ALyssa

“I remember hearing about the SARS-CoV-2 virus in mid-January in my Microbiology class. I first began tracking the spread even before it had an official name. I never would have predicted that I would find myself in this situation today, but here I am. Not only was I in disbelief that this virus would reach this level, I was also never under the impression I would be back living in my childhood room, a place that slowly morphed into my second home. My first home was back in North Carolina at Wake Forest University. 

At first, I was in shock. Unable to digest the feeling of having something so close to my heart being ripped away without any opportunity to fight back. I am a person who feels at peace with official “goodbyes” and relies on closure for momentous occasions in life. Because everything was happening so quickly, I did not get the chance to grieve, my mind just felt blank. If it weren’t for my core group of friends from high school all being back home due to this pandemic, I am not sure where I would stand. Oddly enough, this forced living in my hometown situation has brought me even closer to my friends who are more like my family. I am forever blessed that I had the opportunity to spend this time with them, even though my college experience was ruined and taken from me. 

My thoughts on the future are that everyday life will never return to what it used to be. The greeting of a handshake will cease to exist, and for a long-time people will be hesitant to socialize like they used to. I consider myself to be an optimist, so I tend to look at the glass half full side to things. All I can really hope for is that things get better, I can continue on my path toward physician assistant school, and I can maintain these bonds with my college friends and my hometown friends despite this pandemic.”