Pop Culture vs. A Pandemic

 Pop Culture vs. A Pandemic

    Out of all the pandemic this world has seen, this has to be the most innovative. The world has turned some of our pain into laughter. 2020, has not been an easy year for anybody, but yet very challenging. people have used this time to grow, some used this time to save money, others did not really change much about their everyday lives. It sad to say, the US definitely lacks common sense and courtesy to others. one example that I saw was about Iana Del Rey. she went to do a fan meet-and-greet and she decided to wear a mesh face mask. After the event, the internet made a joke out of it basically showing her mask was ineffective and shows how much American lack, again, common sense and courtesy.

  

Virtual Learning Has Changed The Game

Virtual Learning Has Changed The Game

    I have very mixed emotions about online school. Even though It feels optional, its not. I feel that online school hindered some students ability to fully learn. I personally deal with this problem. I honestly hate online school because i am a hand-on learner. i like to be physically in class and feel like im actively participating. I like going to class and seeing everyones faces and not having inernet problems every other day. I enjoy class becuase i know everyone is actively there. its alot harder to stay focused during online class. Especially with life happening to everyone, its hard to stay focused becuase it feels like your still in tune witht he world and not class. 

    Online school is a whole new world, and I can’t wait to get back in the classroom. Even though other contries have opened back up to face-to-face,that does not mean we should. The USA was slow reacting to the Virus compared to everyone else and that is how it spiraled out of control so fast. I feel as though everyone does not have the same opportunities becuase everyone does not have the same kind of technology, the same kind of internet connection or home life to do well in school. Some people were not able to come back to school during this time and it is a lot harder to do virtual learning while off campus. It is not fair they do not get to get the same opportunities like if they were on campus. People will aruge that there is zoom and things like that. Although that is true, we all know we all benifit better from being in person. I feel like there should be a program available to student who have a scholarship provided by the University. If you decide to take a break, you will not be pentalized or lose your scholarship. I feel as though this will allow students the opportunity during a aondemic to do whatever they need to do. some people have been without a job and couldnt afford tuition. Some became homeless and other things of that nature. I feel that that would be fair for student who want/need a break during this time. Also. it will benefit the university because there is a possibility that a lot of students grades will decrease, their will be more pass/fails and the adverage grade will drop for the school and the dropout rate could increase if this online school goes on without major improvements.    

UK Core Issue: How Do We Distribute Covid Vaccines?

UK Core Issue: How Do We Distribute Covid Vaccines?

How I believe the vaccine should be distributed is first by identifying the people who are most at risk. the people I feel should get it first are health care workers who work in the Emergency Room and also those who work in nursing homes and daycares. the reason I say them first is to protect who they are working around. people who are in nursing homes can not leave and with their age and health status, it is important they are protected. the reason I don't day them automatically is that they can not get it amongst each other if the virus was never present. they contract the virus from the workers who are going in and out. Once they are taken care of then toddlers/children and so on. I feel as though the vaccine should be given while at work or before coming back to work. I feel like that would not leave room for any excuses for not being able to get the vaccine if it is readily available. once they are taken care of, I feel like they can start to distribute the vaccine at local clinics or even pop-ups in certain neighborhoods that do not have close access to places that would offer it. Once all of the vaccines that were available were distributed, there should be a mandatory lock-down for at least a week or two. I feel this will significantly decrease the spread.

Hitting Home

 Hitting Home

Everyone has been affected by the COVID in various ways but for me it was personal. my grandmother was diagnosed with dementia some years ago and has been in the nursing home for about 4 consecutive years. It was already hard on me going away for school and not being able to see here unless I went home, but everything changed when I could not see her at all. the last I saw my granny before COVID happened was during Christmas break. When I went home in March I was heartbroken that I couldn’t see my granny but I could not be selfish because it was for her safety. COVID shifted my grieving process. before, I was already preparing for dementia to take over, but COVID came and changed everything. We could see her at all, maybe a few facetime calls here and there, but they would only confuse her more.  

                                                         

Recently, my granny got pneumonia and was sent to the hospital because her temperature and heart rate was dangerously low. Dementia and infection do not work hand and hand. infections and sicknesses affect her dementia and put her in a different state. My granny was not taking her medicine and she would not eat which was not good. It had gotten so bad, they asked us to come and say our last goodbyes and I did not know how to take it, I mentally shut down. I packed my bags and went to go see my granny. When I got there, I found out, that despite her not taking her medication and eating, her pneumonia had gone away and her heart rate was improving.

Going to see her, I could definitely see what COVID had done to my granny. With us being able to go see her before, COVID we could keep her in reality but with her spending most of the time alone and in bed, she wilted away. But I am thankful for her still being here and being able to see her and talk to her. Even though my granny didn't get COVID,COVID still had the upper hand. 

Will Wildcats Get To Stay On Campus?

 Will Wildcats Get To Stay On Campus?

It is no secret that this pandemic is spiraling out of control but some people think they can keep it under control, like all Universities around the country. I believe that it is possible to limit the spread of the virus with strict rules and lockdowns on campus. 

Honestly, the University of Kentucky is not taking the virus as seriously as other Universities. now, if I did not think they were taking this seriously, I would not be here but there are things that they could have better control over and monitoring it differently. UofK is currently taking Daily Wellness check-ins. these check-ins are not very detailed and can be inaccurate because people can easily lie by saying "NO" to the questions instead of "YES" because most people do not want to find out what would happen if they said yes. Even though we were all provided PPE, who says all students are using them? 

It is no secret that people are still not following the guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus, but I think that we will make it to the end of the semester because we are ending sooner with no breaks but I'm not sure if we will be returning in the fall. we do not have the proper people in the office to really do what needs to be done to get the virus under control. Until that happens, I do not think we will make it back on campus in the Spring. 

                                           

Who is Really Telling the Truth?

Who is Really Telling the Truth?

It is hard to believe what anyone has to say these days, especially when you have a
President who did not take this Pandemic seriously until recently when it was too late. It makes you think who is really telling the truth? so far the only ones I trust are the Center Of Disease Control. Even though they have gone back on their word a few times, I still trust them because they are learning about COVID like everyone else. What I do not understand is why other countries are doing better than us, when we had ample time to prepare and get this under control. This pandemic has only made me realize how selfish Americans really are, and how our government really does not care about us. 

                                             

Since March, I have had two different Jobs. One was essential and one was not. One was at a restaurant at Masonic Homes Community, which was for senior living. The residents were put on lockdown and could not leave the Campus. every single day we were evaluated, had our temperatures checked, and had to wear a mask. the other job was at Ross Dress for Less and I did not get screened, and rarely got my temperature checked unless I checked it myself. customers were very inconsiderate and would come in without a mask or would wear it on their chin and our staff did not correct them even though it was mandatory in the store. all customers did was complain about wearing them for 30 minutes, when I had to wear it for an entire shift, on top of going out in public. 

 

Covid-19=1, Wildcats=0

 Covid-19=1, Wildcats=0

One thing the University Of Kentucky has done is to continue to test students who are in sororities and Fraternities on campus because they are living closer together than everyone else on campus. 

Recently, they also opened The Study back up to students to receive free tutoring for different courses. My friend went to get some help with her class and she was waiting for her tutor. Her tutor for that class had not shown up. She was waiting and waiting just to find out that he was not coming because he had just tested positive for COVID. he is in a Fraternity and had to get his results before going into work. That is very scary to think about because even though we have the mask, that isn't protecting us 100% and my friend could have been exposed to the virus easily spreading it to me and around campus even more. 

because of this, I have been going to The Study virtually. It is definitely different than going in person because there are a lot of technical difficulties and it takes much longer to complete problems than it normally would.