work at school. I was never expecting to be completely locked into my own house while a worldwide pandemic spread. When I first heard about the Coronavirus, I didn’t even consider it as a threat. Previously in my life, I have experienced the outbreak of both SARS and Ebola in foreign countries. Never has a serious disease like this been a real life threat to me however. The only thing that I have to relate this to is the 1918 flu pandemic. Although I wasn’t alive, I have been reading multiple passages from people who were living during that time. The isolation, and constant feelings of fear and unknowing parallel perfectly with how people are feeling today. After reading the narratives of my classmates Kaleigh Ward and Ashley Nault, I found many of their feelings to coincide with mine. If there is something that I am learning throughout this whole ordeal, it’s the importance of both friends and family in my life. Caring for those closest to you is something that everyone should be doing right now.
Once the Coronavirus began spreading into the United States, and the word “quarantine” began circling the news, people began to take it more seriously. Still however, no one could have predicted how fast it was going to spread, nor how quickly everyone’s lives would change. When schools and businesses around the nation began closing their doors for the season, people started panicking. Students within every grade level of education were being told that online classes would be held for the remainder of the semester. For many, including myself, this was a very scary fact. Online classes were something that were so wildly unfamiliar to me, I didn’t even know where to begin. For Kaleigh, “[she] has learned how much school and [her] career path means to [her]. [She] would do almost anything to be back in the classroom right now (Ward).” This statement, coming from a freshman year college student is interesting. Usually, living on campus and attending class everyday is not something many students crave to get back. However, for many the importance of college, and the nostalgia of not being there is becoming very apparent. Being isolated from all your friends, and even possibly family members is proving to be a much more significant change than people thought. For many people, this is a new experience, and they have never even been alive for something as significant as this. Many people are beginning to realize the importance of all the small things in life taken for granted. In reading Ashley’s narrative on her coronavirus experience, I found that she also has realized the significant value family holds. For her, “this pandemic has made [her] realize how important it is to make sure your family members are okay and have what they may need. If [her] grandma needs anything, [her] dad makes sure that he’s the one to go buy it and not risk her going into a store and becoming infected”(Nault) It’s simple things like this that people are doing more and more now, as they realize that keeping the people closest to them safe is the most important thing.
For people across the world, this is a very stressful and surreal time. Although I cannot say I have ever been through something even similar to this, I know that past generations have. In 1918, the flu pandemic swept across the country and had people living in worse conditions than what we are even seeing today. In reading a short story by Martha Risner Clark, she wrote that while living in a coal camp during the flu, “soon, everything in the camp closed down. Coffins were brought in by the trainloads, and when they ran out, boxes were used” (Clark). Imagining being alive during a time in which the death rate was so high is something that is scary. It’s hard to not to wonder how bad the Coronavirus is going to get, and in hearing how much the people who had to undergo the flu pandemic went through, it doesn’t look good. People in 1918 struggled to get enough food to feed their own families, and in many cases were left to try and create their own remedies to stay healthy. I am thankful that there are so many health professionals willing to help people, and lots of medicines to try and reduce the effects of the virus today. However, I do fear that unless a vaccine is created soon, this will be a very long lasting period in which people are still unsure and scared about becoming infected. In looking back to 1918, there is hope, as people then were able to make it out alive, and mainly did many of the things we’re doing today in order to achieve that. Things such as social distancing, staying home, adn not gathering in large groups, are all things that people did back then, and we are also doing today.
Draft #4:
At the start of the second semester within my freshman year in college, I came in ready to further my friendships, and work at school. I was never expecting to be completely locked into my own house while a worldwide pandemic spread. When I first heard about the Coronavirus, I didn’t even consider it as a threat. Previously in my life, I have experienced the outbreak of both SARS and Ebola in foreign countries. Never has a serious disease like this been a real life threat to me however. The only thing that I have to relate this to is the 1918 flu pandemic. Although I wasn’t alive, I have been reading multiple passages from people who were living during that time. The isolation, and constant feelings of fear and unknowing parallel perfectly with how people are feeling today. After reading the narratives of my classmates Kaleigh Ward and Ashley Nault, I found many of their feelings to coincide with mine. If there is something that I am learning throughout this whole ordeal, it’s the importance of both friends and family in my life. Caring for those closest to you is something that everyone should be doing right now.
Once the Coronavirus began spreading into the United States, and the word “quarantine” began circling the news, people began to take it more seriously. Still however, no one could have predicted how fast it was going to spread, nor how quickly everyone’s lives would change. When schools and businesses around the nation began closing their doors for the season, people started panicking. Students within every grade level of education were being told that online classes would be held for the remainder of the semester. For many, including myself, this was a very scary fact. Online classes were something that were so wildly unfamiliar to me, I didn’t even know where to begin. For Kaleigh, “[she] has learned how much school and [her] career path means to [her]. [She] would do almost anything to be back in the classroom right now (Ward).” This statement, coming from a freshman year college student is interesting. Usually, living on campus and attending class everyday is not something many students crave to get back. However, for many the importance of college, and the nostalgia of not being there is becoming very apparent. Being isolated from all your friends, and even possibly family members is proving to be a much more significant change than people thought. For many people, this is a new experience, and they have never even been alive for something as significant as this. Many people are beginning to realize the importance of all the small things in life taken for granted. In reading Ashley’s narrative on her coronavirus experience, I found that she also has realized the significant value family holds. For her, “this pandemic has made [her] realize how important it is to make sure your family members are okay and have what they may need. If [her] grandma needs anything, [her] dad makes sure that he’s the one to go buy it and not risk her going into a store and becoming infected”(Nault) It’s simple things like this that people are doing more and more now, as they realize that keeping the people closest to them safe is the most important thing.
For people across the world, this is a very stressful and surreal time. Although I can say I have never been through something even similar to this, I know that past generations have. In 1918, the flu pandemic swept across the country and had people living in worse conditions than what we are even seeing today. In reading a short story by Martha Risner Clark, she wrote that while living in a coal camp during the flu, “soon, everything in the camp closed down. Coffins were brought in by the trainloads, and when they ran out, boxes were used” (Clark). Imagining being alive during a time in which the death rate was so high is something that is scary. It’s hard to not to wonder how bad the Coronavirus is going to get, and in hearing how much the people who had to undergo the flu pandemic went through, it doesn’t look good. People in 1918 struggled to get enough food to feed their own families, and in many cases were left to try and create their own remedies to stay healthy. I am thankful that there are so many health professionals willing to help people, and lots of medicines to try and reduce the effects of the virus today. However, I do fear that unless a vaccine is created soon, this will be a very long lasting period in which people are still unsure and scared about becoming infected. Looking back to 1918, there is hope, as people then were able to make it out alive, and mainly did many of the things we’re doing today in order to achieve that. Things such as social distancing, staying home, and not gathering in large groups, are all things that people did back then, and we are also doing today.
At this point in time, my fear is that the Coronavirus pandemic could grow and increase in severity until we are facing a similar situation to those who had to endure the 1918 flu pandemic. With this being said, Kayleigh discusses a very important point, that “mostly, [she has] learned not to take for granted all that we have because it can be taken away in seconds.” By the time the Coronavirus pandemic is solved, I am hoping that people across the world are able to take more time to be thankful for what they have, and show a greater appreciation for those closest to them. Between both friends and family, over time it becomes easy to see past their significance in your life. People get into such a constant schedule that they don’t take enough time to relax and appreciate what they have.
Final Draft:
The Pandemic That Changed my Life
At the start of the second semester within my freshman year in college, I came in ready to further my friendships, and work at school. My mind was focused on having a fun, and productive semester to finish my first whole year in college. I was never expecting to be completely locked into my own house while a worldwide pandemic spread. When I first heard about the Coronavirus, I didn’t even consider it as a threat. Previously in my life, I have experienced the outbreak of both SARS and Ebola in foreign countries. Never has a serious disease like this been a real life threat to me however. The only thing that I have to relate this to is the 1918 flu pandemic. Although I wasn’t alive, I have been reading multiple passages from people who were living during that time, and became especially attached to Martha Risner Clark’s story. The isolation, and constant feelings of fear and unknowing parallel perfectly with how people are feeling today. After reading the narratives of my classmates Kaleigh Ward and Ashley Nault, I found many of their feelings to coincide with mine. If there is something that I am learning throughout this whole ordeal, it’s the importance of both friends and family in my life. Caring for those closest to you is something that everyone should be doing right now.
Once the Coronavirus began spreading into the United States, and the word “quarantine” began circling the news, people began to take it more seriously. Still however, no one could have predicted how fast it was going to spread, nor how quickly everyone’s lives would change. When schools and businesses around the nation began closing their doors for the season, people started panicking. Students within every grade level of education were being told that online classes would be held for the remainder of the semester. For many, including myself, this was a very scary fact. Online classes were something that were so wildly unfamiliar to me, I didn’t even know where to begin. For Kaleigh, “[she] has learned how much school and [her] career path means to [her]. [She] would do almost anything to be back in the classroom right now (Ward).” This statement, coming from a freshman year college student is interesting. Usually, living on campus and attending class everyday is not something many students crave to get back. However, for many the importance of college, and the nostalgia of not being there is becoming very apparent. Being isolated from all your friends, and even possibly family members is proving to be a much more significant change than people thought.
For many people, this is a new experience, and they have never even been alive for something as significant as this. Many people are beginning to realize the importance of all the small things in life taken for granted. In reading Ashley’s narrative on her coronavirus experience, I found that she also has realized the significant value family holds. For her, “this pandemic has made [her] realize how important it is to make sure your family members are okay and have what they may need. If [her] grandma needs anything, [her] dad makes sure that he’s the one to go buy it and not risk her going into a store and becoming infected”(Nault). It’s simple things like this that people are doing more and more now, as they realize that keeping the people closest to them safe is the most important thing.
For people across the world, this is a very stressful and surreal time. Although I can say I have never been through something even similar to this, I know that past generations have. In 1918, the flu pandemic swept across the country and had people living in worse conditions than what we are even seeing today. Nearly 500 million people were infected worldwide. In reading a short story by Martha Risner Clark, she wrote that while living in a coal camp during the flu, “soon, everything in the camp closed down. Coffins were brought in by the trainloads, and when they ran out, boxes were used” (Clark). Imagining being alive during a time in which the death rate was so high is something that is scary. It’s hard to not to wonder how bad the Coronavirus is going to get, and when hearing how much the people who had to undergo the flu pandemic went through, it doesn’t look good. In these modern days, the media only reports negative news, like the rising death rates, and how fast the virus is spreading. People in 1918 struggled to get enough food to feed their own families, and in many cases were left to try and create their own remedies to stay healthy. I am thankful that there are so many health professionals willing to help people, and lots of medicines to try and reduce the effects of the virus today. However, I do fear that unless a vaccine is created soon, this will be a very long lasting period in which people are still unsure and scared about becoming infected. Looking back to 1918, there is hope, as people then were able to make it out alive, and mainly did many of the things we’re doing today in order to achieve that. Things such as social distancing, staying home, and not gathering in large groups, are all things that people did back then, and we are also doing today. As long as people are willing to follow the instructions given to reduce the spread, I can see the number of cases declining in the near future.
At this point in time, my fear is that the Coronavirus pandemic could grow and increase in severity until we are facing a similar situation to those who had to endure the 1918 flu pandemic. With this being said, Kayleigh discusses a very important point, that “mostly, [she has] learned not to take for granted all that we have because it can be taken away in seconds”(Ward). By the time the Coronavirus pandemic is solved, I am hoping that people across the world are able to take more time to be thankful for what they have, and show a greater appreciation for those closest to them. Between both friends and family, over time it becomes easy to see past their significance in your life. People get into such a constant schedule that they don’t take enough time to relax and appreciate what they have.
Citations:
Belcher, Shirley Clark. Clark, Martha Risner, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Sept. 2018, www.cdc.gov/publications/panflu/stories/survived_clark.html.
Nault, Ashley. COVID-19 Narrative, 31 March. 2020, https://miller-eng110.uneportfolio.org/2020/03/29/jorunal-18/
Ward, Kayleigh. Effects of COVID-19 on my Life, 30 March. 2020, https://miller-eng110.uneportfolio.org/2020/03/29/jorunal-18/
