When the pandemic reached the point where businesses began to close and universities started going online, everything changed all at once. All classes were suspended for three days while professors figured out how to conduct class through the internet, and all students were encouraged to return home to finish the semester if possible, though housing would still be available for those who wanted to stay. About twenty minutes after the email came through, I looked out the window and saw someone walking out of the adjacent building with suitcases in tow, and all I could think was well that was fast. Others followed suit, and for the next week it became commonplace to look out the window and see someone pushing a cart laden with boxes out toward the parking lot. At the time of this post, the initial twelve members of our squad (as described in the Dorm page) have been reduced to five, and I'll be making my journey home as well by the end of the week.
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| As you can see, my latest grocery trip went just great. |
In such a time, with friends leaving across the country, nearly all special events canceled, employment uncertain, stores picked clean and group gatherings discouraged, it's easy to be depressed. Life has been turned upside-down in the blink of an eye, and we can't even find a single good roll of toilet paper to show for it. In my Positive Psychology class, however, we practice expressing gratitude for the good things that come out of any situation. With that in mind I thought it'd be fun to outline a few of the positives; or at least not-so-negatives. Your mileage may vary.
- Spring Break! (Sort Of): Students have always complained about BYU's single-day spring break, and this year we got classes canceled for three whole days. Ask and ye shall receive!
- Lenient Due Dates: With everything going on, the chaos has not been helped by the fact that the school's academic website, Learning Suite, has been crashing all the time under the unprecedented load. And school is literally entirely online now. That means late forgiveness!
- Introverts Be Not Judged: It's socially acceptable to stay at home and never see anyone now, which is awesome!
- You Can't Stop D&D: Most college students are using Zoom for online lectures now, but you know what else you can use it for? Dungeons & Dragons. A couple of our players are on total quarantine lockdown right now, but that doesn't stop nerds like us.
- Pass/Fail? Yes Please: Due to the crazy circumstances, this semester we'll have the option to take either our final letter grade or convert it to a Pass/Fail, which gives you passing credit for anything C or above without affecting your GPA whatsoever. So my nasty electrical engineering class need no longer sink my grades!
- Saving All That Transit Time: With school at home, I don't need to spend half the day tromping around from building to building. Have I used all that extra time effectively? No. Still working on that part.
- No Lines: We went to the mall to get something to eat, and even though the tables are roped off and the place is virtually empty, about half the restaurants are still open. You can enjoy not waiting in line and even have a pleasant conversation with the employees while they prepare the first order they've had all day.
- Going Outside is Meaningful: I could literally stay inside all day long if I wanted to, and that means that when I go outside, it's more for the sake of being outside than anything else. I've found it much easier to be mindful of the scenery and enjoy being outdoors, rather than just rushing by on my way to class.
- Grooming Not Mandatory: If you're not going to see anybody all day, you don't necessarily have to look presentable, right? If you don't want to shave or change out of your pajamas or fix your hair, you can slack in that department! Let alone the fact that most haircut places are closed anyway.
- Imagine the Stories: As a writer, this is a gold mine. People will be reminiscing about this whole escapade for decades. I've been trying to record as many details as I can, because not only will I tell my grandkids about the Great Toilet Paper War of 2020, but there's a wealth of inspiration for other stories--what happens in a pandemic, what things disappear from stores first, how the world reacts and so on.
That's my bright side list for the Coronapocalypse. Not all of these will apply directly to you, as everyone's situation is different, but I hope it helps you to consider some of the good things coming out of this incredibly confusing time. I mean, I'm literally eating pineapple out of a bag with chopsticks as I write this. Nothing makes sense anymore.
Wash your Hands and Hic Manebimus Optime!
