"The Coronavirus, College, and My Community"

​I would first like to note that this entry is merely a collection of my thoughts that I jotted down in my planner before typing up here. The language or grammar may not be *perfect*, but this highlights some of my thoughts on the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. Take a read:
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I am only about a week or so into the whole post-spring break, now-quarantine period of 2020. To be frank, it’s just weird. The Coronavirus came seemingly out of nowhere and just like that, so much has changed. As weird and foreign as this all is for everyone, oddly, it’s almost recent memory for me. In 2017, my parents and I- along with the people of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, etc.-  suffered through the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. As such, many fears that individuals now have of possible consequences of the Coronavirus are realities I- and many others- already faced. We were forced under mandatory curfews, being separated from family and friends, along with most of the outside world. We went through food, water, and supply shortages. Even when we had rations and emergency resources brought in, many were not able to travel to obtain them. Hospitals in both districts were condemned and medical staff were overwhelmed. Schools were shutdown for weeks, others for months, and some remain shuttered as I type these words. I could go on, but I think the point is made- much of our current fears surrounding the Coronavirus may stem from fairly recent experiences and trauma from “IrMaria”.
I would additionally note, however, that college- for me at least- played an interesting role during both then and now. In 2017, the hurricanes swept through our territory, knocking out power, WiFi, phone service- we were completely cut-off. This happened in mid-September, but as early as November (if not sooner) we would begin to apply to our colleges and universities. Though eventually, through the help of local figures and businesses, we were able to get our applications in, the hurricanes totally changed the college application process. In fact, I would bet good money that at least half of us wrote at least one essay about the hurricanes. Fast forward to today, and many students find themselves in a situation they may have never been in: all of their on-campus classes have (likely) been cancelled indefinitely, and they must now finish most or all of their semester online. Furthermore, most all are or will be confined to their homes, as to avoid the spread of the virus. The immediate effects are already evident, with hashtags such as #QuarantineLife being a consistent top trend on Twitter. However, this experience is likely to differ with each individual. 
Just as is life, this period may be considered a positive, transformative experience(s) by some, while others are posting about the #CoronApocalypse. It should also be noted that this virus is affecting every area and individual differently. For instance, California just issues a mandatory, state-wide stay-at-home order to its some-44 million residents. Whereas, there are continually memes and jokes about individuals in Florida- where I go to college- not taking this virus seriously. However, despite what uncertainties remain, these facts remain clear: this virus is a threat to our society and should be taken seriously; we do not yet know everything about COVID-19 and thus, we should continually educate ourselves and follow the news; and lastly, things will get better with time. For individuals like myself, who were “changed” after experiencing Hurricanes Irma and Maria, these moments can be so important. They can be healing moments, or learning moments, or creative moments, and so on... For me right now, each day reminds me of the uncertainty of the future and the unpredictability of life. That is not to say that we cannot forge our own paths, but rather that life will occasionally move us through a certain current and it is sometimes best to just “go with the flow”. To each person, this metaphor represents something different. For me, I am reevaluating some of my post-graduation future plans and trying to use the extra time I now have to work on hobbies and learn new things. To another, this period may be a time to grow closer and bond with their family. To another, the odd peace of a quarantine may help them finish a work of art they have been stuck on. However you conceive it, the point is that each of us can find our silver lining, to try and turn a seemingly-chaotic experience into one of growth, learning, and even new beginnings. 
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- Julian Don Bishop