life & style // no. 12 theotherpress.ca

What we can learn from the
COVID-19 pandemic

» Hard times offer great lessons for us all

EG Manilag
Staff Writer

 

lot of bad things have happened... and

we are not even close to ending the
year. We have witnessed the Iran missile
strike, Australian bushfires, and the current
COVID-19 pandemic. But let us not forget
that we can always choose to learn from
these things. Whether situations are
good or bad, there will always be valuable
lessons.

We must appreciate every worker
Health professionals deserve appreciation
but they’re not the only ones. Those who
are working in public transportation,
cleaning, food service, customer service,
security service, and other careers that
continue to maintain our economy and
well-being absolutely deserve to be
appreciated.

Even (and especially) when we are
busy or in a panic, we must be grateful
for their service. Appreciation is key.
Appreciating workers would surely uplift
their spirits in continuing their very busy
day. A smile costs nothing—not even your
precious time. As a person who works with
building caretakers, I can say with pride
that it is true that a little kindness goes a
long way.

Together, we are stronger

This type of togetherness is not political.
It does not resemble the collectivist
ideals where the population is expected

to prioritize group goals rather than
individual goals.

Instead, this togetherness one that
is very important in times of crisis like
the COVID-19 pandemic. For example,
togetherness is following the government’s
instructions and guidelines in containing
the virus—particularly self-isolation, social
distancing, cleaning, disinfecting, and

  

Photo by EG Manilag

proper hygiene. Following these measures
will help prevent the spread of any illnesses
that could potentially be COVID-19 and
protect those with compromised immune
systems.

We should be compassionate

We can surely blame the Vancouver couple
who tried to buy ail the disinfectant wipes
at several Costco stores, but we should

COVID-19: How have Douglas
students been affected?

» From missed classes to missed weddings

Craig Allan
Staff Writer

 

B’ Sunday, our usual Monday pitch
meetings was switched to online
only. By Monday, my class at New
West was cancelled. I was walking over

; — -—

to the Coquitlam campus when the
announcement came that all classes were
to be moved online. The whiplash effect

of this challenging COVID-19 situation

has led to a fearful time—one of the most
uneasy since the post 9/u days. With
Douglas resembling that of a slow Saturday,

  

Photo by Billy Bui

I went around Coquitlam campus to ask
the few students that remained about what
coronavirus had taken from them, and
about how they felt during this period.

One of the more unfortunate stories
was told by second-year psychology
student Julie Oza. Not only did she have
many out of province dance competitions
in the coming summer that she had been
training for since October, but she was
also set to go on the field studies trip to
Italy this summer. A trip of a lifetime and
a chance to dance for glory dashed by the
illness sweeping the globe. She said she was
“pissed” but understood that it needed to
be done.

An understanding nature was present
in everyone | spoke to. Such as people like
Sumeet Bhamra, a third-year student in
child youth care counselling who was set
on going to her cousin’s wedding a couple
of months from now. The need to protect
the vulnerable was also shown by those
who had events cancelled that would have
helped those in need. Lorenzo Leoncio,

a first-year general studies student, had a
fundraiser for a youth group cancelled due
to the virus. He was sad that the fundraiser

be compassionate towards those who
are panic buying in supermarkets. Those
people could have five or more members in
their family, or maybe they have just started
their grocery shopping for the week.

It is very important to go beyond
popular opinion and be considerate as
to why some are stocking up. The only
reason I could see is that people were
stockpiling because they were not ready for
a lockdown—especially a disease-related
lockdown. And we know that when a
lockdown is commenced, people cannot go
outside and shop. Therefore, people mainly
tend to stockpile toilet paper, alcohol, and
disinfectants. This gives them a sense of
comfort and security against the virus.

Media literacy is key
A simple understanding of what news
is fake and which is not important is
always essential—and especially during
this time. This can prevent mass hysteria,
and mass hysteria can be very dangerous.
Now that we are shifting from in-class to
online courses, we are getting even more
dependent on social media. Because of
this, we are being more routinely exposed
to content that might be a lie.

We may get misinformed and as
a result, we panic. According to The
Guardian, director general of WHO said
that “fake news spreads faster and more
easily than the virus” and that if we do not
deal with this then “we are headed down a
dark path that leads nowhere but division
and disharmony.”

was cancelled but knew that looking out
for the old and immune-deficient in our
society is important right now.

While everyone certainly was
understanding, that does not mean that
everyone was happy. Since the college only
announced that all classes were cancelled
at 1:50 am, many students travelled from
far away—and on transit—only to find
out their classes were cancelled. In this
category is Milica Dedodic, a third-year
office administration student who travelled
an hour and a half for her 12:30 pm class
only find out that it was cancelled when
she got there. The anger she felt at the late
announcement was only doubled by the
news that her “favourite person,” Bosnian
and Herzegovina pop singer and cultural
icon Zdravko Coli¢, also had his concert
cancelled (and rescheduled).

As the day went on, and the campus
became the empty vessel that it will likely
be long time, I looked through my notes of
all the responses | got from the winter 2020
semester. From all of my discussions with
students on campus, it is clear that this
student body is one that truly cares for the
well-being of others.