FINDING MY NEW NORMAL

 Its is not question that the past year and a half have been some of the hardest times for most of us. The shock of a global pandemic did not come easy. Since March of 2020, COVID-19 had taken the reigns to out lives and each of us have been impacted by it in some way. As a population we have experienced almost a year long quarantine, a massive loss of jobs, unemployment rates sky rocketing, and a daily risk to out physical and mental health. 

For me, COVID-19 took away some of what is supposed to be the best years of my life, and left me to pick up the pieces. I was a junior in college when the pandemic first hit and I was the happiest I had ever been. I was about to be 21, I a had good grades, great friends, and things were looking up. Until that all stopped...The constant fear and anxiety brought on by COVID-19 and the isolation during quarantine really took a toll on my mental health. I am a person that thrives around others and not being able to see my family, friends, and even classmates hurt me in a way that was more than physical. 

After the first wave of the pandemic was "over", and we found a way to control the spread in a saver way, we were finally allowed back on campus. JSU did all they could to help slow the spread including mandating masks and social distancing, moving classes online, COVID testing, and canceling events. However, this made it difficult as a student to enjoy what little time we had left on campus. We were used to hanging out with friends, attending sporting events, concerts, even traveling and it took some adjusting to find our "new normal". 

As a graduating college senior, it was a struggle to find my new normal and balance enjoying my time i have left as a student and staying safe and healthy. It took some adjustment but with the development of vaccinations I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... 

Maggie McDevitt. Social media promo for video. 

Here is the link to my short video going more in depth to finding my "new normal". 

https://jsu-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/mmcdevitt_stu_jsu_edu/ERWEpRBEhsNAvTeUhfkj56cB0R0-NF39LW2Olx_5bM65Cg?e=XhESv5