Times, They are a-Changin'

Jessica Przborski
First Place
2020 Future Alumni Essay Contest

At the dawn of 2020, new year optimism was at its peak. People were filled with hope as they set out to tackle unlikely resolutions. 

That is until those plans were so abruptly interrupted by the invisible invading army called Covid-19. Marching its way through people’s lives all around the world, Covid-19 set out to seek and destroy. This infectious disease is a new strand of the Coronavirus. 

What is so scary about this specific strand is that it is so new. Without historical data, the scientific community was at a loss of how to combat the virus that causes respiratory illness. The first case was detected in Wuhan China on Dec.1st, 2019. By March 11th, 2020 The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic. 

Big changes followed. Countries were put on lockdown and restricted travel. States in the U.S were locked down and quarantined. Curfews and social distancing requirements were set in place. Masks ripped off the shelves along with hand sanitizers, paper towels, and toilet paper. People were fighting for essential goods and it seemed like the precursor to the apocalypse. 

And just like that the world as we knew it was different. One word that thousands of people have used to describe these trying times is “unprecedented,” and for good reason. We don’t know much about Covid-19. It’s unfamiliar, mutable, and unpredictable. Our survival now depended on learning how to proceed with caution. The fact of the matter is this: The Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic has changed virtually everything and for the first time most human interaction turned virtual. The god-awful year of 2020 has affected nearly everyone in one way or another; healthcare, the economy, and social interactions have suffered greatly. In the words of the great Bob Dylan, “Times, They Are a-Changin”.

In an early response to the coronavirus crisis, most states and local governments closed non-essential businesses and schools. Mandatory stay-at-home orders were declared for all non-essential workers. Large gatherings were prohibited, travelers were quarantined, and social distancing was encouraged. While these precautions seemed to be the best course of action, the effects of the isolation wreaked havoc on the human spirit. Even if you didn’t contract Covid-19, hardships exasperated by the disease have increased the distress in everyone’s homes. Some of those adversities include things like domestic violence, substance abuse, job loss, child abuse, mental illness, and even healthcare workers being at a higher risk of infection.

Healthcare workers are without a doubt the unsung heroes of the pandemic. They leave everything behind to stand on the front lines and fight this invisible foe. Among 2,035,395 community individuals and 99,795 front-line health-care workers, 5,545 were reported to have tested positive for Covid-19. As brave as they are, there was little they could do to save our most vulnerable. The elderly and people with pre-existing conditions fell to this unrelenting virus.

Addiction and mental illness have also been drastically affected by Covid-19. As of Oct.6th 2020 more than 40 states have reported increases in opioid-related mortality as well as ongoing concerns for those with a mental illness or substance use disorder. I can honestly say from my own experience with mental illness and substance abuse that these predictions have proven to be true in my personal life. It is estimated that at least 10 percent of the world’s population is affected by mental illness and that almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction. I happen to be part of that statistic. I struggle with depression, anxiety, and bipolar tendencies. I am also a recovering alcoholic and in February 2020 I celebrated 4 years of complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol. It was such a beautiful moment filled with peace, love, and joy.

As a stay at home mom of a 7-year-old, 2-year-old, and a 10-month-old, I long for communication with other adults outside of my home. That’s why when I first enrolled at Trident Technical College I was really looking forward to taking some on-campus classes. Working towards my degree in Digital Media and making new friends was exactly what I needed to kick those postpartum blues. 

However, the pandemic had other plans for me. Social distancing guidelines stripped me from what little social interaction I had in my life. I was wrapped in fear from the virus and I was exhausted. My long-anticipated college experience was now reduced to online learning. Even the doors of alcoholics anonymous swung closed and were reduced to zoom meetings. I missed the unity and camaraderie of it all. Even with all the tools I had learned in recovery, I still found myself at my kitchen counter sobbing and looking for alcohol to fix my problems. Ironically enough, the only thing I had available was a bottle of hand sanitizer. And in that moment, Covid-19 helped strip me of the life I spent four years building. Devastation is not the word. I let myself down and my family down but I haven’t had a drink since. Fortunately, I bounced back quickly as I no longer had the luxury of feeling bad for myself.

I think the takeaway is this: Covid-19 has woven itself into the fabric of our daily lives and it has decimated our economy which affects all communities. Everyone we know was already fighting a silent battle that we know nothing about and the pandemic has made each battle harder. Nevertheless, even in these darkest of times, people have found a way to connect. From online AA meetings to schools handing out packed lunches to prayer gatherings for our health care workers, humanity has found a way. We are all just trying to do our best to survive a global pandemic and it’s easier when unity can still be a stronghold, even if it’s six feet away. Unity breathes life into our humanity. Although times have changed and social interactions are different, we are all in this together.