Reflections on COVID-19

By Youyou Zhang

Being back in the United States after a week of quarantine in China, I anticipated a pandemic here. I'm sure no one has ever been through anything like this before.  Everything changed so quickly that it caught people off guard. Working from home is now the status quo for most people. Professors and students in our college are also trying their best to overcome the difficulties of working remotely. I'm about to finish my thesis in this current climate, and I don’t feel worried, because my thesis advisor is still helping me both academically and in life. Nothing seems to have changed except that meeting has turned into a video or phone call, while getting along a bit more with a sense of caring for each other. As a result of the social distancing policy, the reduction of going out also makes me pay more attention to my thesis and things that I have to do. Besides modifying the thesis, I now cook, practice yoga, read books, and watch TV shows every day. I wasn’t used to staying alone before but now seem to have some enjoyment the life in the quarantine. No matter how the outside world changes, your rhythm is important, and I believe my professors and classmates are understanding of this. I hope everyone stays safe and well in this tough time.