Experiences
​
I am 23 years old living in social-isolation with just my mother. I live in the small town of Glencoe Ontario, where neighbours help one another and still think being socially distant is standing across the deck from one another having a beverage. I have been able to make time to visit my family farm, which feels ironic because when I was in 4-H I could not be bothered to make time to practice showing my heifers. Every day I do the same thing, my sleep schedule is out of whack, and I have time to do my assignments and binge watch television series. However, I feel trapped, doing the same thing every day and having contact with only one person. I go for walks to get fresh air and I feel stared at and judged for being outside my house, making me feel "dirty". I am also consumed with worries as my brother is an essential worker for an egg factory and my sister is a nurse working the frontline to fight COVID-19.
Technology:
Online Learning:
Moving to an online platform for all of my classes has had its own challenges. I have previously taken online courses, so luckily I know how to navigate through it, the most challenging aspects are group work and group studying. I am in a program where there is a lot of group work. I have already learned this year that writing a research paper in a group is challenging enough, but now having to do that but online is a new kind of difficult. However, I am in a leadership program and I believe it has helped me grow and become a better leader. I have, in the last few weeks, learned some patience with team members and how to adapt quickly to a situation and be as successful as I can. I think these types of characteristics will help me in my future endeavours. In addition, I also study with my friends before writing my tests for Green Revolution, studying online does not feel as beneficial as it was studying in person, however, these are the circumstances so I am adapting to that change as well.
I feel like my other in class studies are pointless now, as there is no exam in them, I hardly make the time to pay attention to what is going on in them. However, before I would drive the 45 minutes to sit through the lectures.
Since social distancing is the new norm for the time being seeing people has become more difficult. However, we are fortunate to live during a time where technology is so advanced and there are various website plate forms that allow seeing people to be more bearable. For my experience, I am already in long distance relationship with my boyfriend since he goes to university in Kingston. This has made settling into video chatting quite easy as we already did this quite often. However, since school is online he has come home to our quaint town, where we are only separated by a few blocks. This has made the virtual dating a lot more difficult; especially when we have to live apart for eight months of the year.
Not only has video chatting helped me connect with my boyfriend, but also my group of girlfriends. The digital world has made it easy for all seven of us to connect at the same time through video chatting as well.
Moreover, as much as technology has helped in connecting to others, it has also helped in feeding the fear. There are so many articles posted a day about COVID-19, but everything I read I have to check the source and ask myself if this is real or not. I find every time I go on social media I become anxious about everything I read, which is not healthy.
Online group project session
Connecting to Nature:
I've found a new connection with nature through this whole situation. As I am at my house I go stir crazy, I have been able to alleviate this by taking my dog for many walks throughout the day and also just getting outside. Since it is the beginning of spring there is so much to do outside to prepare for the warmer months. Cleaning out the gardens helps me connect with nature. Tending to the tulips that are starting to come up and pulling weeds/leaves/garbage that has found a place the live throughout the winter months. Gardening is a good way I like to destress and distract my mind from the negativity in the outside world.
Another connection to nature I have developed a liking for is my bird feeders. With the extra time I have I am able to always keep them full as well as clean. I have spent some of my free time learning about Ontario birds, the chirps they make, and when they migrate back after winter.
Lastly, as I said earlier, I have made more time to visit the farm. I grew up on a beef farm and have shown them at county fairs ever since I was 11 years old. I have found happiness at the age of 23 just visiting the farm without purpose. The animals are innocent and lucky not to have the burden of knowing the scary virus running through the world. So I have found peace in visiting them.
I have found these three hobbies have made purpose for myself and make me happy. Having a connection to nature is such a positive experience and supports my well-being.
