Documenting the NIU Experience to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Answers to questionnaire submitted by Michael Burdi November 3, 2021

Item

Title

Answers to questionnaire submitted by Michael Burdi November 3, 2021

When and how did you become aware of the pandemic? What were your initial thoughts? Did your response change over time?

My sister in law is a professor in chemistry in Wisconsin, so I knew about it the start of February like most people. Furthermore, my mother has an auto-immune disease along with having two elder grandparents, and with my anxiety I was very worried about my family members as it could take them away from me.

Furthermore, my whole life has changed when we learned that the virus was in the states, and we social distance from my mother and have always wore a mask around her until we have gotten our vaccines. You can imagine the stress that my family has endured and me having anxiety did not help the fact that we really did not know what was happening outside in the real world.

Sadly, my grandmother did contract COVID and has passed away within the second year of the pandemic. That said, I have always been worried about it and am still worried about it due to the passing of my grandmother and the health of my mother.

What is daily life like for you? In what ways has it changed?

Obviously we wear masks all the time now, but, I have lost friends due to fake news and them not caring about society as a whole which was shocking to me since I always thought they respected others.

Furthermore, on top of that, I still had the general anxieties of school (even though not much has changed since I am a full online student). That said, daily life after a vaccine is just wearing a mask to keep others safe as I like to look out for the greater good.

It has been an anxious time for everyone. What has inspired you or given you hope during this period? What are you most worried about or what have been your biggest stressors? What has been the most difficult thing for you personally about the crisis?

I feel, like most people the vaccine has given me a lot of hope. But not only has the vaccine given me hope, but, also my tight knit family as we were stuck inside the house together making the most of it. However, I was most worried about my Mom contracting COVID-19 and school which has risen my stress levels.

Affiliation

Student

Year in School

Junior

Major

Bachelors of General Studies

Graduation Date

Fall 2022

Posting Consent

Yes

Date Created

November 3, 2021

Contributor

Michael Burdi

Creator

Michael Burdi

Item sets

COVID Pandemic Questionnaire

This item was submitted on November 3, 2021 by Michael Burdi using the form “Questionnaire” on the site “Documenting the NIU Experience to the COVID-19 Pandemic”: https://digitalexhibits.lib.niu.edu/s/covid-pandemic