As I write this article, my chest feels heavy, each breath a labor that wears me out, and my heart races — especially when I’m standing. This has been my constant reality for the past week and a half. After three years of diligently avoiding Covid-19 on campus, I suddenly caught it, seemingly out of nowhere.
I’d like to consider myself extremely cautious when it comes to preventing the transmission of illnesses, whether it’s the flu, Covid-19, or even just the “common cold.” However, it turns out that my efforts weren’t enough. But it’s not about what happens when you have Covid-19; it’s the before and the after that matter to me. Despite my best efforts, it became increasingly apparent that not everyone around me was putting in the same level of care and responsibility, making it incredibly challenging to maintain the level of safety I had hoped for.
In an ideal world, anyone who’s feeling unwell would promptly get tested for Covid-19. They would put aside their plans and aspirations for the week ahead to do the right thing for the community — visit the Rebecca M. Sykes Wellness Center for a mere 15 minutes of their time. But when students avoid Sykes and walk around campus, potentially spreading the virus to others, do they understand the ripple effect their actions might have? Do they care? Unfortunately, I think not. Campus culture has reached a point where, now that the worst of the pandemic seems to be behind us, most people no longer prioritize the health and safety of their peers.
The moment I felt unwell, I knew I needed to get tested, not just for my sake but also to ensure that the fellow students in my dorm, particularly the lowerclassmen, wouldn’t catch anything. As someone living with chronic illnesses, I understand the significance of monitoring one’s physical health and being aware of how it affects others. If someone can’t do this simple task, one has to wonder why they are part of this community. People should not have to be reminded to follow common courtesies. It’s infuriating that this is even a problem to begin with.
Even though I’m not in a high-risk group for Covid-19, I’m still sitting here feeling the weight of its aftermath. Just because some students have already caught Covid-19 and been completely fine doesn’t mean that other students won’t be severely affected. You could unknowingly spread the virus to someone with comorbidities or other underlying conditions, adding another burden to their lives. On the surface, it might not be evident how our actions affect others, but there’s a lot happening in our community that we shouldn’t ignore just because it’s invisible at first glance.
I won’t inundate you with more figures and facts because we’ve been bombarded by statistics for three years now. Instead, I implore you to think of others — not only when it comes to testing and masking but in everything we do within our community. This is a shared space, and we must uphold our value of Non sibi. It’s what makes us better; it’s what sets us apart from other communities. Taking responsibility for our actions is a mark of true character, and it’s a responsibility we should all take seriously.
Covid-19 has taught us many things, but one of the most important lessons is that our actions have consequences, whether seen or unseen. We must continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community members, even as the pandemic seems to wane. So, the next time you feel unwell, remember that a simple test can make a world of difference to someone else. I am sure you would want the same respect reflected back to you; it’s a two way street. Let’s be vigilant, responsible, and caring members of this community because, ultimately, we’re all in this together.
