How has COVID-19 affected your life?
As a first year graduate student and a healthcare professional COVID has had a profound impact on my life. I have found strength through my faith, family, and friends to continue to provide care for patients and motivation to continue my studies so that I can give back to my community. Instead of sitting in a classroom, I had the pleasure to watch my professor lecture online. It was difficult at the beginning and took time to get used to but I know that this too will pass, just like the lines on my face after wearing a mask for an entire day in the hospital. We must take all precautions to keep ourselves, and those around us safe.
– Nadien Aljony, 24, Farmington Hills
COVID-19 has affected my life in many ways. In particular, I wasn’t able to have a law school commencement because it was canceled for obvious reasons and the bar exam was administered online for the first time ever. I miss going to the gym and going out with friends on the regular the most. I’m hoping that we can get back to normal life very soon. Hopefully after the election the political madness will end and we’ll have a clearer picture of when this troubling time will be over.
– Sam Jarbo, 26, Rochester Hills
The pandemic hit my life at an imperative moment. May was supposed to be a time full of celebrations with my family and friends, anticipating my undergraduate graduation and my brother’s pharmacy school graduation. Alongside that, I would be beginning my first semester of law school in August. Law school is now online and neither me nor my brother got to celebrate our graduations. The majority of my family were also considered essential workers during the early pandemic, so we were facing this virus head-on with fear for our safety. I’m grateful that our communities eventually assimilated to the fast-paced changes and extra safety precautions were instilled in our jobs and everyday lives. There is a silver lining - with the lockdown, my family and I were able to finally come together in one house and spend time reconnecting. Although I cannot meet my new classmates nor celebrate all of the accomplishments my friends and family are completing, I am grateful that we are safe and healthy and I hope we are back to normalization soon.
– Rita Alsabagh, 22, West Bloomfield
COVID initially brought me many months of stress knowing that I couldn’t go to Church or see my family and friends. I tried to maintain a good prayer life throughout it, but it was hard to, given the sudden inability to receive the sacraments. I still pulled through it by the grace of God, watching Mass on TV until I was finally able to go to confession and Mass again! Our Churches take our health and safety very seriously, and I feel safest when I’m at Mass, even in the midst of a pandemic. If I’ve learned anything, it’s to never take anything or anyone in your life for granted - Church, family, friends, etc.
– Jasmine Jarjis, 21 Sterling Heights