I had many items on my list of stressors for this semester and a global pandemic was definitely not one of them. As an EMT in an emergency room, I was staying active in the updates from the beginning. I, nor did many people I work with, expect it to turn out like this. I never imagined that our entire semester would be put online. I never imagined that I would be going to work being rationed one mask for my entire 12 hour shift. I never imagined being quarantined with my entire family for who knows how long. The world throws us curveballs and we have to adapt, even though we may not want to.
We are now social distancing, which leaves us a lot of time to sit with ourselves. Scary, I know. As a good friend Joshua stated, it gives us a lot of time for both self reflection and self loathing.
I am not one to have time on my hands. I tend to stay busy all of the time. My schedule is full and my days are very planned out. Going from a strict schedule to all of the sudden having time on my hands is a weird feeling. I no longer have to drive to school. I can’t go to the gym. I can’t really see my friends (except for you Nayiri nothing can keep us apart). It is definitely an adjustment.
My cats have never been happier because they now have 24/7 access to me and my dog has been on too many walks. He may run away from me if he sees me bring the leash out again. I am also still in all of my classes, but they are all online so I am still technically busy. It’s just a weird type of busy because I am doing it all from home.
Work is another big part of my life that is being affected. I work in an emergency room that serves most of South Orange County. It is full on any normal night and now we add in this. I try to take my precautions, but I am absolutely being exposed. Its what I signed up for and I have no problem with it. I signed up for the risk. However, I feel the guilt of bringing it home to my family. They didn’t sign up for the risk. I did.
We really are living a strange time. This is a new experience for all of us and we can really only do our best to keep living even though life is seemingly on pause. I am making the best of it for now. I have more time with my family, more time with my animals, I get to cook and bake more, and I get to go out and help the people that are being affected by coronavirus.
Last note to end on. Please prioritize yourself and others by social distancing. Social distancing is currently the most important factor in controlling the COVID-19 outbreak and allows the healthcare system to stay afloat.
The Thoughts of a Sleepless Pre Med Student 
3 replies on “College in Quarantine”
Makena I’m so proud and in awe of you (and Nayiri yay) for showing up to work every day as a healthcare professional. But in order for you, PAs, nurses, MDs, and DOs to do their jobs… everyone else needs to do theirs and PLEASE SOCIAL DISTANCE! I think your project on this topic will be especially interesting from the point of view as an EMT versus a lot of people who are simply stuck at home and can only see it from the quarantine side. You’re very fortunate in the sense that you get to experience both sides. As chaotic as this time may be for all of us, we will come out with a lot of stories and lessons from it. Excited for your project!
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Hi Makena,
I just wanted to say I think what you’re doing is extremely selfless. You are exposing yourself just for the sake of helping other people and that is absolute incredible. I think seeing what you write about this topic will be very interesting especially as someone who has been following this epidemic from the beginning. Hearing from someone involved in the medical field is a very different point of view and I can’t wait to read whatever you have to say!
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Stay healthy, Kena, and thank you for the shoutout! Couldn’t do it without you! So proud of you and all of your hard work. Social distancing is so much more bearable when we do it together. I know right now is super stressful and strange, but one day at a time! Everything will work out 🙂 in the meantime, we can quarantine together by continuing to make banana chocolate brownies, blueberry muffins, and binging Love is Blind.
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