So lately, I have been up in my head 24/7. I have been trying to figure out the meaning of life, my purpose, etc. But my community has helped me realize that I need to take time for things I enjoy too, like writing, drawing, being in nature. I mean, it’s gotten so bad that I’ve been forgetting things. So with that being said, I want to take a moment to appreciate the little things in life, and share some things I have learned over the past few weeks.
Y’know, it’s quite ironic how it’s Spring. This is because we are all growing, just like the flowers. We have been blossoming, opening our buds until we are complete. Perhaps, this has been your time of growth. I know it has been mine. I have had many experiences in these past few weeks, and have learned so many lessons. Let me share some:
Take time for yourself: We can get so caught up pleasing others, doing work, that we forget to take a little time for ourselves each day. Taking time for yourself is not a selfish thing, rather it will help you maintain yourself. And trust me, people can tell when you are running low on steam. So please, take yourself into consideration each day.
Don’t assume things: Sometimes we think we know what people are thinking, or that people should know what we’re thinking, but that’s where the problem is. We must communicate with one another to truly understand each other. I can’t tell you how many times I have let my mind wander off in assumptions, instead of getting the cold hard facts. Remember, communication really is key.
Writing things down is a blessing: We live in a fast paced world where everything is go go go. When we are going 100 mph how in the world do we expect ourselves to remember everything. We really can’t. That’s where writing things down comes in handy. Put down what you need to accomplish, your goals, etc. and you can always look back to see what you may have forgot about.
A soft heart is not weak: I personally have quite the soft heart, but I am also a very strong individual. People think it’s showing weakness when you cry, but really it shows that we are human. We each have a story, and we should start taking that into consideration.
As many of you may know, my spring break was spent in the iconic and beautiful New York City. When we first got there, the Coronavirus wasn’t nearly as serious as it is now, so we got to do everything we hoped to. But as our trip progressed, the virus was closing more and more attractions to the public, and the day after we left everything was shut down. It was difficult to have the best time we possibly could with all the uprising news about it being shoved in our face and the anxiety of bringing it back to the south. Luckily, it didn’t show too much severity until towards the end of our trip, so I got to enjoy most of New York stress free.
1st day: Monday
The day we got there, we didn’t have much planned so we walked around the city for hours going shopping and seeing the sights I’ve seen so many times in movies. It was so amazing seeing all the people from so many different cultures as we went to Little Italy and rode the subway (which was actually pretty gross and I will never do that again). We spent hours in Little Italy eating at the best restaurants and trying amazing desserts and after we headed back to where our hotel was. Our hotel was in the heart of Times Square, so we stayed out till about 11 pm sitting on the infamous red staircase in the center of all the blinking billboards and thousands of sky scrapers. I felt like I could stay there forever.
2nd day: Tuesday
The second day we were there, we slept in quite a long time because we had nothing planned that morning and later in the afternoon, we went to the well-known Museum of Modern Art or the MoMa. Which is the museum to hold one of the worlds most prized possessions: the original “Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh. While there was a lot of interesting and lovely art there, this was by far one of the coolest sightings in New York. After the museum, we went to a quaint French restaurant near by that was both expensive and exquisite. Apparently a popular thing in New York is French onion soup, which is one of the things we got while there. It was wonderful. The next thing planned on this day was my favorite part of the whole trip– Hamilton. This was the second to last day before Broadway closed down, so we were lucky to see it. I have been listening to the Hamilton playlist for months in preparation to see it performed and it was everything and more that I had hoped for :’)
3rd day: Wednesday
We woke up early on Wednesday to take a tour of the most popular icon in New York– The Statue of Liberty. She doesn’t look that big from the city, but once you get to Liberty Island and see her up close, it’s a whole nother experience. We climbed 10 flights of stairs to get to the pedestal on which she stood, which didn’t phase me all that much since I live on the 7th floor at school and take the stairs fairly often. After the Statue of Liberty, we went to Ellis Island which is directly across from Liberty Island and learned about my ancestors that passed through the very building I was in as immigrants. My great, great grandmother, Katherine (Katie who I was named after), went to Ellis Island to become an American citizen in the early 1900’s and we saw her records and where she signed her name as she filled out her papers in the building we were in. It’s so amazing to think I was in the same room she was in as she came to this country from Germany, barely speaking English.
After Ellis Island, we went to get some of the famous pizza that New York is so known for, and with that being said, New York has the best pizza I’ve ever had. We then went to see the 9/11 memorial which was such somber experience. I got chills as I saw the white roses placed on the black marble by the engraved names and felt so much empathy for those who lost a loved one in this horrible tragedy. I think it’s wonderful that such a tragedy has been marked by a beautiful memorial with sparkling waterfalls and white roses– a place where you can’t help but feel the reverence surrounding you.
4th day: Thursday
The fourth day was our last day there and we spent it shopping, eating the biggest and best plate of pasta I’ve ever had in my life, strolling the paths of Central Park, and seeing the breathtaking views from the top of the Roc (Rockefeller Center). By this day of the week, a lot of things were being shut down and our options were becoming more and more limited, but we still managed to find things to do.
5th and last day: Friday
By the time our trip was at its end, I was so in love with the city and hated to leave it, so I took my time waking up and packing… which made my mom very mad at me. We only had a few short hours to spend before we needed to leave to New Jersey for our flight, so we made sure to spend them well. We walked back to Central Park and walked past so many famous museums and other buildings that I’ve seen in so many movies and tv shows. On Friday, It felt like we were locals and knew our way around the city pretty well which added to the experience and really help make it what it was.
In conclusion:
Despite people being scared to be around me because I went to New York after the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus, my experience was so worth it and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
btw guys, I don’t have Corona.
Have a great week, wash your hands, and stay safe <3
Hey guys! I hope everyone is enjoying their time off amidst the worldwide chaos. Fortunately, it is still Women’s History Month, and I’m still celebrating, so for this week’s blog, I will be discussing 9 women who inspire me (in no particular order).
Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham
Plus-size model and body activist, Ashley Graham has been one of my “she-roes” for quite some time now. She rose to fame in 2016, after appearing on the cover of one of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issues as the first plus-size model. However, I first discovered her on social media. I was 14, and summer was fast approaching, so I was searching for bathing suits that I thought would hide the fact that I didn’t have a perfect “bikini body”. Naturally, I took to Pinterest, and searched for “plus-size swimsuits”. As I was searching, I kept seeing this woman in all these cute bikinis. The best part— she looked like me. I’d never seen anything like it— a woman who was not a size 2, in a bikini, loving her body. For some reason, the concept was foreign to me, to actually love my body even though it wasn’t a certain size or shape. After that, I Insta-stalked her for hours. I even printed out photos and news articles and hung them everywhere in my room. Ashley Graham was the first stop on my journey to loving my body, and if weren’t for her, I might not be the person I am today.
Most recently, she’s just given birth to her first child and become a mother. While pregnant, Graham didn’t skip a beat. She was working nonstop with modeling, her podcast, her swimsuit line, and staying healthy and taking care of herself for her unborn child; Graham did it all. Now, she’s taking the mommy game by storm and documenting it on social media every step of the way. She has no shame is sharing in her “mommy struggles” as she is seen breast-pumping in an Uber, changing her son in the middle of a Staples store, and even breastfeeding at a coffee shop. Baby Graham has one phenomenal mom, and I can’t wait to see him grow up, as she raises him in the best way possible.
Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen and her family
Similar to Graham, Teigen has also been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and is #Mommygoals. However, despite her very successful modeling career, I only learned of her as John Legend’s wife. My mother is huge fan of him, so I also became a fan. I remember watching his music video for his song, “Stereo,” and thinking it was risque, but also how strangely captivated I was by the woman who starred alongside Legend. I didn’t think too much of it though, and eventually, I had stopped listening to Legend. A few years later when Legend released his hit “All Of Me,” I watched the video, and I realized that it was the same woman who had been in the video for “Stereo”— Chrissy Teigen. Except this time, I knew they had to be a couple with the song’s lyrics and their behavior on screen; it went beyond acting for a video. From then on, I Googled everything there was to know about Legend and his leading lady. I fell in love with their love story, and soon after “All Of Me” was released, the couple wed. I purchased their wedding issue of People magazine as soon as it was released, and I cut out photos and hung them on my wall with all the other people who’d inspired me.
Now, Teigen is known as the clapback queen on Twitter for her witty tweets and sarcastic comebacks, especially with President Donald Trump, or lack thereof now that he has her blocked (if you know, you know). Teigen is also the mother of two, and has been open about her fertility struggles and IVF journey. She is truly killing the mom game and adding some humor along the way. She’ll forever inspire to me to love unconditionally, to be transparent, and to laugh often.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra
One of my more recent stans, Priyanka Chopra, is one of the most successful actresses in India, starring in over 50 movies since her career began. Chopra got her start when she won Miss World in 2000. After that, the movie roles started piling in. Currently, Chopra is one of India’s highest-paid celebrities, but more recently, she’s starred in some American films and is known for her role on the television series, Quantico. However, I learned of her in 2018, after her marriage to The Jonas Brothers star, Nick Jonas. People magazine covers most celebrity weddings, so it was no surprise that the Jonas-Chopra wedding was plastered on the front cover of the magazine. The couple had two ceremonies— traditional, Christian and Hindu, meant to serve as the two cultures uniting, honoring both of their beliefs. The wedding not only honored them both, but it was quite possibly the wedding of the century. The couple exchanged vows in a Christian wedding set in India. They both wore Ralph Lauren, and Chopra had a 75-foot veil that was carried by 6 people. Following, they had a traditional Hindu reception where Chopra wore a red lehenga.
Jonas-Chopra wedding
As a person with multicultural heritage, seeing a wedding like this is inspiring. It’s so beautiful to see two people from different backgrounds and faiths come to together, bound by love and mutual respect for one another. Not to mention, the 10-year age gap, Chopra and Jonas share. With so many reasons that could be interpreted as incompatibility, the two embrace it and love each other regardless.
Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay has had quite an impact on my life. In 1999, she made her debut as Olivia Benson in the Law & Order spin-off— Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Despite airing before I was even born, the show was an early favorite, as my mother and I share a love for crime shows. This show, however, is more than just another crime show; it’s life. The stories depicted in each episode are stories in which many people can relate. As the #MeToo movement is progressing, the show is too. It’s talking about things that aren’t being talked about enough in times like this, and it’s been doing so for the last 20 years. The cast just recently celebrated their 21st season, making it the longest-running series in America, and they have signed on to do 3 more seasons (which my mother and I will be faithfully tuning in to every Thursday night).
Hargitay says the show turned her from “actor to activist”. Outside of the show, she is a rape crisis counselor. In 2004, she started the Joyful Heart Foundation, a nonprofit that aids victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. Hargitay may play Olivia Benson on screen, but she has a little of her off screen, as well.
Mary Lambert
Mary Lambert
Mary Lambert is a singer/songwriter, poet, and advocate for crying, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ equality. When I first heard Lambert, it was in collaboration with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. She performed their LGBTQ+love anthem, Same Love, alongside Madonna, at the 2014 Grammy Awards, where 33 couples wed. I was just 10 years old watching the ceremony, so I didn’t have a clue what was going on, but I was still vibing with the music. It wasn’t until a few years later that I heard Lambert’s song “Body Love“. I’d never heard a song with spoken word or that had so much depth and so much honesty. I listened to it almost every day after that, and I remember immediately downloading every song she’d ever released after that. I even watched every interview and poetry slam she’d ever done on YouTube. Then, I stumbled across her performing her piece, “Epidemic,” that was about sexual assault. I remember crying and thinking that that’s what I wanted to do. I always thought writing about trauma made me damaged or like there was something wrong with me, but when I heard Lambert turn her trauma into something beautiful, I knew then that I wanted to write poetry.
In 2018, Lambert released her book, Shame is an Ocean I Swim Across. I went to my local Books-a-Million the week it was released and bought a copy. I read every single poem twice in two weeks. Then, I bought the audio book, and it changed everything. To hear her words in her voice with the soft piano playing added so much depth to her art. It meant so much more. Her book inspired and continues to inspire me every day.
In 2019, Lambert released an album after 5 years of having no record label. She recorded and produced the album all on her own. It is entitled Grief Creature,and it is quite possibly the best record ever released, or at least, the most beautiful. Of course, these are my opinions, but the album features spoken word with songs about trauma and healing. Although it’s not mainstream, it is valuable and honest. Listen to the album on YouTube— you won’t regret it (be sure to bring tissues).
America Ferrera
America Ferrera
From Real Women Have Curves to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, America Ferrera has taught me to love and appreciate not only my body, but my culture. However, she is most known for her role in the 2006 series, Ugly Betty, in which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Actress, making her the first to do so. However, lately, Ferrera has been activating and advocating. She was a speaker at the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, a founding member of the 2018 Time’s Up movement, a partner in The North Face’s Move Mountains initiative, an advocate for the protection of people in the DACA program, and much more. In 2018, she published a collection of stories titled: American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Culturesthat features first-person narratives of life experiences between cultures. In doing all this, Ferrara also found time to star in the NBC comedy, Superstore, and have 2 children. She is, by definition, a “superwoman”. Ferrera may have played ugly Betty on screen, but she could never be anything less than phenomenal.
Lina Esco
Lina Esco
Lina Esco is an actress, director, producer, and activist. She’s not very well known, but some may know her for her role as Miley Cyrus’ best friend in the film, LOL. You may have also seen her star in the movie, Free the Nipple. However, many people don’t know that Esco founded the Free the Nipple campaign and directed and starred in the indie film inspired by it. The campaign advocates for the accepting of women baring their breasts, both legally and socially, as there is a double-standard. It is okay for men to walk around shirtless in public, but women aren’t allowed to in most states and even if they are, they’re shamed for it; women are even often shamed for breastfeeding in public. These are the things the campaign fights against. In Esco’s film, based on true events, a group of vivacious women come together to fight the marginalization of women and they do so by forming rallies and protests backed by prominent figures. From the message, the impact, and the cinematography, it is a truly inspiring film, and I encourage you to watch it; however, there is nudity, so be cautious.
Esco is one of those phenomenal that isn’t talked or heard enough about. She is creating change in our society, and it should be recognized more. Esco inspires to fight for what I believe in and to use my art to further my advocacy.
Amina Mucciolo
Amina Mucciolo
Amina Mucciolo is an Instagram influencer and YouTuber. Mucciolo is quite the woman. She is fabulous, fierce, and unafraid to be herself. Before she was an influencer, she was an aspiring writer. However, when that didn’t pan out, she moved to L.A. where she now owns and operates a design studio that sells party favors, tutus, and other crafty knickknacks. However, it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns for Mucciolo, as she battled with bulimia and depression most of her life. Mucciolo is open about her struggles and how she turned her life into a “pastel paradise” after facing hardship.
Mucciolo is so incredible and quite possibly, another me. Her story and confidence inspires so much. It’s not often that you see a grown woman wearing rainbow dresses and tutus just to go to Target, but with Mucciolo, that’s her norm.
Kesha
Kesha
Kesha Rose Sebert, more commonly, Ke$ha, is a singer/songwriter who is most known for her hit single, “Tik Tok”. However, to me, she’s an absolute queen. From glitter her on her eyes to Jesus on her necklace, Kesha is unapologetically herself. She’s known as the “party girl” with her electro, dance pop music. However, Kesha went on hiatus in 2014, after entering rehab for an eating disorder. Shortly after she was released, she filed a lawsuit against her producer, Dr. Luke, for sexual assault and battery. This has been an ongoing public lawsuit for years, but Kesha returned to music scene in 2017 with the release of her album, Rainbow, that not-so subtly said that the 30-year-old was no longer that party girl the world once knew. When the first single, “Praying,” released, the world was taken aback, as it was the first music she’d released in years, it was not her usual style, and the song lyrics strongly suggested it was about her legal battle with Dr. Luke. In an interview, the singer said this about the album, “I felt like Rainbow was a time and place to address some more serious things.”
Now that Kesha’s addressed these issues, she hasn’t slowed down any. In January, the singer released another album— High Road. This album is different from her party girl style, but not quite the same as Rainbow. In this album, Kesha has dark brown hair and her style is a bit grown up, as if saying that she’s still that party girl, but she’s grown up now. On one of the tracks, she even featured “old Kesha” with the dollar sign in her name.
No matter which direction Kesha decides to take her musical stylings, she will forever be an icon to me. She has always inspired me to be myself and to love myself. I still remember 10-year-old me listening to “Tik Tok” on repeat with glitter on my eyes. I’ll always be a #Animal.
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo has been a role model of mine for as long as I can remember. I don’t know I learned of her because she’s not someone you learn about in school, which is really saddening, because she’s such an amazing woman.
You might know her as a famous Mexican painter or as Diego Rivera’s wife, but these weren’t always the roles she inhabited. Being disabled by polio, as a child, Kahlo beat the odds and had a bright future ahead of her. When she was 18, she was on her way to med school to be a doctor, but then she was in a terrible bus accident. This left her unable to walk or move for a year. While she was bedridden, her father bought her a paint set and easel, as she had mobility of her hands. While healing, Kahlo continued to paint. When she learned to walk again, after being told that she wouldn’t, she continued painting. She said that it was her passion and it distracted from her pain.
In 1929, Kahlo married Diego. Their tumultuous relationship is one that is studied by many historians and anthropologists. Kahlo’s art reflected their marital problems, as well. One of her more famous pieces, “Henry Ford Hospital,” is an evocative one that portrays her miscarriage and feelings of being unable to have children due to her ailments. This piece was so powerful because, at this time, women didn’t talk about issues like this or the feelings they felt, and Kahlo painted it— and with so much emotion and truth.
Frida Kahlo was an incredible woman, artist, and activist. From her scarf-braided her to her signature unibrow, Kahlo was a woman ahead of her time. Her art was powerful and raw; it explored themes that weren’t being talked about or explored. Her work inspires me to write and talk about the things that aren’t being done already, to create change, to fight for peace, and to embrace my heritage.
These are just 9 women who inspire me daily. There are billions of inspiring women, and if I could write about them all, I would. But since I can’t, I hope this piece inspired you to write about the women who inspire you or taught you about an inspiring woman that you didn’t know about. Happy Women’s History Month!
I’ll let it be known that this post will be an exclusive look into the chaos that is currently unfolding in my brain in the current climate of the world. I don’t want to stick to the normal path that this blog could take (I.e. what have I been doing during the quarantine?, how has it affected my family?) I want to simply release my mind. Ideas will be thrown, questions will be asked, answers might not be given. See this as an unwinding of the mind. Maybe this will encourage you to do the same…maybe not. It helps me a lot when I just let go of all the random thoughts in my head and what I think about them. This is my madness…enjoy…
Am I the only one highkey freaking out over the Corona Virus?
Yall. This is scaring me. I get sick 2-3 times a year around the same time and I honestly can’t afford to get sick or show any symptoms of the virus. I think the best option is to practice good cleanliness and simply staying to myself. Self quarantine and social distancing is what will get us through this.
2. Why do I feel seriously connected to my cat, Kit?
I have spent so much time in the house, I’ve started to feel a connection between my cat and I. I feel as if we both are trying to sleep our problems away and eat in between them. She has influenced a lot of lazy habits lately and with each day passed, I feel like we both are slowly falling into the same routine…the same lives. Truth be told, everything I do, Kit pretty much does the same in her little cat-like way.
3. The new music I have found is quite exquisite.
So, with all the free time I have accumulated, my journey to discovering new music is currently still going. I have found some gems on this journey and I have no doubt that I will find some more. This time at home has allowed me time to actually explore the music of different artists. I can sit by myself in my room in my bed and just listen to new music. It all has worked so well in the past weeks. I can only imagine what new music will cross my path during this time home.
4. Is the time slowly slipping away from us?
I woke up the other day, totally thinking it was Tuesday for some reason…but it was literally Friday. It didn’t feel like a Friday. It felt like a Tuesday. That is so weird. When I think it’s like 12 or 1 in the afternoon, it really is like 2 or 3 like??????? Where has this displacement came from? Is it my recent lack of routine? I have felt so much out of place lately and it is messing with my mental a little bit.
5. Twitter is top tier content.
If you don’t have a twitter…you should probably make an account. That app holds some of the best comedians I have ever had the chance to see. The jokes people are making in the midst of a global pandemic have had me ROLLING on the floor everyday. Not a hour passes where I’m not checking my twitter. Honestly, it is kind of unhealthy, but yolo!
6. I’m desperately missing the big bathroom MSA provided to us.
Oh how mad I am that I took the bathrooms in the dorms for granted. I didn’t appreciate the space they provided. The ROOM it provided to do things. I miss the big, clean mirror. I miss the ability to lock the doors…inside AND out. I miss the shelves I had to put my stuff in. I miss it all.
7. Cranberry juice and yogurt give me LIFE
My favorite quarantine snack so far. It fills me up and for some reason will put me to sleep. I have had this almost everyday this week and last week. I’m honestly so surprised I haven’t finished the box of juice and yogurt yet. If you don’t like these…you’re missing out…like…on a lot.
That’s all I have to share with you all today. Trust that there are plenty more random thoughts being passed around in my head. This was a good reliever on those thoughts. I already feel my head is a bit clearer.
I don’t have to explain to you what’s been happening in the world, I know that you already know. Personally, I’m sick of hearing about it. COVID-19 is all over the news and its all everyone is talking about. It has shut the world down and taken over our lives.
However, I am severally uneducated about it. Amid the chaos, I decided that I wanted to do some research on the virus while also finding other things to things that could bring me some hope for the future. So if you’re like me (badly out of the loop and craving some reassurance), then here are some happy thoughts and COVID-19 facts (sources and links included @ bottom!)
The Origin of COVID-19
2019’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that spreads from person to person. It was first identified in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. General coronaviruses originate in animals and are usually not transmissible to humans. If you have a dog, chances are that they’ve been vaccinated for some sort of coronavirus (such as canine respiratory coronavirus). Occasionally, a coronavirus can mutate and pass from animals to humans. This is why health authorities in Wuhan believe that the virus was transmitted to humans by contact with animals at a live animal market in the central city of Wuhan.
WUHAN TODAY
China has announced that it will lift the lockdown on Wuhan on April 8 after two months of being sealed off from the outside world.
How COVID-19 Spreads
COVID-19 is spread between people who are within about 6 feet of each other when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is also possible for a person to become infected by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or their eyes (but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads).
The World’s Largest Gathering of Smurfs
In the small town of Landerneau in northwestern France, more than 3,500 people in blue body paint crowded together in a parking lot on March 7th to dance in conga lines to disco hits chosen by a Smurf DJ. Although some of the biggest cities in Europe were going on lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the village of Landerneau was hoping to earn a spot in Guinness World Records for “Most people dressed as Smurfs”. And they did!
The event also garnered several comical quotes:
“We must not stop living. It was the chance to say that we are alive.” – the mayor of Landerneau, Patrick Leclerc
“There’s no risk, we’re Smurfs.” – Smurf gathering attendee
*This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
HOW TO PREVENT IT
You can prevent the spread of COVID-19 and stay safe by practicing “The Five”:
Also:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When using hand sanitizer, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol (these kinds kill viruses).
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Practice social distancing! You may not be at risk of dying from COVID-19, but other people in your community are!
FREE TIME!
Obviously being stuck at home isn’t ideal, but it does free up enough time to finally complete tasks that you’ve been putting off. Read a book, watch a movie, or start a new tv show! The possibilities are as endless as they can be when you’re not allowed to leave the house.
Personally, I’d recommend going outside. Walking long trails, even just going for a lap around your neighbor, is a great way to get out of the house and still be practicing social distancing. And if going outside isn’t for you, then maybe Facetiming your friends might be! If your friends all have iPhones, then you can early have a group FaceTime from your group chat. If not, then apps like Discord and Skype allow you to see and talk to your friends and family from almost any device!
WHO is at risk?
Although everyone of every age is at risk of getting the coronavirus, people ages 65+ and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the coronavirus. People with weak immune systems and people who are in close contact with someone with COVID-19 (healthcare workers) are also at risk.
The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. As of March 23, there are 44,183 cases throughout the US.
Treating Covid-19
Vaccine – There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19
Testing – Every US state is providing testing for COVID-19
Treatment – There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 can seek medical care to help relieve symptoms.
WHAT NOW?
As of now, it can appear as though this coronavirus pandemic is neverending. I, however, don’t believe this to be true. People across the world are working hard every day to get the situation under control. Should you be worried? No, just cautious. Take this extra time off to take inventory of your life. What/who have you taken for granted? What can you improve or work on while practicing social distancing? If you’re struggling with isolation and the lack of social interacts, just hang in there and know that this won’t last forever!
From the time I was in kindergarten to now, my junior year in high-school, I have known how much everyone looks forward to graduating. It’s a huge milestone in everyone’s life. Graduating brings a sense of freedom and accomplishment to anyone who does it. High- school really sucks sometimes. The light at the end of the tunnel for most teenagers is walking across that field/ stage and getting a diploma of completion. But now, because of COVID-19 (the Corona Virus), that milestone is being stripped from a lot of these teenagers.
These kids have waited for twelve years for something that should have been guaranteed. Yes, they will still get their diploma, but they won’t have the ceremony that they most definitely deserve. Many adults are arguing that “people are dying so these seniors shouldn’t be so upset when there’s worse things going on.” While this is true, people are dying, these young adults are being stripped of something very important to them. They have every right to be angry, upset, or sad. It may not be as important as the death of these innocent victims, but it is still important. Telling these children that they have no right to be sad is just like telling someone that they have no right to be happy when better things are happening to other people. It’s the exact same thing. You wouldn’t tell a child that they shouldn’t be happy over a good grade when there are people out there who are millionaires or have everything they ever wanted, so why tell these seniors that they have no right to be sad?
Every emotion that these seniors are feeling are valid in every way. If you are one of the people who feel that they are overreacting, put yourself in their shoes. Imagine something that you waited almost your entire life for being stripped away. It would upset you, right? The same concept applies to the class of 2020. This is such a huge milestone in a teenagers life. They have worked almost nonstop for so many years for this. Be kind to them. Treat them with the tenderness and kindness you’d want to be treated with.
Our seniors are in pain, so show them the love you want to be shown.
“I wonder what it’s like out there. All the green. All the sounds and contaminated air. I bet I’d die if I went out there– one breath and I’d be a goner.” Emma said as she stared intensely out the window. I looked at her disgusted. I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or not.
“You are joking– right?” She continued to stare out the window and made a repulsed face then looked over at me.
“Absolutely not! Do you know how many people have died from that virus?!” I shook my head and shrugged and stood up from the couch. She looked me up and down, questioning my actions. I made my way to the back door and put my hand on the door nob. I paused to glance back at her and her eyes widened as she quickly jumped off the couch. “What are you doing?!” She questioned.
“Oh nothing. Just getting some fresh air.” I smiled at her maniacally and began to twist the door nob.
She glared at me. “That isn’t funny.”
I smiled and shrugged. “Hope I don’t get contaminated.” She stood shocked as she studied me and before she could say anything, I swung the door open and jumped outside. The soft grass beneath my feet and between my toes welcomed me as a cool breeze gently blew on my long brown hair. I looked up at Emma who had a look of horror on her face and rolled my eyes. “Oh comon Emma. It’s not that bad. It’s beautiful out here! Come on out, it’ll be fun!”
She backed away from the door, shaking her head. “You seriously think I would risk my life to have fun?! Oh no. Oh oh oh ohhhhhh no. You’re an idiot– I hope you know that. Because now you can’t come back inside this house.”
I scoffed. “Don’t you think if the air were really as deadly as you think it is, I would be coughing up my lungs by now?” I took a deep breath and exhaled, meeting her eyes that stared me down and then began looking around the room.
“That’s because… just give it a few more minutes. It’ll get to you.” she looked away and we stood for a minute without talking. I sighed and sat down in the grass, plucking pieces from the ground. I looked up at her and was still standing in the same spot, staring out the window.
I sighed again, even louder to let her know I was still alive and I looked around at my yard as I got an idea. I laughed slightly to myself and then yelled to her. “Emma! Come quick! There’s a cat out here!”
Without hesitation, she sprinted outside to me and looked desperately around, immeadilty dropping her head. “Wait a minute… There is no cat, is there?” I started laughing and shook my head.
“Nope. But now you see that its not so bad out here… right?” I asked hopefully.
She looked around and slightly smiled and shrugged. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.” She sat down beside me and we both laughed and then took in the nature around us in silence.
“Do you want to go on a walk?” I looked over at her with an overexaggerated smile, hoping she’d say yes. “I mean. After all, there’s nothing else to do…” my voice trailed off and I started looking around at the trees and flowers blooming under the warm blue sky.
She stood anxiously and took a deep breath. “Yeah… Why not? It’s not so bad out here.” We smiled at each other and spent the rest of our day enjoying what we still had.
Hi, how are you? I hope you are doing well. I can not imagine how you must feel during this challenging time in our world. It is so crazy how your life can change in a matter of years, months, weeks or in our case days. I want to use this blog post as kind of a time capsule for my emotions. I want to look back in a month or so when hopefully all of this is over and use it as a reminder to remain humble. Because nothing in life is guaranteed to you and it can be easily taken from you.
How I feel
To be honest and raw the main emotion I feel during quarantine is insecurity. I feel insecure about my physical appearance as well as my mental state. Last week hit me hard because I felt like I had no direction. Every day I had the same routine. I get up around 11 a.m. eat breakfast, watch t.v., scroll online, eat some more, watch more t.v., talk on the phone, eat something else, and feel about eating something else because I am supposed to be on a “diet”. But what my mind doesn’t understand is it is not much for me to do but eat. It’s my only source of dopamine at this point. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy being home and reconnecting with my family but I’m not the type of person who can just sit around and do nothing forever. So I was feeling guilty for just relaxing when the world is in a crisis. I wanted to do something to help the world, but what really can I do when the whole world is lost? Me being the aspiring journalist I am decided that I should document it. I started to interview my friends and family on their emotions towards the Covid-19 and being in quarantine. I mean, I don’t think I’m doing the most impacting thing that’s going to change the world. However, as long as I’m doing something, I feel like I can help people cope. To me, that’s better than sitting around and just complaining. Because I’m unsure of where I’m going to be after this blows over, but rather than focus on the future I want to focus on the now. So I’m going to continue to interview people rather it is over the phone or in-person (usually can do this with family members. Please practice social distancing).
Another emotion I’m feeling is hope. I may not know what’s going to happen after this but I have hope for a better world. Maybe after this pandemic, we can come closer to world peace, America can develop a better health care system, and finally, everyone can start practicing good hygiene. I don’t feel like this is the end of the world but rather a warning to the world. To get our lives together and focus on the beauty in life. At least that’s how I’m taking it.
Also I reminder for my future self. Stephyne, DON’T buy a dress during a novel outbreak when it’s not guaranteed that you will get to wear it!
It has been ten thousand years…just kidding, but enough time has passed that I am typing my March blog right after February’s. Okay, okay, I know that March is not over yet, but I have no motivation to type anything else, currently. And, surprise: not because I am lazy but because I have a special blog in the works…All I can say is that I should have posted it months ago. And my other excuse for not finishing out the month is that I doubt anything extraordinary will occur between now and then.
If a meteor falls from the sky, you know who to blame.
Anyway, I now present you with my version of the fiasco also known as March, 2020.
I began the month very much in need of a break, but to be honest, I think that is how everyone felt. Exams definitely caused a bit of a stress, and I felt half-dead—I overslept nearly everyday, and I wore sweat pants, for the first time, to school (only one day, but still). Other than that, I enjoyed the first week of March, and I felt okay to leave for spring break.
I remember packing my bag with only a few of my belongings, leaving all of my school work. And I also remember inhaling one last glimpse of my room before leaving for what I expected to be a week. Then I left my heavily watered plants and prepared for spring break, no doubt in my mind that I would soon return.
I spent the majority of the break out of Mississippi. I enjoyed it, for sure, but I remember feeling a little irritated about not having a week to lounge around and begin projects I was considering. Oh, yeah, that is something important to mention for later: I had so many ideas for the summer, and I could not wait to begin. But then, sometime around Thursday, everything changed.
I remember hearing that Mississippi had its first case of the Coronavirus. I remember hearing that even Disney World was shutting down and that, when we returned to school Sunday, a few changes would be made to help combat contamination, etc. And then it got worse.
So, first MSA announced an extended break, and then it became online classes the week after that. And then…distance learning until April 17 (at least).
My last few blogs have consisted of me rambling about how sad I felt about school ending in May, and I have complained about feeling stressed, tired, and overwhelmed. Well, a virus said psych and threw everything out of a window. Those nine weeks that I wanted to savor? I have no definite answer when I will even return to MSA. And that break? Oh, I got it.
oops, pessimism
I spent the “extended spring break” week absolutely squandering my time. But, as an excuse, I will say that I reacted to the news fairly well. I do not want to delve into the topic that has arrested the media, but our current global situation is not the best, so I feel like some weeks deserve to be spent being a hapless blob. When I heard that it would be at least another four weeks before I could return to MSA, I had no idea what to do. I became pessimistic and afraid of how quickly everything was escalating, and I allowed myself to sink into a state of “until”. But I tried to learn how to adapt, and after feeling cluttered and smothered, I cleaned my room and squeezed in a makeshift desk (and now I feel a lot better).
Friday, I was able to return briefly to my dorm room and retrieve belongings, and that helped a lot, also. I saw (and nearly saw) a few people that I missed a great deal, and I appreciated being able to grab important items (like all of my school work…). It proved to be quite the odd experience. For the first time, ever, I stepped onto an entirely vacant floor. The only light entered the hall from the large windows. I remember standing there, staring out of the window that I always loved to look out of. And that is now such a bittersweet memory because the ginkgos had light green leaves, and the crepe myrtles were experiencing growth as well. Spring is my second favorite season, and seeing the trees—that have been bare for so long—with leaves that I have missed dug into me a little bit. And I remember unlocking my door with the key that always annoyed me, clattering incessantly against my badge. And I remember stepping into my room for the first time in two weeks, looking around to see it just as I left it: scrawls on my calendar about events (now canceled, R.I.P.), my drawer full of novelty socks, and my unplugged lamp with its birthday hat that I kept from a coffee house. I loaded up my plants, my books, and my plastic dinosaurs, and then I left.
Sometimes I feel a tad dramatic, but MSA has meant a lot to me. It truly has felt like a home and one I had to build, at that. And although I got the break I wanted, for awhile I lost focus on projects and began to spend a lot of time missing my usual routine. I usually have a lot of gratitude on a daily basis, but I began to appreciate even what bothered me. Everything feels so convoluted, and I miss driving back to MSA after the weekend, getting coffee and fast food and seeing everyone. This has been the longest amount of time I have been away from MSA, and it feels so weird.
This week, I feel completely better, however. Having assignments has returned a sense of normalcy, and I have missed my discipline work immensely. I also appreciate having all of my plants with me, and now I feel significantly less isolated and afraid in general.
It is so weird to type this blog at home. Usually I am in my dorm eating popcorn or something. A lot has changed, and the change has proved difficult at times. But I encourage everyone to remain optimistic and hopeful. Life will regain balance. I hope all of you can adapt and find peace, and gratitude is important. Also, focus on the present, please. If you live life with an “until” outlook, you will waste the present. As much as you like it or not, this is reality now. Reminiscing and taking lazy days are both fine until it gets to the point that you are utterly useless for weeks.
I know that life has been turned upside down, lately, but a lot of good exists if you search for it. I have a blog coming soon about tips on staying sane, so feel free to read that if you need a reminder that the world is not ending.
Wednesday’s Fun Fact:
Everything will be okay.
I miss all of you and hope you are well. Try not to become stirred into the overwhelming confusion and chaos as best as you can. Until next time, peace out. (:
You wanted to keep the milk and the blood hidden as if the womb and breast never fed you.
-rupi kaur
It’s March of 2020, meaning it’s Women’s History Month and I think the best way to celebrate this beautiful milestone is to educate people on the women that no one ever hears about, so I will be focusing on women of color and queer women. So, without further adieu, enjoy!
Wilma Mankiller: the first woman to serve as chief of the Cherokee Nation. She fought for the rights of women and Native Americans. She led Cherokee Nation from 1985 to 1995 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bill Clinton in 1998. “She understood that great leadership begins with the women — that’s our long, cultural tradition,” said Chad Smith, who was chief when she died in 2010. “If I had one word to frame her, it would be patriot. A patriot is one who gives her all for her people.” Gloria Steinem spoke at her memorial service.
Janet Mock: is an American writer, television host, director, producer and transgender rights activist. Her debut book, the memoir Redefining Realness, became a New York Times bestseller. She is a contributing editor for Marie Claire and a former staff editor of People magazine’s website.
Sylvia Rivera (left) and Marsha P. Johnson (right): Sylvia and Marsha were both instigators for the Stonewall Riots, a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community against a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. They were also activists for the LGBTQ+ community.
Linda Sarsour: Linda Sarsour is an American political activist. She was co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March, the 2017 Day Without a Woman, and the 2019 Women’s March. She is also a former executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. Sarsour has advocated for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied territories and expressed criticism of Zionism and support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Sarsour also helped organize Black Lives Matter protests. Sarsour helped form “Muslims for Ferguson”, and she traveled to Ferguson with other activists in 2014. She has continued to work extensively with BLM ever since. Sarsour became a regular attendee at Black Lives Matter demonstrations as well as a frequent television commentator on feminism.
Angela Davis: Angela Davis rose to prominence during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement due to her involvement with the Communist party. She was targeted by the FBI and later imprisoned but then acquitted on murder and kidnapping charges in association with a courtroom attack during the trial of the Soledad Brothers, three African-American inmates charged with the murder of a white prison guard. She has been a professor and author and today focuses on battling the “industrial prison complex” in the U.S. as well as the role of black women and the rise of intersectionality in feminism.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: is serving as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district. Taking office at age 29, Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress. She has been noted for her substantial social media presence relative to her fellow members of Congress. Ocasio-Cortez majored in international relations and economics at Boston University, graduating cum laude in 2011. She was previously an activist and worked part-time as a waitress and bartender before running for Congress in 2018.
Maria A. Ressa : is a Filipino journalist and author, best known for co-founding Rappler, an online news website based in the Philippines, as its chief executive officer. She previously spent nearly two decades working as a lead investigative reporter in Southeast Asia for CNN. She was included in Time‘s Person of the Year 2018 as one of a collection of journalists from around the world combating fake news.
Sadako Ogata: was a Japanese academic, diplomat, author, administrator, and professor emeritus at the Roman Catholic Sophia University. She was widely known as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from 1991 to 2000, as well as in her capacities as Chair of the UNICEF Executive Board from 1978 to 1979 and as President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from 2003 to 2012. She also served as Advisor of the Executive Committee of the Japan Model United Nations (JMUN).
There are many, many more women that don’t get their names in the media as often as they should. I highly encourage you to do your own research and learn who they are and what they do/did. To help, here’s a list of women of color that deserve to have their name spoken:
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