This diary is a look into my life as it has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. I could never have imagined I would be a part of possibly the worst pandemic in 100 years, and that it would have a major effect on my life. As a senior at Mercer University, it has been a game changer as it has taken me off campus early and has me going into a job environment impacted by an economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. 

I live in a nice, three-story brick house in Roswell, GA, with my mother, my sister, and my stepfather. Everyone is healthy. If there were to be any concerns, my mother is 58 and another family member of mine has an allergy to gluten; however, those are not expected to be major problems. 

I live in a very nice neighborhood called Horseshoe Bend. I really love it; it’s everything you can ask for. It has a lot of nice, cascading trees, and it has a lake in the middle of it that people go walk by. There is a lot of stuff that is perfectly photogenic. I have taken walks around the neighborhood, and it has helped me to get my mind off this situation. If there is anything I would change, there was a gazebo by the lake I mentioned, but they got rid of it. The problem with that is that it puts people in direct sunlight, and they may be subject to heat as well as sunburn making for an uncomfortable, and potentially unsafe, experience.

The first thing I heard about the coronavirus was that it was an outbreak that was ravaging China. I didn’t think much of it. It was unfortunate, yes, but I didn’t think something like a global pandemic would occur. I remember reading a message from the CDC saying that it wasn’t a matter of “if” but a matter of “when” the U.S. would experience an outbreak. I tried not to think much of it, but I made precautions like increased hand-washing and keeping distance.

My awareness of Coronavirus came when all the major sporting leagues were getting cancelled. In fact, I actually dozed off in the middle of the night, and when I woke up, I found that the NBA had suspended its season as a player tested positive for the virus. Before I knew it, every other major league (NHL, MLB, NCAA, even the XFL) had their seasons, tournaments, and events either cancelled or postponed. That’s when I knew the situation was getting really serious. I was thinking that the most they’d do is not play in front of fans, but when everything got suspended, it was a wake-up call that this is a real problem. After that, everything kinda followed suit. Schools moved online, movie releases were postponed, and states went under lockdown. It was crazy.

The thing that has brought me hope is the government announced guidelines for reopening. I am a little skeptical about it being this early, because I think it only takes a few cases for everything to fall back. However, it’s nice to see the country moving to a point where we can possibly return to some semblance of normal. I know this is a gradual process, but again, it’s a lot nicer than hearing this will last forever. Now, I am just hoping they get a vaccine, treatment, or something out there as soon as they can so it can truly be over. 

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