Catching Covid

On my first day back at Champlain, I tested positive for Covid-19.

It’s unusual for students who test positive to stay on campus rather than leaving immediately, but since I had a bathroom and no roommates, I had permission from the school to stay there for the night. In the morning, I returned to Connecticut, where I would quarantine for two and a half weeks. The process of leaving campus was quite organized and straightforward, but I began to feel sick during my travels.

I am a firm believer in pushing through the pain and staying productive while feeling ill; still, in the Case of Covid-19, the school faculty must understand how different each individual is affected and how it can impact school productivity. For instance, my boyfriend, whom I quarantined with, also tested positive, but he was nearly asymptomatic. His worst symptoms included mild nausea and a pain-in-the-ass attitude (which most likely came from taking care of me and my crankiness) but he made sure to comfort me in any way I needed.

Despite the support I received, it was challenging to keep up with my homework while in quarantine. Not only was I attending class from 1:00-7:00 PM the day I drove home to Connecticut, but I was handling a massive headache and severe nausea. I was heartbroken leaving school, my haven, and having to go back home just as I managed to escape. I can’t effectively retain information if I’m continually bothered by my problematic sister and argumentative parents. My parents understand how difficult it is to keep up with my schoolwork at home, and they permitted me to quarantine at my boyfriend’s house until my symptoms passed.

I felt emotionally and physically drained throughout my entire quarantine and the symptoms lingered for weeks after. Three days into being sick, anything I tasted or smelled was foreign to me. I hadn’t lost my senses entirely, but everything I put in my mouth had an unfamiliar taste. I woke up the next morning with a complete loss of my taste and smell. I lost 10 pounds because of losing my appetite and being cooped up in a house all day. Although I was semi-quarantined before I contracted the virus, I always had the freedom to go outside and socially distance or go to the gym to work out.

There are only a few times in my life when I’ve gone that long inside, and at home, I could walk on the beach in the morning and fill my days with small activities to keep my head from exploding. Being stuck inside for two weeks caused a severe toll on my emotions. I began to cry in the morning from feeling claustrophobic, and I was sick of being stuck in the same place doing the same boring things every day. During quarantine, my depression worsened. I wasn’t comfortable being in front of my boyfriend and sit through class while feeling so low.

A couple of my teachers provided me with special accommodations in class, such as homework extensions or one-on-one meetings to help with questions and planning. Although some of my teachers were willing to help, there were a few who wouldn’t budge on cutting me some slack. I would spend all day with my eyes glued to the laptop screen, but I couldn’t retain any of the information or stay focused long enough because I was so sick. It is difficult for teachers to understand how a student is doing through a computer screen, so scheduling one-on-one check-ins with the teachers and monitoring a student’s grades for significant changes can make a difference in how we teach and learn.

I hope that with time and further observation, Schools can better accommodate students based on their specific needs.

Wear a mask!!!! I highly recommend it!!!

By Sammie Serlin

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