Pandemic Passages
Pandemic Passages
Existential crises, from an anthropological point of view, are social dramas: lived experiences with the potential to transform, destabilize, weaken, or strengthen the phenomenological, social, cultural, and philosophical grounds upon which individuals and communities create and enact their life stories. As such, crises are rites of passage. They have the potential to separate us from who we were before the crisis. Crises can launch us into a time of uncertainty and disorientation where we are compelled to find new sources of meaning and motivation that in the end afford an opportunity to return to the world with a new or renewed sense of self and identity.
The COVID-19 pandemic, our pandemic, has, for instance, exposed our vulnerabilities to and intimacies with global, political, and environmental forces in ways that inspire us to reflect upon our place(s) in the world and upon the meaning of life in general. Pandemic Passages is a space for witnessing and sharing stories of the lived experiences of “our pandemic.” It is a space for showing how we are making culture and history in our local communities-- in essence, how we are making this “our pandemic,” this time “our time”, and…. how the pandemic is making us.
---Seran Schug
Dealing with an Illness During a Time of Crisis
An interview by Tessa Murphy
The Corona Virus pandemic has invaded our world and changed lives forever. It has disrupted the daily lives of individuals, resulting in the loss of jobs, loved ones, and proper human connection. Although one might understand how the pandemic has influenced their life, it is important to take a dive into other’s experiences during this difficult time. In this interview I have conducted with my grandmother, who I call Nanny, I was able to see how the Corona Virus pandemic influenced her life, as well as how her recent diagnosis of cancer has taken part in this. It is unbelievable how countless people are suffering from an illness in addition to living during a time of a pandemic, which is why I wanted to understand her point of view on the situation and observe how her hope and determination rises above all else.
Coping with a Pandemic—the Voice of a Nurse’s Daughter
An Interview by Tessa Murphy
This interview delves into the life of Emily Tran, a college student attending Rowan University, and her experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses her initial stressors, current feelings, and her plans for the future amidst a global crisis. It is important to be able to understand that everyone may experience different emotions and opinions about a pandemic depending upon their situation. This interview presents how one young adult girl—a daughter of a first responder— experienced the effects COVID-19 has had on her and her family. It reveals significant emotional impacts, such as having to watch a loved one go through turmoil due to their proximity to the virus. While pandemics can devastate people’s lives physically, it is meaningful to observe the emotional and social influences that also stem from such a crisis.
From the Bubonic Plague to the Corona Virus
By Tessa Murphy
Sitting in my 6th grade history class at 12 years old I was introduced to the definition of a pandemic, specifically through the example of The Bubonic Plague that struck Europe, Africa, and Asia around the mid 1300’s. At that time, I understood the explanations as to why the “Black Death” was such a terrifying and catastrophic event to strike humanity. Insufficient medication, ignorance in understanding virology and disease vectors, and most importantly the pure panic and savagery that arose in individuals, propelled this pandemic forward to destroy millions of lives. Of course, I believed that it would be preposterous to imagine this type of disaster-a pandemic-could ever assault my life in this modern age. Humanity has improved in such incredulous ways via medication and technology, it would be difficult to envision a virus could wipe out thousands of lives in our time. Even though I have held these thoughts throughout the years, they were easily proven false when the 2019 Corona Virus Pandemic attacked our world.
In the Eyes of an Educator in a Global Pandemic
Interview by Emily Tran
This interview delves into the life of Stacey Carusi, a kindergarten teacher in Cherry Hill, and her experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses some of the biggest obstacles, emotions, and events that were notable to her. It is important to be able to understand that everyone may experience different emotions and opinions about a pandemic depending upon their situation. This interview will give a perspective on how this particular educator experienced the impact of the global pandemic
Children of the Pandemic: Navigating Fourth Grade
An Interview by Logan Johnson
This interview provides a glimpse into how the pandemic has affected the life of ten-year-old Rose Micciche. Rose is an elementary school student and is currently taking most of her classes using online platforms, which she mentions often during our time together. She expresses how her thoughts and feelings have changed over the course of this year regarding COVID and what she has been doing during this time. She shares some fun and exciting activities that she has still been able to participate in despite the pandemic, but she reassures how much she misses life before the virus. This interview exhibits emotions that most likely resonate with many of the children across our state. It is important we do not neglect – amid the global crisis – the perspective of our children growing up during these uncertain times.
Watching a Pandemic Unfold: A Nursing Student’s Take
An interview by Logan Johnson
This interview explores the thoughts and feelings of nursing student and New Jersey native Janel Weeks regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected her life personally. As a nursing student, Janel shares strong feelings and opinions about the situations the virus has caused and how it has played into the view of her career path. She shares how her “new normal” looks as well as the concerns she has had the past several months, some of which are relatable to most college students during this time. As a glimpse into the life of a health sciences major, this interview shares both struggles as well as affirmations that may resonate within the lives of all college students studying for careers in the health sciences.
