Finding Hope Amongst the Chaos - Lauryn DeLuca

What is your reaction to COVID-19 and how has it personally impacted you and/or your plans?

Like many, COVID- 19 flipped my life 180 degrees. Within hours of President Drake’s announcement I had packed up my 2nd year dorm and said goodbye to a job I have held for the last 2 years. On top of that, I never had the chance to say goodbye to the students I was working with at a nearby elementary school. We were supposed to go to LegoLand in two weeks for a field trip.

I returned home to a bedroom that was a time capsule of my senior year of high school. By my mirror was a Marching Band Schedule for the 2017-18 season. Like many, my summer experience was canceled. I picked up a full time job at the local grocery store to save up for expenses of the upcoming school year.I saw the country realize in shock how underfunded their schools were as districts struggled getting computers to students in time for virtual school. As an aspiring teacher, the disproportionate funding of schools was known by my peers and I for years. It’s sad that a Pandemic shined a light on this alarming issue. I am now waiting to see if I will have in person teaching experiences in the spring. I feel guilty. I want to teach in a classroom but do not want to be exposed to COVID or the flu.

What is your biggest lesson learned from dealing with COVID-19 and its unique effects?

My juggling act of work, class, teaching, student orgs and fencing practice was frozen in mid air because of COVID. For the first time in several months, I was able to sleep for more than 5 hours! COVID made me realize that while I was managing a busy schedule… I was not managing it in a healthy way. I began to practice actual self care and saying “no” to things. I learned that it is okay to take time for yourself and to not always be doing something productive. It was okay to have fun once in a while.

Do you have any advice or words of encouragement for fellow Buckeyes during this time?

I would love the chance to tell my fellow Buckeyes that it is okay to give yourself a break during these times. We must acknowledge that we do not need to be running at high speed 100% of the time.