March 3, 2021
By Basia Marotta
We’re only days away from the phrase “a year ago” being blasted throughout the media. March 6. A year ago, 21 passengers on a California cruise ship test positive for COVID-19. March 11. A year ago, DePaul announces a virtual spring quarter. March 13. A year ago, Trump declares COVID-19 a national emergency.
Early March 2020, all of our lives changed. That’s obvious. For me, these changes altered my learning environment, social life and overall health.
A year ago, I moved from Chicago to Nashville, left behind friends and transitioned all of my school and work commitments to a virtual setting. If I could go back and give myself advice, I’d say this:
Go outside.
Nashville is a new place for you, so go explore. You’ll be happy to hear there are multiple running trails to choose from. Run through the woods. Run by the river. Run in circles on the abandoned airplane runaway. Just don’t run to your room after Zoom class to take a nap.
Don’t work in bed.
Though your posture looks fine in Zoom, your back is going to thank you when you start sitting at a desk. Considering you’ll be at home 24/7, establish different spaces for work and non-work. Trust me. It’ll help you focus.
You don’t need a new hobby every month.
I get why you’re doing it. Zoom fatigue is real, and it’s difficult. A year in, you’ve bought a skateboard, guitar, dumbbells, a chess set. There’s no more space in your room. Your bank account will thank you if you home in on one hobby to master.
Talk with your friends.
I know. Looking at a screen to talk to a friend is the last thing you want to do after spending the day looking at a screen for school and work. To put it bluntly, you’re lonely. Connect with your DePaul friends, even if it means staying on the computer for another hour. It will provide you a feeling of connectedness, in a time when you are distant from loved ones.
A year later, the virus is still around. Not all hope is lost, though. The “new daily COVID cases” graph made a steep drop at the start of 2021, thanks to the vaccines.
Normal life will be back just in time for you to start your post-grad career. Best of luck in 2020. You’ll need it.
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Advanced Writing, PRAD 356 W21 
Hey Basia! I really enjoyed reading your post. Though the entire world has heard about nothing but COVID-19 since “a year ago,” I think it’s always nice to learn more about something everyone can relate to. You definitely weren’t alone in the struggle! Thanks for sharing!
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Hi Basia! This was a great idea for a blog post. If only we would’ve known a year ago what we know now…
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Hey Basia! This blog is excellent; I think most people needed a “what to do when you can’t do anything” guide. Stuck in a wake-up for class, play video games, go back to bed zone for months. Fortunately for me, I had had experience being locked down for a period before, so I knew that the existential dread would not last forever. I did a few things to pass the time, new dumbbells, a peloton, and a PANDEMIC PUPPY. We are not out of the woods; coming to terms with the pandemic is easier now than in March 2020.
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Hey Basia, I appreciate your advice and story telling of your journey since March 2020. I could especially relate to avoiding completing work in bed because that bed looks so comfortable and I don’t know about you but the colder it gets outside, the more I want to snuggle up and log off for a bit. Establishing work and leisure zones in your house is key and I couldn’t agree more.
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Thank you for sharing this story! I have made it a rule to never work from bed as I know I will never do anything productive. I also found talking to my family and hanging out with my friends more important than ever. This blog was amazing and Totally relatable! Thank you!
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