Author: basiamarotta

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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