When the spread of COVID-19 began rapidly shuttering large events, businesses and college campuses nationwide in the middle of March, The Signal reached out to the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) community to share their experiences. Their original submissions to the inquiry were published March 29 as “Your Voice: The impact of COVID-19 on UHCL Hawks.”
Since their original submissions, The Signal has followed up with these individuals to see how their experiences have evolved alongside the growing global pandemic.
In her original submission, Brittany Kirschner, education major, spoke about her struggles with adjusting to online courses, losing her job as a dance instructor and her now thwarted plans to create a new dance organization at UHCL. Kirschner choreographed a response to COVID-19, expressing her experiences through movement and dance.
Since then, Kirschner said COVID-19 has impacted her life in various ways and presented new challenges.
“I am missing teaching my dance students in the studio,” Kirschner said. “I’ve been teaching them over Zoom and it’s very challenging. I’ve had to apply for a payment plan with my apartment because my roommate and I can’t afford to pay rent due to losing our incomes. Not only that, but I am sad that my time at UHCL has been stunted. I am still obviously learning and doing online class, but not being able to be on campus and start a movement I was trying to do, makes me feel defeated.”
Cynthia Nieto, internship II and EC-6 educator, initially expressed concern regarding her certification process, as she and others in the internship II program were to graduate this spring. With the closure of campus, Nieto said they felt in “limbo,” as their independent teaching was to be completed this semester.
“Regarding my clinical teaching, I am thankful that I will be able to complete internship II,” Nieto said. “However, I had already decided that I was fine regardless of the outcome. Seeing so many people lose loved ones has made my issue about graduating in May quite minuscule. I am just thankful for life, family and health.”
Sieana Bernal, accounting major, spoke in her March 16 submission about the decline in restaurant traffic and the impact it was having on her as a server. Bernal expressed frustrations with shortages of bread, meat and vegetables. Since then, Bernal said she feels more anxious and scared regarding the spread of COVID-19.
“I’ve always taken this seriously but every day I feel like no matter what I do I’m always at risk,” Bernal said. “No matter how many precautions I take. I am finding it hard to focus, [COVID-19] is always on my mind. I haven’t worked since March 16. I’m lucky I have a fiancée to help support me. I usually use the school library for a lot of my studying and homework so that is hard to live without.”
Bernal also expressed a wish that the United States would go into a mass quarantine to further reduce the spread of the disease.
“I’m ready for all of this to be over,” Bernal said. “I wish the whole country could go on lockdown so the spread will come to a halt. As much as I love having more free time, I really want life to go back to normal so my anxiety will go away. I’m tired of stressing out every day. I wish health and safety for you and everyone else in the world.”
Misty Woods, literature major with 7-12 English language arts and reading certification, expressed concerns in her submission about the Student Government Association (SGA) and the steps they would take next with regard to their proposed revised constitution. She invited student organizations to a Discord server intended to connect student organizations at UHCL for collaboration and connectivity.
While Woods still encourages students to read the proposed constitution, she also commended SGA for taking action based on student concerns.
“I said to keep an eye on SGA,” Woods said. “I do hope that everyone has gone and read the new constitution they are proposing. However, I also need to commend [SGA] now. Through all of this, they have released the updated version, where they changed some things that people were not happy about. They have also postponed the voting date for it, which is the right thing to do.”
Woods urges student organizations to stay up to date on the topic and asks that those interested in joining the Discord server to use this link for an invitation to the welcome channel.
“Our goal is to get all student org officers in this chat so we can keep each other up to date and collaborate on events,” Woods said.
Blair Carter, management major and student ambassador, in a March 19 submission shared the toll self-quarantine had on her mental health. Carter urged people to have a “herd immunity” mentality regarding social distancing and encouraged those who could work from home to do so. Carter also thanked minimum wage workers, emergency personnel and healthcare workers for their work during the crisis.
After relapsing into depression, Carter is seeking an emotional support animal to help manage the negative impact self-isolation is having on her.
“Both of my parents are teachers,” Carter said. “They’re also working from home, sending emails and calling parents of students who neglect to finish schoolwork regularly. I miss my friends and my partner. I miss feeling free in my discussions. I miss being myself and feeling worthwhile. Don’t spend all your money. Please do not stockpile. Everything you buy that you don’t need now is something someone else needs now and will have to go without. Focus on self-improvement.”
Members of the UHCL community can continue to share their own experiences and thoughts on COVID-19 with The Signal by filling out the Google Form or emailing thesignal@uhcl.edu.