UCLA Winter 2020: Personal Essay on COVID-19 Pandemic Experience

This essay provides a personal account of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of a 24-year-old student. The author reflects on the initial reactions to the virus, comparing it to past events like 9/11, and highlights the impact on personal life, including the disruption of sports and the transition to online learning. The essay contrasts the author's experience with those of other students, such as Sara Mack, who faced additional challenges. The author acknowledges the stress and fear associated with the pandemic but also notes some positive aspects, such as reduced traffic and a greater appreciation for life's simple pleasures. The essay concludes with a hopeful outlook on the future, emphasizing the resilience of the human spirit.

Essay covid 19 as experience
Has your experience been typical or not?
During this time of global pandemic, I've set out to write this essay to share a personal
account of my own experiences. At 24, I can confidently say this has been the most
significant moment of my life thus far. It is fortunate that I was a child when Barack Obama
became the nation's first African American president, but I was too young to fully
comprehend what happened on September 11, 2001. I also don't think those events can be
compared to the COVID-19 pandemic's global repercussions. This is one of those occasions
where there would be a before-and-after on the customs that our society shares.
To begin with, it was toward the end of January 2020 that I first learned about the
COVID-19 virus. Initially, I was unconcerned because I assumed it would be like the Ebola
and H1N1 viruses, where the government warned of the virus's danger but little else changed
besides learning a new technique for sneezing into our elbows rather than our hands. The
virus's effects in the Chinese city of Wuhan received most of the news coverage. At the time,
I must admit, I was dealing with some difficult personal issues due to the death of my
grandfather in January, just before the start of UCLA's Winter quarter. I didn't start worrying
more about the severity of the Corona Virus until late February.
Before I claim that my experience of COVID-19 was a typical one or not I want to
state one thing and that is I am lucky enough to be not getting affected with this drastic virus
in terms of finances. Since I am a student who does not need to worry about all this and is
more concerned about spending and enjoying the life to its fullest, these were the little things
that made my experience of Covid-19 a little bit less typical than others.
Saying that, one of my favorite interests is sports, and I cannot imagine life without them. But
on the evening of March 11, my worst fear of not having sports in my life came true. The

NBA season was delayed because of a positive COVID-19 test from Rudy Gobert of the Utah
Jazz. Soon after, the same decision was announced by all other professional sports leagues. It
may sound absurd and out of date, but it wasn't until now that the seriousness of this virus
dawned on me. The same evening, Tom Hanks, an actor, released a statement in which he
claimed to have caught the coronavirus in Australia. Since the world was changing so quickly
and there was nothing, I could do to stop it, the ten days that followed for me were an
emotional roller coaster.
Moreover, I have also been lucky that my university shifted to the mode of online
teaching as soon as they got the confirmed news of the lockdown and the management made
it sure that us students should not get to worry about any technical or any fault, and we do not
lose our interest with the changing of the mode of learning. I must say that when I see around,
I cannot find many students that can relate with me here. For instance, I read the experience
of this student named Sara Mack. I read that during the difficult times of COVID-19, her
professors had given her empty platitudes. According to her, the professors expressed their
disapproval of the violence and acknowledged the stress and pain that many students,
particularly those of color, were experiencing.
Even before the outbreak of the pandemic and the start of classes, they were already
feeling the pressure of the entire world on their shoulders. Even though students were
confined to cramped quarters with their families or roommates, academic expectations
remained high despite the difficulties they faced. Once again, they were confronted with a
public health crisis involving police violence, and it appeared that educational institutions
were doing nothing to address the consequences for their students. It was impossible for them
to study for exams while they were practicing CPR and learning how to stop heavy bleeding
and treat chemical burns, because if things go badly, they could be entering a warzone.

Even when everything appears to be calm, there could a dark undercurrent lurking in
the shadows. Thus, unlike Sara and several other students from different parts of the world I
did not get to face much troubles or one might also say additional troubles, I can again claim
that my experience of Covid-19 was not as typical as others experiences were. Although, the
level of stress, the fear of getting hit by the virus and several other issues were faced by me
too, along the world yet I find my self lucky enough to pass this time without getting the
virus, not loosing anyone close at the hands of the virus or having severe impact over my
studies.
At the end, I must say it is very challenging to contextualize the effects of COVID19
currently. This historical event made it clear that nothing would ever be the same as it was in
the past. I also want to point out some advantages of a global pandemic. First, I believe that
circumstances like the one we are experiencing can bring out both the best and worst in
human interactions. As someone who has spent most of their lives in U.S, I loved how little
traffic the country saw, which resulted in less air pollution. I think that the decrease in
activities that harm the environment has been good for nature. I've learned to appreciate the
little things in life that we often take for granted thanks to this experience. I've learned that
adapting is the best way to survive. Although I can't predict the future, I'm confident that
whatever it holds, I'll do everything in my power to make the most of it. I have a strong belief
that the human spirit can bring about positive change, so I am confident that we will prevail.