My alarm goes off but I am already awake. I hit stop on the alarm but lay in bed for a few moments. I contemplate if risking my health and the health of those I surround myself with on a daily basis is truly worth it.
I shower and start a pot of coffee. I eat a quick breakfast, which is usually a Poptart. I grab some coffee and head to work. On my drive, I play a mix of music by some of my favorite artists, such as Post Malone, Kenny Chesney, and even Drake. I would usually sing along, but I don’t pay any attention to the music because I am immersed in my own thoughts. When I get to work, I knock on the door and put on a brave face even though I am a wreck inside.
Being an essential employee means that although we are supposed to stay at home as much as we can and distance ourselves from others, I have to go to work. Being a caregiver means that I am on the front lines of this pandemic.
I work in another family’s home and take care of a teenage girl who has developmental disabilities. The family I work with goes out into public quite frequently, which means if they are ever exposed to the virus that is wreaking havoc on the world, more than likely I will be exposed as well. What if I was exposed to the virus while at the grocery store? I could be exposing my client and her family to the virus and I wouldn’t even know.
My work says we should remain six feet away from our clients as frequently as possible, but what happens when she needs help completing a task? What if I need to step in and assist her while she is making herself lunch or needs an explanation for her math homework, which she struggles with so much?
My mind is constantly going through worst-case scenarios and “what ifs.”
I am thankful that I have a job, but I am also scared for my life and those who surround me.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I was not worried at all. I did not expect it to spread around the world, killing and hospitalizing as many people as it has. When I saw on the news how bad Italy was being hit by the virus, I started to panic.
At one point, I stressed out about the virus so much I made myself sick. I missed two days of work because I couldn’t cope with the reality I was facing. I laid in bed and thought about how I would die if I contracted the virus. About how I would cope with the loss of an elder family member if they became ill and didn’t survive.
I kept checking the news for information, looking at the number of cases each day in Oregon and thinking, “This is happening right now and there is nothing I can do about it.” I had to stop or I was going to spiral out of control down a path I’m not sure I could return from.
Now that school has started and I have learned to cope with reality, my view on life has changed.
Although I cannot do much to help during the pandemic, I know that I am doing my best to prevent spreading the virus to those I see on a daily basis. I now wear a mask at all times when going out into public. I wash my hands at least four times an hour when I am at work, and when I can’t wash my hands I use hand sanitizer. My hands are the driest they have ever been. I don’t always enjoy going to work because it is difficult for both my client and myself, but it brings me joy to be able to provide support to my client during a trying and uncertain time.
I haven’t seen my family in well over a month, but we still chat over text and call to make sure everyone is well. I have to remind myself that this is only temporary and life will find its way back to normalcy soon enough.
If I have learned anything from this ongoing pandemic, it is this: love from a distance, do your part to ensure the health and safety of others, and don’t stress over things you cannot control.
If I have learned anything from "On Writing" by Stephen King that can pertain to feature writing, it is to be honest, transparent about who you are as a writer, and write about things that are relatable to your readers. I think this will help me with writing in this journalism class because I always feel like I have to become someone else when I write. If I am just honest and write and express my experiences in a way that allows my readers to relate, I think I will do fine in this class.
An example of this relatable quality that King has is his experience with poison ivy. I know we mostly have poison oak here in this region of Oregon, but they both make you itch like crazy and are a burden to deal with. I don't break out into a red rash when I'm exposed to poison oak but most of my family does, especially my mother and my grandfather who seem to break out in a rash at the sight of it. They have both told me stories very similar to King's experience and reading about his brought back many funny memories. I laugh every time anyone in my family gets poison oak because I'm a jerk and don't know the true pain of having an itchy rash on my ass.
King's honesty in "On Writing" makes me love reading his book. My favorite quote from the first 18 sections is, "This is a short book because most books about writing are filled with bullshit." I love how brutally honest King is, and it gives us some insight into who he is as a person. King seems like a no-nonsense guy who is very relatable and has a knack for writing in ways that makes the reader feel as though they are there with him experiencing the events he describes.
I am excited to continue reading "On Writing" and learning more about who Stephen King is and how he became the great writer he is today, as well as how I can become a better writer.
Hello, all! I am 20 years old, and I have lived in Oregon my whole life. I live with my boyfriend, Ryan, and our dog, Otis in Corvallis. We love being outdoors, whether that be biking, hiking, swimming, camping, or going to the coast. My original career goal was to become a physical therapist and transfer to Western Oregon University in fall 2020, but that goal has come and gone. I realized that my career goal was not for me; I was going down that path to impress my family and make them proud, and quite honestly for the money. What I truly want to do is become an elementary school teacher because I love children, and I want to be an inspiration and great role model for them. I want a career that I love and truly enjoy, so that is why I am currently finishing up my transfer degree and working towards an Education Degree starting next school year.
I am taking this class because (1) it fulfills a requirement for my current transfer degree, and (2) I enjoy writing about things I am passionate about or that have a deep meaning to me. I absolutely hated writing in middle and high school because the prompts were bland and the topics were never interesting enough for me. Once I made it into the college writing setting, I found a true passion for writing. I am hoping this class will be a great experience, and maybe open doors for me that I never knew were there or give me tools to become a better writer. I am excited to build a portfolio in this class as that is something I had never thought of doing, as well as learning new forms of writing and ways I can display my works to others.
My three goals for this term are:
(1) to manage and balance my personal life, work life, and school work,
(2) learn accountability and self-discipline, and
(3) gain new skills and abilities that can help me be successful in my future career.
