Draft 1:
Minds filled with fear, the unknown, and defeat is what life is like in April 2020. Much similar to thoughts people felt a little over 100 years ago. Currently and in 1918, a pandemic broke out in the world, uprooting the routines of daily life, striking people ill, and leaving people filled with constant worry. Both of these times are filled with hardship and loss, but they also bring a greater understanding to light. This is a time to reflect and to learn, and it is clear that many of us have learned a lot in both of these frightening times. The understanding of people, family, morals, and community have a whole new perspective. Many of these things start to become a lot more valuable.
During this time of global chaos, it is important to get a first hand view on how people feel and what they’ve learned from the horrible situation. It is interesting to get a look into what people were doing to handle the matter at hand. Now and a little over 100 years ago, things were much the same. Both Emily and Courtney’s “What I’m Learning” pieces talk about what it is like to live through the Covid-19 pandemic. They are both first year college students, who attend the University of New England, and were sent home to finish the rest of their school year online. Emily specifically talks about how much bigger the pandemic turned out to be, how both her parents had to work, and goes further to say that her family is fortunate. Courtney’s piece also talks about her hardworking family, all the things her loved ones and her will miss out on, but in spite of it all she learns to not take things for granted. 102 years ago things weren’t much different during the pandemic they faced then. Mike Meschke tells the story of his grandmother, Alvena Buehler, when the 1918 pandemic took place. She was 17 at the time, similar to our age, and she had to step up for her family.
Draft 11:
Minds filled with fear, the unknown, and defeat is what life is like in April 2020. Much similar to thoughts people felt a little over 100 years ago. Currently and in 1918, a pandemic broke out in the world, uprooting the routines of daily life, striking people ill, and leaving people filled with constant worry. Both of these times are filled with hardship and loss, but they also bring a greater understanding to light. This is a time to reflect and to learn, and it is clear that many of us have learned a lot in both of these frightening times. The understanding of people, family, morals, and community have a whole new perspective. Many of these things start to become a lot more valuable.
During this time of global chaos, it is important to get a first hand view on how people feel and what they’ve learned from the horrible situation. It is interesting to get a look into what people were doing to handle the matter at hand. Now and a little over 100 years ago, things were much the same. Both Emily and Courtney’s “What I’m Learning” pieces talk about what it is like to live through the Covid-19 pandemic. They are both first year college students, who attend the University of New England, and were sent home to finish the rest of their school year online. Emily specifically talks about how much bigger the pandemic turned out to be, how both her parents had to work, and goes further to say that her family is fortunate. Courtney’s piece also talks about her hardworking family, all the things her loved ones and her will miss out on, but in spite of it all she learns to not take things for granted. 102 years ago things weren’t much different during the pandemic they faced then. Mike Meschke tells the story of his grandmother, Alvena Buehler, when the 1918 pandemic took place. She was 17 at the time, similar to our age, and she had to step up for her family. She walked approximately 22 miles to town alone to get medication for her family. She returned with it and in result everyone made it, she was so humble about it. Alvena didn’t boast or brag about saving her family, she just did it. These 3 narratives tell stories of people doing what they can to survive during illnesses that have taken and in our case, is still taking lives. They’re showing that even during a time so dreadful and daunting, that people will look out for others, and realize what they are fortunate enough to have.
In our day to day lives, we often forget the significance our families and friends leave on our lives. From eating meals together, simple conversations, and just giving each other is a hug, we don’t realize these little things are what make our days so much better. As a college student, who is constantly surrounded by the familiar faces of friends, you can get lost how much it really means to you. These past couple of weeks have really brought that to light, not just for me but as well as my peers, Courtney and Emily.
Draft 111:
Pandemics and Their Effects
Minds filled with fear, the unknown, and defeat is what life is like in April 2020. Much similar to thoughts people felt a little over 100 years ago. Currently and in 1918, a pandemic broke out in the world, uprooting the routines of daily life, striking people ill, and leaving people filled with constant worry. Both of these times are filled with hardship and loss, but they also bring a greater understanding to light. This is a time to reflect and to learn, and it is clear that many of us have learned a lot in both of these frightening times. The understanding of people, family, morals, and community have a whole new perspective. Many of these things start to become a lot more valuable.
During this time of global chaos, it is important to get a first hand view on how people feel and what they’ve learned from the horrible situation. It is interesting to get a look into what people were doing to handle the matter at hand. Now and a little over 100 years ago, things were much the same. Both Emily and Courtney’s “What I’m Learning” pieces talk about what it is like to live through the Covid-19 pandemic. They are both first year college students, who attend the University of New England, and were sent home to finish the rest of their school year online. Emily specifically talks about how much bigger the pandemic turned out to be, how both her parents have to work, and goes further to say that her family is fortunate. Courtney’s piece also talks about her hardworking family, all the things her loved ones and her will miss out on, but in spite of it all she learns to not take things for granted. 102 years ago things weren’t much different during the pandemic they faced then. Mike Meschke tells the story of his grandmother, Alvena Buehler, when the 1918 pandemic took place. She was 17 at the time, similar to our age, and she had to step up for her family. She traveled approximately 22 miles to town alone to get medication for her family. She returned with it and in result everyone survived. Alvena didn’t boast or brag about saving her family, she just did it. These 3 narratives tell stories of people doing what they can to survive during illnesses that have taken and in our case, is still taking lives. Even during a time so dreadful and daunting, I’ve learned that people will look out for those they care about, and become more grateful for what they have.
In our day to day lives, we often forget the significance our families and friends leave on our lives. From eating meals together, simple conversations, and just giving each other a hug, we don’t realize these little things are what make our days so much better. As a college student, who is constantly surrounded by the familiar faces of friends, you can get lost in how much it really means to you. These past couple of weeks have really brought that to light, not just for me but as well as my peers, Courtney and Emily. Courtney relates, “When I was still at school, I never realized how much I would miss my friends. After doing almost everything together at school from class to homework and playing sports it has been different not being able to see them in person” (Lamphere). Even Emily has a similar understanding; “ I also learned how much I depended on the school environment, not only for my friend to keep me occupied, but to work together to keep motivated and finish assignments” (Taylor). It is clear that friends are something all 3 of us are very lucky to have. In Courtney’s experience, not seeing her friends as part of her everyday lives has been difficult. Emily emphasizes that friends are a huge part of keeping her busy and having fun, but also in helping her with school and collaboration. These little things slip by because since a young age we have had access to all these things. We were never isolated, and now that we are we get to learn how special these relationships are. If Covid-19 does have anything positive to go along with it, it’s that we need to be thankful and appreciate our friends and family. The time spent with them can be taken away in the blink of an eye and this opens up our minds to this idea. We may have been told this our whole lives but now that it is the sad reality, it is real and gut wrenching. Still, we are all giving up this time because it ensures the safety of our family and friends, as well as ourselves. This is a chance for us to learn that and I’m confident all 3 of us will take this lesson with us as we continue along our paths. 102 years ago, during the flu pandemic, they learned similar lessons. Alvena Buehler sacrificed a lot to save her family. She traveled 22 miles to town to get medicine for her family, with help from a neighbor a couple miles away. Now 22 miles would be a simple drive, but then cars weren’t nearly as efficient and it was windy with no shelter from the wind. Mike Meschke asked his grandmother, “‘What happened next?’” As he put it, “ She simply responded, “‘I brought back the medicine. I guess it worked. Everyone made it’” (CDC). She didn’t flaunt saving her family, although it is clear she did. She did what simply needed to be done. From this I have learned that people will do whatever it takes to help others, especially those they care about, even if it means putting their own selves at risk. It is clear that in dark times, people can find the light. Alvena didn’t question or complain, she knew what needed to be done. During this scary time in her life she was willing to help. I have learned that from 1918 and now, that is important to help others. Sitting back and watching isn’t enough. This is the time to be a united front, to put aside our differences.
Final draft:
