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How Covid-19 has Affected me

This meme is regarding Covid-19 and how almost two years after the virus surfaced there is now
another variant.
In 2019 an outbreak which originated in Wuhan, China surfaced and life has been
changed for the entire world ever since. It was called Covid-19 virus. The virus was first reported
in the United States on January 20, 2020. This led to mandates being placed to prevent the
spread, such as quarantining for weeks at a time, screening for symptoms for essential workers,
required masks being worn no matter where someone went, and not being allowed to enter an
establishment without one. Traveling from and to different countries were put on hold and
students had to switch to remote learning. A virus that was believed would die over in two weeks
became something the world had to learn to live with for the past two years and does not seem to
be slowing down anytime soon. This is especially evident now that there is a new variant of the
virus, Omicron, just a few short months after the vaccine for the SARS-CoV-2 variant was

released to the public. This is a key part of the meme, the idea that there will always be another
variant of the virus, and that this nightmare may never be over.
I chose this meme because it reflects on how the virus has specifically affected me. When
the virus hit I was working at a restaurant in my last year of highschool. With the fear of getting
sick and getting my family sick I quit my job. The message from my manager read “come back
when you feel safer to do so,” but two years later I am still unemployed. My classes were moved
to online which was a big transition because I was taking community college classes through a
program with my highschool that was based around personal training. I was stripped of what was
supposed to be one of the best years of highschool, without even the ability to graduate with my
classmates. My graduation consisted of myself, my family, and the essential teachers necessary
for the ceremony. I am now in my second year at ECU and still hesitant about seeing friends and
going to parties if I know I'll be visiting my family. My family is considered high risk by the
CDC with my siblings being under 12 years old and my mother being a cancer patient.
Regarding family, we had to learn how to have fun while being stuck at home, with two
babies and a preteen in the house this was not an easy feat. Finding the best movies and shows to
watch was the most entertaining activity for the family. Technology has developed, apps are
more addicting. I wished to pick up hobbies like reading and painting, but my motivation
decreased immensely being stuck unable to do anything, except finish every show ever.
Furthermore, regarding motivation, I have immensely failed my body. The pandemic has been
split into two groups regarding health, those who took the time away from other responsibilities
as a way to better their bodies and selves and those who binged. I was the ladder. The ongoing
joke in my circle though it is not a particularly funny one is the idea that every sickness is
automatically covid even if it isn’t. Unfortunately, this is because most of the symptoms for

covid are the same as a cold or the flu seeing how it usually attacks one’s respiratory system. I
have personally had Covid-19. I woke up extremely bloated, with off and on chills, and no desire
to eat. These symptoms were gone the day after but a few days later I lost my taste, which was
the worst symptom of them all. Imagine not being able to taste the food you love. My biggest
fear, and why this meme reflects on my life so much, is the idea that I will never be able to live a
“normal” college experience, and my siblings being unable to truly live their childhoods as kids
should.