Finding Ways to Stay Connected

 I was a senior when the pandemic began, it was a harsh ending to our school year and I didn't get to see my friends as often as I wanted. We all understood and knew that it couldn't be helped but it didn't make the situation any less difficult. My friends and I found a way to have the most amazing times together even in the midst of the pandemic. 

We threw a Friend Prom since we didn't get to have our senior prom and it was remarkable. My friends that I hadn't seen in a few months came to my home and we all got dressed up and had a grand party. There were lots of food, laughs, and reminiscing on our high school days. I believe that the most fun part about that night was that we didn't have to go anywhere fancy to enjoy each others company. 

Now that we have begun college it has been a big change since my friends have all split into different directions. That hasn't stopped us from seeing each other and trying to get together whenever we can. When college first began we were meeting up almost every weekend or at the least every other weekend to stay connected. Today we are still going strong and are planning to have a bonfire and outdoor movie for Halloween, and even a friendsgiving and Christmas gift exchange. 

I believe that these scenarios among the many others have shown my friends and I that we don't always have to be together to hold each other in a dear place in our hearts. That no matter how long we are apart at college we can always meet back up and pick up where we left off. That is the beautiful thing about having such a tight knit group of friends who you have known for so many years! Times are different but our friendships will never change or fail even though we are in a world pandemic. 

Graduation

Friend Prom!

A Great Night

Vaccine Politics

Fears COVID-19 vaccine could become powerful card in world politics | ABC News

There are many what-ifs about COVID-19 that can be quickly thrown about and dwelled upon. One thing that has been a heavy debate and what-if topic how will the dispersion of a vaccine scratch at festered and infected sores of the past and present among nations. For instance, if China develops the holy grail of a vaccine. They may be angry at the American government for the recent trade and tariff upheaval that has most recently occurred. It has been warned that Americans could have potentially another 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, so this China may want us to suffer for the grief that was thrown upon them during the conflict from the past. This could leave America and any other enemies of China stricken with Covid for however long China may choose. And since China has a growing economic influence in places like southeast Asia and Africa that would prohibit them from sharing the vaccine as well, leaving the world's hands tied. 

That scenario would result in a monstrous power shift causing many people to remain ill or die. China or the superior vaccine country would have all the power, while the weaker vaccine countries are at their mercy. If this power shifts, the rivaling nations must be prepared to come to some sort of agreement or else be at the superior nations mercy. There is without a doubt a controversy that could debate the different scenarios but in the end I hope that all the countries can find their humanity and help the health of the world to overcome this virus. 

Covid vaccines and global cooperation

 As the United States and the entire globe is nearing the promised time that Covid-19 vaccines will be available there are many global factors to consider. There have been many "hands in the pot" when it comes to the creation and development of the vaccine and there will be that many "hands" wishing to grasp the vaccine once produced. One country alone is not responsible for solely creating the vaccination nor will they be in the distribution. One factor to consider when creating the vaccination is the amount of money it took to create. Many countries around the world have contributed exhausting amounts of money toward the development of a cure for Covid-19. The vaccine will also have to be distributed globally but not in just a harsh grasping manner, rather in an equitable one. This is the area where citizens in a global perspective will have to be patient and forgiving so that everyone has a chance to become immunized. Globalization also plays a large part in the transportation of the newly constructed drug. In order to have enough vaccines for all the citizens of the world, it will have to be transported carefully and gently so as to keep the medicine safe. This will take cooperation from the citizens of the towns and countries to realize that everyone will be taken care of, they just have to be willing to cooperate. I understand that this is hard to do when they know that their lives are at stake but it will take everyone working together as a whole to make sure that everyone receives the vaccination in an equitable way. Many different countries and people had an impact on the creation and construction of the vaccine so everyone must have the opportunity to receive the medication. The distribution of the injections will have to be calm and put together in a way that the individuals in most dire of need for the shot will receive it first and the individuals after will have to patiently await their turn. It will take everyone working together as one people to keep everyone safe and healthy from this deadly outbreak.

The Challenges of Vaccine Distribution | Global Citizen Explains

Coronavirus vaccine: Is it every country for itself? 

COVID-19's Affect on Education

When many school systems shut down in March they decided to implement online class methods known as non-traditional instruction (NTI). This is a method that many Kentucky children were very aware of seeing as how many school districts used this method of instruction for snow and sick days in the past. This style of teaching is meant to review what had been previously learned in order to refresh students knowledge. Now they were being revised to teach new content in light of the pandemic. This caused a scrambling of content and many students were forced to learn totally new concepts on their own with a lesson that was pasted online. Many students, like me and my peers, were taking college level classes and we needed extra help to learn the advanced content. It was very difficult to retain the new and daunting information form the online maze. To simply put the matter, online learning was not my friend in high school. I rarely learned anything because it was all about get the work done and not have to worry about it. This off the wall learning wounded my knowledge for college because being in college level courses were supposed to help me learn college level material. However, this was not the case and I fear that my education was lessened due to the pandemic. This may make it harder on the seniors that graduated last year because the content we should have learned in high school to prepare for college is vacant within our memory. But our teachers were always there to help us with our questions even with the content that was being thrown at us through zoom meetings.

I believe that there should be a hardship clause for students impacted by Covid. Students have been through so much this past year in the midst of COVID-19. It is a year that no single person could have predicted which means that everyone is still learning as we continue along. Learning had to be altered at a blink of an eye and rapid speeds that it posed many conflicts to both instructors and students. A hardship clause would be able to help give students a moment to breathe and catch up to speed with the status of their education. However, I believe that just because students are being given an inch that they should not take advantage of the opportunities given. There should still be consequences if there is repeated defiance of the learning systems. In order to practice this clause fairly there should be constant monitoring of all the students progress and whether or not they are struggling or just not doing their work. After all students are there to receive an education and should not be given a free ride through school in light of the circumstances. 

It is true that the pandemic has changed all aspects of life and we are not pleased with some of the circumstances. Everyone is still learning more and more about the virus and I believe that all situations are different in various countries. It is up to the leaders of those countries to monitor the pandemic status and change their course of action when needed to protect the citizens and the nation's stability. 

Video Representing Struggles of Education In COVID-19 

Case Spike In Mercer County, Kentucky

 I have grown up and currently live in Mercer County. It is a smaller town compared to Lexington with about 21,774 residents. Since the beginning of the school year there has been much controversy across the state of Kentucky about different issues such as: returning to sports, returning to school, and the wearing of face masks. It has been about 7 months since the "beginning" of the pandemic and shutdowns. It is understandable that many people are tired of the restrictions that have been inflicted on them and their families. However, the status of the pandemic will never improve without the wearing of face masks and the social distancing guidelines. Sadly many people still don't grasp that concept and want to do what they want to do, when they want to do it. This has caused our county to take a huge spike in cases due to the defiance of the guidelines set forth by the Governor and local officials. The spike into the red zone has caused the beginning of in person classes to be pushed back week by week 2 consecutive times. It has caused my brother, Nolan, and his teammates to lose over a weeks worth of play and practice time in soccer and all other sports were the same. If people are not prepared to follow the rules then it negatively affects everyone around them and puts innocent citizens at risk for contracting the virus. I urge every person to follow the rules because it does affect the life and death of others.