Andrea Gomez - Week 1

If anyone had ever given me a choice between doing school online, and doing it in person, I would've never picked an online class to facilitate my education. Online learning is hard for anyone who doesn't adhere to a traditional learning approach, or rote memorization, or simply reading texts without discussion. Factoring that in with the challenges of online learning, concerning time zones, wifi, accessibility, or even a reliable computer, and this is all a nightmare. I had the idea of not being able to actively see my classmates and have discussions. And sure, Zoom can mimic that, but considering I spent 10 minutes staring at three other students in silence last week, means that its not the same.

I at least have the luxury of a stable home environment, a working phone and computer, and a quiet place to participate in class and works. I do not have reliable wifi in my area, and that is concerning for me. Luckily, my professors have all been understanding of that and no one is requiring attendance. But thats not a universal policy from the university, it isn't the same across the board, and most students I would think wouldn't have the privilege of that access.

As for the virus itself, I don't think it would affect me much if my mother and I weren't both working. I babysit for the family of a police officer at least three times a week, and my mother is a nurse. She is getting no protection from her job, they get little information, and they've already had multiple doctors and nurses who've gotten sick with COVID-19. The hospital neglected to tell my mother or any of her coworkers for days, and still allowed the nurses who may have been sick by the doctors to continue working, without telling of their risked exposure. I'm worried for my mother, all of her friends that I know, my own friends in the health field, and my own exposure. Its hard to tell myself that things will happen, and things will go on, and things will eventually pass, when I see a lack of guidance, misinformation, and fear.