<strong>WHERE WERE YOU? THREE YEARS OF COVID</strong>

by Mackenzie Foster

This March marked the three-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 as a global pandemic; a major moment in history as people were told to stay home and follow specific health guidelines. 

Elijah Turman, a freshman computer science major from Huntsville, Alabama, was a sophomore in high school when the global pandemic was announced. 

“I think it was around Spring Break, and it turns out we just never went back to school,” Turman said. 

From online learning to social distancing and having to wear masks on school campuses, students, faculty, and staff had to adjust to a new normal. 

Terry Thomas, a junior exercise science major from Childersburg, Alabama, was a high school senior when the global pandemic was announced, and was a student at Troy University when COVID guidelines were in place. 

“It was kind of weird honestly, people were sitting all spaced out, you’re doing Microsoft Teams, so it was just a strange situation,” Thomas said. 

The struggle of adjusting to the COVID guidelines reached not only college campuses, but high school, elementary, and even Pre-K campuses as well.  

“Everything was different, like doing work was different and just being around people was different,” Turman said. 

 While some students may have enjoyed the online learning, others did not appreciate getting used to a new form of learning. 

“Online learning has never really been my thing, so it was a struggle that I had to overcome really fast,” said Delia Lucious, a senior broadcast journalism major from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

Some people are excited that the world seems to be getting back to normal. 

“I feel great about us getting used to everything and just getting back to our normal lives,” Turman said. 

The World Health Organization reported 4.1 million new cases and 28 000 deaths across the globe between February 13-March 12, 2023. While this is a significant decrease from even the month prior, COVID is still prevalent, and experts recommend continuing to take the proper precautions to sustain a healthy life. 

Troy University’s Student Health Center is located beside the Trojan Center and is open Monday through Friday to assist any students that have questions, concerns, and/or symptoms relating to COVID.