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Work and Hobbies During COVID

This was not really a recent experience, but this all happened about two months ago during the summer before college. The summer after my senior year was pretty tough in terms of my jobs. I lost two jobs during that time because I worked in the restaurant industry. At the time, I was working at a restaurant called 151 Kitchen and Bar. Before the pandemic hit, I worked there for almost two years at that point. Yet, in Illinois, all the restaurants were forced to close down and many people lost their jobs including me. For me, it was not too much of a problem because to me this as not a career. I was working this job to save up some money for college, but for the people I was working with, this was their only source of income. 

151 Kitchen and Bar in Elmhurst, IL

So when the pandemic hit, it was pretty sad witnessing those who I had worked with have to worry about how they will pay rent. It was especially saddening to see the owner of the restaurant worry because her three restaurants all closed down simultaneously, losing all revenue and having to throw out all the product in the kitchen. 

Pazzi Di Pizza in Elmhurst, IL

After I was furloughed, I looked for other sources of money during the time so that I could continue saving up for college. At point, I applied for a job delivering pizzas at a place called Pazzi Di Pizza. After getting the job and only working there for about 3 weeks, a person in the kitchen got the coronavirus and the whole restaurant shut down for weeks. I was pretty saddened about this one because I truly enjoyed delivering pizzas. Being able to listen to music all day and getting a lot of tips from the frequent orders during lockdown made the job a pretty good gig. Eventually the job opened back up after a couple weeks, but for a while I really had nothing to do. Working was something that kept me busy during the isolation of being home. 

To cope with the lack of things to keep me busy, I have noticed stark change in activities I do daily to keep me busy, including a change in more normal hobbies. There is no doubt that the coronavirus has eliminated the possibly of many forms of social gatherings. When I arrived to the University of Kentucky, I was immediately dismayed by the sight of the basketball courts being taken down. Before COVID, I had taken up basketball as a hobby for a while and was really starting to enjoy it. Once the pandemic hit, though, the rims were taken down almost everywhere. Playing basketball would have been a pretty easy way to meet people and make friends, which really disappointed me when I found out that opportunity would be taken away. 

Pictured: The basketball court near me before COVID-19

As for now, if I even wanted to go play basketball, I would have to walk 30 minutes at least to a park a couple miles away. I went with my friend recently, but got rained on while walking back. Overall, the experience was pretty unpleasant, so we have refrained from going back. 

To find something else to take up time, I have taken up longboarding. This is an activity that is pretty individual unless going out with others which even at that point is pretty socially distant. I invested in a pretty nice longboard a little while back and have been exploring the campus recently at night because it is pretty relaxing. I am just hoping soon that the hoops will be put back up so that I can resume my hobby of playing basketball and possibly meet some people. Although I have gotten pretty good at skating, I miss hooping.  

Basketball hoops at Syracuse University, reminiscent of the outdoor court at University of Kentucky

 

An American Vaccine's Influence

Throughout history, the United States has had many rivalries win other countries in terms of becoming the most advanced country in the world. Whether it be the Space Race with Russia or the various tensions between Washington and Beijing, the United States has always fought to be on top. The creation of the COVID-19 vaccine proves to be another issue of similar notions. The United States created a vaccine first could be revolutionary in advancing our geopolitical status amongst other countries in the world. 

Trump and Xi shaking hands.

This has evidently become a race to be the first nation to find a vaccine due to all of the economic benefit one could have from distribution of a more effective vaccine. If the United States wins the so called "COVID Race", we would gain nation influence because countries would have to come to us for a solution to this worldwide pandemic that is effecting nearly every single country. Assuming we do not assist any other country without the return of monetary gain, we have the potential to make an immense profit distributing a vaccine. Along with this, it may even encourage more manufacturing within the United States rather than in other countries as Americans feel more patriotic for having found the vaccine to a problem that has plagued society for months now. At this point in time, many Americans have a negative view on those from China due to the notion that their wet markets are unsanitary and "disease-ridden". This has created somewhat of a political and national divide and creates even more incentive for us to thrive in this COVID race. 

Overall, if the United States was the first nation to create a vaccine, we would ultimately see ourselves having great economic growth and much more influence globally within trade. As John Haltiwanger writes in his Business Insider article, "The first country to the finish line will be first to restore its economy and global influence".