Sickness During COVID as a College Student, Irvine, CA, 2022
Cynthia Fok
In this image, you can see a variety of medicines such as Tylenol Cold Max, Afrin Decongestion Nasal Spray, as well as a Chinese herbal medicine. In the same image, you can also see my laptop as well as my schedule whiteboard.
This represents my experience with being sick during the pandemic. Over the past few weeks I was sick with a cough and congested nose. I wasn’t sure if I had COVID so I got a saliva test offered through the school. Luckily, I tested negative; however, due to my weakened immune system from my cold, I had to take extra precautions to make sure I stay safe and healthy. While taking care of my health, I also had other responsibilities to take care of, as shown by the list of to-do items on my schedule whiteboard. Furthermore, the laptop represents the virtual nature of my schoolwork. These few weeks have definitely been hard because we were in midterms week; therefore, managing my cold while making sure I had enough time to rest, study, and write my essays was definitely a challenge.
Taking care of our health is of utmost importance right now. We are protecting ourselves from COVID-19, the seasonal flu, and other diseases. However, many students also have numerous school and work-related activities that may comprise their ability to fully take care of their mental and physical health.