"Finding Community in the Midst of Chaos” by Wamia Siddiqui DRC’21
A few weeks ago, I had my intense, 21-credit spring semester planned out down to the minute. Now, I’m experiencing the unfamiliar uncertainty of being at home, with all of my time left unstructured, while a dangerous outbreak spreads across the country. The statistics and vignettes in the news about the global pandemic are in all honesty, frightening. Social media posts about stockpiling, ill-advised vacations to Miami, and a looming recession, only exacerbate this strange feeling I can only describe as “apocalyptic.” As a public health major, this is the kind of outbreak we’d discussed in class only from historical or hypothetical perspectives. Once it became reality, I found myself unsettled, worrying not only for victims of the disease, but also for others whose lives had been drastically impacted—the healthcare workers, small business owners, survivors of domestic violence, and many others.
And yet even in these difficult times, I remember a piece of advice I’d heard from none other than Mr. Rogers, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” There couldn’t be more truth to this statement. Everywhere I turn, there are people trying to uplift those around them and get through their struggles together. This is evident at all levels in our community. Student organizations across campus have shifted gears, finding ways to build partnerships and care for their members. My professors, even the most rigorous, have been nothing short of supportive and understanding. The Douglass staff members have also been incredible resources for us during this tumultuous time. All around me, people have been reaching out, checking in, and doing what they can. Each time we take a step to help each other get through the stay-at-home order, we support the vital public health strategy keeping us safe.
In my own life, an interconnected society has made all the difference. When online classes initially started, I struggled at the thought of losing the bustling, well-regimented days I’d grown so accustomed to in the past few years. What I found out instead is that without the constant distractions of the outside world, I could be a lot more productive and make more connections than I’d ever realized. When I’m not on Zoom conference calls for my synchronous classes, I’m having lunch with my friends via FaceTime, exercising to a Zumba live stream from Campus Recreation’s social media, or listening to Yesika Salgado, one of my favorite poets, conduct an online live reading of her work. Caring for each other remotely matters, and can help the collective health of our communities.
While I inevitably encountered some technical difficulties, I’ve never felt more appreciative of the efforts of everyone to adapt and accommodate to the situation at hand. More than anything, we’re just being good neighbors. In these past few weeks, as our lives have changed so drastically and social distancing has become our new way of life, I believe that it is imperative that we keep on seeking out ways to strengthen the communities around us. We might be isolated, but that doesn’t mean we’re alone.
Wamia Siddiqui DRC'21 is a public health major and a junior at Douglass. She is part of the PLEN at Douglass program and an Honors College student.
Photo courtesy of Wamia Siddiqui
