In light of recent events, I'd like to discuss how the most recent pandemic has changed my point of view on the vitality of understanding what is happening in our communities due to COVID-19.

1. Oblivion

I won't be one to lie that throughout the first few weeks, I didn't feel the worry that others did when I continued to do my normal day-to-day activities. As a college student who still lives at home with my parents and siblings, my biggest worry was trying to find enough grocery items that would make do for home meals now that both my younger brothers were staying at home. Throughout the course of these first few weeks, I continued to work (more than usual due to the circumstances), and I continued to go to my classes until we were told that it was best we stay home until we could proceed again safely.

It wasn't until about four weeks later that I realized how bad things were getting in my community, and I decided to take the paid leave that my job was offering employees. I let my manager know that I was burned out and feeling anxiety-ridden and needed the next seven days to think my options through for the sake of my family and for my own peace of mind.

2. Closed-Mindedness

Over the one-week period that I was home, I had several phone conferences with my managers where I was being reassured about how policies were changing to better suit me and my fellow coworkers. Upon returning, I knew that things weren't going to be the same in my heart anymore. Every day I looked forward to making customer connections and finding a way to make our guests laugh or smile. With longer wait times and everyone stressed out, it was harder to find ways to connect with my guests, especially if we were trying to get our drinks pushed through. Another thing that I did not mind before my paid leave was how often I noticed customers didn't or did wear masks and gloves. I was definitely one of the people thinking that masks and gloves didn't provide any form of protection for anyone because, in the long run, you were still managing to touch surfaces that others had previously touched.

3. Change Of Heart, Growth In Mindset

Looking at how tables have turned and how many people are being infected each and every day, and the number of deaths due to COVID-19 on the rise, I wish that customers would wear their masks when picking up their orders. Although you may feel funny or your breathing becomes slightly more restricted, this is for the peace of mind for the employee you are seeing daily or at least weekly. It is important that you take care of yourself and ensure that you are being careful with other people's health, as well. Each morning or afternoon as I drive to work, I think of my family and friends who are at high-risk due to their diabetes and other auto-immune diseases. I think about the guilt and worry I would feel if they were to come in contact with someone who has unknowingly become infected and is asymptomatic.

4. Empathy

At the moment, the most common ways to care for yourself is by maintaining a six-foot distance between yourself and other people, making sure you are washing your hands thoroughly and avoiding the contact between your hands and your mouth, nose, or eyes. Another way, according to the Red Cross, is making sure you are wearing a facemask if you are coming into contact with people whom you are not familiar with in your day-to-day life. Another good idea that I have heard about was taking advantage of the disinfecting wipes in grocery stores and cleaning off your cart or other surfaces that are constantly in use. Along with staying at home and caring for others in this way, making sure you are reaching out to friends and family that you care about can aid in your mental health, along with being able to stay social at a time where we are restricted with stay-at-home orders. Being able to empathize in moments like this will likely bring our community together, along with being able to understand why some of us have to stay home while others feel more gravitated towards working outside and trying to feel normal despite the current situation.