Random Post 2
End of Pandemic Hope (or at least, hopefully the end)
Last night, after a call with my boss at my internship, I looked at our schedule of articles we are releasing for the next few weeks and realized that article assignments were moving onto a different Google sheet for Q2. "Damn," I thought, "it's really April already... jeez. That means that classes end this month, which also means that this school year more-or-less ends this month, and that my junior year is coming to a close.
Alongside this realization, I also got my second COVID-19 vaccine dose last week. The side effects absolutely wrecked me and had me achey and bedridden with a 101 degree fever for a day and a half, but through it all I was smiling inside because I was finally fully vaccinated. For the entire pandemic, I always imagined I'd get vaccinated over the summer because I had zero trust in our government's ability to distribute the vaccine efficiently, and although our vaccination system still isn't the best, I can say it definitely surpassed my expectations. Many of my friends are nearing full vaccination as well, and my entire family (with my parents in New Jersey and sister in Chicago) has also all gotten at least one dose of a vaccine, so for the first time in a long time, I actually feel pretty hopeful and excited for the future.
When I registered for Fall 2021 classes a couple days ago, I realized that the classes had real locations again, which is what really triggered my excitement for a back-to-normal college experience. I'm definitely a little bummed out at missing out on a full year and a half of what had been some of the most fun and telling times of my youth, but I'm really thankful to have a senior year to enjoy--and now I'm really going to make the most of it.
Hi Serena, I am so happy you were able to get your vaccine! congratulations! I have been feeling very similarly to you, with excitement and shock that this year has passed and soon we will (hopefully) return to normal. This entire process has been shocking. The things that we now have all looked forward to (tests, vaccines, and now our world reopening), is something I would have never even thought I would be experiencing a year ago. I guess that is the lesson learned in all of this! That life can change so quickly and we all of a sudden are thrown into a new environment. But we always find a way to adapt. I am glad you recovered from your symptoms as well. I have heard that the vaccine can be very sickening so it makes me happy to know you are doing well now!
ReplyDelete-Best,
Carlo
Hey Serena, I am so happy to hear that you are fully vaccinated! How exciting! We are one step closer to things going back to normal! I'm so sorry to hear about your terrible side effects though. I have only received one dose so far, but my arm was soooo sore for literally a week. Kind of scared to get the second dose because of how terrible other people have felt after getting theirs. Regardless, I completely relate to you about being bummed out at missing over a full year of our college career, but at least we get to have our senior year on campus! Hopefully, I can actually meet you in-person then! - Eileen Tak
ReplyDeleteSerena, I hope you are doing fine after the side effects of the vaccine. I haven't gotten any shot yet, but I rarely go outside anyway. However, I plan to get one soon. On the side note, I am also excited for the in-class during and looking forward to being able to meet our peers and faculty members.
ReplyDeleteHi Serena! It's crazy how we are slowly starting to go back to normal, this time maybe for good. I received my first dose a few weeks ago, and I am receiving my second dose on April 15th. My parents are fully vaccinated, and one of my three brothers has his first dose. It feels surreal and I am very optimistic as well. I am graduating in May so I will not be able to take an in-person class at USC ever again. I am excited for you for next school year, as things will be (hopefully) back to normal if we continue on the track that we are on.
ReplyDeleteHi Serena! Congrats on your second dose! I got mine last week too and had similar symptoms, but I am so glad to be this much closer to the end of this all. Your family seems spread apart, so I hope that as y'all get vaccinated, you will be able to visit them and spend time with them. I am graduating this year, so I will finish my USC time online, but I am super happy for you and everyone in their Junior year because I think it'll feel great to come back to campus and really have closure to this part of your life.
ReplyDeleteHey Serena, congrats on the vaccine! I'm hoping to get mine in the next couple of weeks when they open it up to everyone. I'm so envious of you going to person in class in the fall and having more of college, I walked on campus last month and it felt so wrong to be there with no one else around.
ReplyDeleteBaylor
Hi Serena,
ReplyDeleteLike you, I've been shocked at how fast time has gone by recently. I'm also a Junior and I can't believe I'm moving onto my last year of college. It's so sad to think back about the years we missed, but it's also incredibly cathartic to dream about a Senior year spent on campus.
I'm sorry to hear that the vaccine put you under the weather. I have my second dose coming up and I'm incredibly nervous. Do you think hydrating before hand will do anything to diminish the side-effects? I'll try it regardless!
-Dylan Strode