An insider’s view of COVID-19

Annette Bernsten
Lantern Staff

While the numbers of new COVID-19 cases at Butler slows down, the impact it has left on affected individuals is unnerving, especially those who were required to quarantine or isolate themselves after being exposed.  

As someone who was required to quarantine during the school year, I know the impact it can have on a person’s mental health. Each day was a struggle trying to stay motivated enough to keep up in school and maintain a clean environment for my roommates.  

Another student who has had a similar experience with COVID is freshman and criminal justice major Kristin Brown. She was exposed to COVID through her parents, who got it from their job. After showing symptoms herself, Brown was required to isolate for two weeks. 

“This experience impacted my mental health a lot,” Brown, who is also a Grizzly basketball player, said. “Some days it was very depressing I could cry.” 

Brown said that during her isolation period she did the schoolwork she could do remotely and spent a lot of time sleeping.  

Because she shares an apartment in the Villas, Brown’s roommate was also required to quarantine during that time. However, this mishap did not affect their relationship and Brown feels no remorse for her roommate needing to quarantine.  

“Honestly, I didn’t feel any way about it,” Brown said. “It’s not like I asked to have the Coronavirus or put her in that situation you know, so we got through it together.” 
Brown’s encounter with COVID has made a large impact on her life.  

“This experience has changed my perspective on COVID big time,” she said. “I wash my hands every chance I get, and I always wear a mask everywhere I go, and I always make sure I clean down everything in my apartment.” 

With her isolation period long over, Brown is back in school and can participate in basketball practice again, this time more wary of COVID-19 and just how easily it can spread.