[This text is machine generated and may contain errors.]

Lilly Stone
Narrator

Sydney Dukic
Interviewer

April 19, 2022
Greenville, North Carolina

SD: (00:00)
What is your affiliation with the university?

LS: (00:05)
Undergraduate?

SD: (00:07)
Alrighty and what is your major?

LS: (00:10)
I'm a business management major

SD: (00:12)
Okay, and how was the pandemic discussed and or handled in classes extracurriculars and work?

LS: (00:21)
At the university, yeah. Um, personally, I felt it was a little overbearing, like I think they were almost doing too much. But that's my personal opinion. I get it. Maybe that's just me coming from a standpoint, but like I've had COVID twice, Like, it wasn't that big of a deal to me. So I realized other people have different experiences with it. But from my opinion, it felt like they were doing too much, because of my experience with that.

SD: (01:03)
So as someone who has experienced COVID, twice, Was it anything like the symptoms that the CDC was presenting? Or, like, so how was the having COVID different for you, rather than what the CDC was saying? It shouldn't be for other people.

LS: (01:20)
I'm, like, literally nothing. The first time I had COVID, I didn't, I had absolutely no, sometimes the only way, the only reason I know was because I got randomly tested. And then the second time, I just had a pretty stuffy nose. And that was pretty much about it.

SD: (01:38)
Okay. Okay. Um, so how do you rate the governmental responses to the bandit, like, to the pandemic?

LS: (01:50)
Um, regarding, like,

SD: (01:51)
local, state, federal, yeah. Um,

LS: (01:55)
what I mean, coming from Maryland, they were pretty strict on everything. Like we had for a period of time, a longer period of time, in most places, where everything was shut down, like you couldn't go to restaurants like it took it took a while for Maryland to reopen. So I felt like compared to other states, they took forever. So

SD: (02:26)
um, so what seemed normal before that seems strange to you now. Like pre COVID? Yeah.

LS: (02:43)
I think people's perception of like, personal space has changed. Like, I feel like I remember, pre COVID Like, going someplace and like standing in line at like, the grocery store or something like that. Like, I feel like people would stand like roughly two to three feet away. We're now they're standing five to six. Yeah, like, I think people's perception of space has gotten bigger. That's the right term.

SD: (03:12)
Yeah. Okay. So what are you doing now, that will likely seem strange to you later. So this is like after COVID. You know, just like right now, like, what do you think having experienced COVID?

LS: (03:30)
How would I change is like, can you restate the question, please?

SD: (03:38)
Okay, so what are you doing now? That will likely seem strange to you later. So everything you've experienced, like now or maybe just a couple months ago, even like, how are you going to maybe in 510 years see that? Like, that was strange or weird?

LS: (03:55)
I'm not sure. I don't know. I think I my entire experience, I think I'm gonna look back. That was strange. That was weird. Like, it wasn't the normal experience. Yeah.

SD: (04:07)
So like, are you saying like, the aspect of like, having to wear masks and stuff like that back

LS: (04:12)
on it like, like thinking about my 20s it's gonna be like, it was weird. Like, that was an odd thing to live through.

SD: (04:19)
And like the quarantining of isolation. Okay, um, so what was it like to return to campus?

LS: (04:29)
I was happy to return to campus. I think it was frustrating to have to put up with all of the like, CDC recommendations that I know that they were doing it to be safe, but it's frustrating, but because you think you're coming back to school, everything's automatically back to normal. So it's a little frustrating that I wanted to be like in normal classes. But instead, like we had to be spaced out, and it was still different. It was frustrating.

SD: (05:07)
Okay, um, so how do you feel about wearing masks?

LS: (05:14)
Um, I think it's up to the user. And like, their willingness to, like uncomfortability. I mean, I know. People wear the mask, because it makes them feel like they're more protected. And that's what they want to do, then that's what they want to do. However, I don't think it should be, like, forced, personally.

SD: (05:48)
Wait. So in regards to that, how do you feel about mask mandates?

LS: (05:56)
It's a difficult topic, because I can see both sides. I can understand. However, I think we've all heard it. We've all heard the debates that masks don't do really anything. And then we've heard that they do. And it's kind of hard to prove which one's true. So I don't know. I, I'm on the fence for both.

SD: (06:24)
Okay, so speaking of things that, like we think we do or don't work, how do you feel about the vaccine?

LS: (06:33)
Um, I think it was incredibly stupid to basically force it down everyone's throats. I don't think that that was the correct thing. Um, I get it, it's different. It's a different illness or sickness than we've seen. Normally, I get it. But if someone's not comfortable with taking something, you shouldn't force them to essentially kind of like peer pressure in my mind. And, like, obviously, we learned to go against peer pressure. Yeah. I don't know. I just think it was not the right move to force everyone to get it.

SD: (07:24)
So did you or did you not get the vaccine?

LS: (07:26)
did not did not.

SD: (07:30)
All right, um What are your impressions of the media coverage of the pandemic, both currently, and before it arrived in the United States?

LS: (07:44)
I think the media blew it up. along. I don't know that. What the media portrayed about it was 100%. True. But then again, I feel better get about all stories. So I don't know, in my personal opinion, I just felt like it was blown up out of proportion. And I think everybody was so focused on. Let's get out of the negative and like, focus on the positive during that time. And it's hard to do that. When that's all that you're hearing? Yeah. So

SD: (08:31)
there have been some conspiracy theories going around saying that the government was just using COVID as an excuse for something bigger.

LS: (08:40)
Right. I have heard them,

SD: (08:41)
you know, and so, in my mind, how would you feel about that? Like, like, Could you see yourself agreeing to that? Or?

LS: (08:53)
Um, I don't? I mean, I don't know for sure. However, I do believe that The government knows much more than we as people know. So I would not be surprised if it was kind of planned. However, I don't know what they could be using.

SD: (09:22)
Well, I mean, like, that's, like, the government literally released documents of, you know, proof of aliens. And it's like, everyone was just like, oh, you know? So it just, it really makes you think, like, if the government knew about this for how long you know, they could reasonably be using COVID to cover up something else. So speaking of you know, the government releasing documents online and everything like that, how has how has technology played a role in your life during the pandemic, either in classes as a way to get and share information or like just for entertainment in general?

LS: (09:59)
Oh, I don't know, I feel like once COVID got really big, and started to get controversial, I think I just kind of used technology less. Just because I didn't want to hear it. It's like I said previously, like, you want to try to find the positive and a negative. And I just felt like it was all over the place. Yeah. So I use my technology lab less.

SD: (10:35)
Okay, so during COVID, like, since you started using technology, less like, what kind of hobbies did you pick up?

LS: (10:45)
Um, well, during COVID, like, prime quarantine, I did a lot of home renovation stuff. Okay. So it's, like, installed like a new floor. Like took down wallpaper, put it in a new pool liner, like stuff like that. So I kind of found a new hobby.

SD: (11:08)
Okay, um, how are your friends, family, partner, or other important people in your life doing at the moment, you know, after COVID and everything like that?

LS: (11:20)
A lot of my family has underlying health issues. So they're still pretty worried about it. Which is understandable if it really affects people in that way that have those issues.

SD: (11:33)
Yeah

LS: (11:33)
understandable

SD: (11:34)
Yeah.

LS: (11:35)
Yeah, they're super worried worried about it, like Christmas time. Everyone's not gonna be there for a while, like, my family would meet and we'd all have to wear masks. Like, even after they got rid of like the mask mandates and stuff like that, like we would wear masks. Okay. For like, a long time after. Like, the only reason we didn't wear masks this past Christmas was because we all did COVID tests.

SD: (12:13)
Okay.

LS: (12:15)
So they're still pretty worried about it.

SD: (12:19)
Do you see that ever changing or

LS: (12:22)
I think it'll eventually die off as COVID becomes more regulated and a common thing

SD: (12:30)
So wait. So do you think it is going to be regulated in the coming thing?

LS: (12:33)
Well, I think it'll be like the flu. Like the flu was a big deal there for a while, and then it leveled out. Nobody gets the flu on the regular I think it's going to eventually just end up like the next flu.

SD: (12:47)
Yeah. Okay. Um, so how are your classes going for you right now?

LS: (12:57)
Well, I mean, most of my classes are online. Which sucks. But.

SD: (13:05)
So being though, as like, most of your classes are online, what kind of messages have you received from professors?

LS: (13:13)
Um, about COVID? Or just,

SD: (13:17)
maybe just like, in general, or? Yeah, related to COVID?

LS: (13:21)
Um, well, I think last semester, when more of my classes were in line, on or in person, they were more understanding about COVID. And like, if you didn't want to come to class for your safety,

SD: (13:36)
yeah.

LS: (13:37)
I felt like they were a little bit more empathetic with that. Um, but now that they're like, online, I don't get that same thing. Because it's not really necessary for them to worry about know.

SD: (13:59)
How are other students handling those changes?

LS: (14:05)
I think everybody does it at their own pace. COVID affected everybody individually. We all have a different experience with it. So not everyone's gonna be on the same page right away. Yeah.

SD: (14:19)
So how are you handling it?

LS: (14:22)
I'm ready for it to be over.

SD: (14:27)
So how have your academic routines changed?

LS: (14:32)
I was pretty schedule oriented person when everything was in person. Yeah. And now that I'm on line, I found that I don't really have a schedule anymore. Like I just, I do things whenever I want.

SD: (14:51)
Yeah.

LS: (14:54)
So I think that's kind of how it changed.

SD: (15:00)
Okay. Are you involved in any student orgs organizations, sports or clubs?

LS: (15:08)
Yes.

SD: (15:09)
How is the pandemic affected them?

LS: (15:11)
Oh, I'm in a sorority, I mean recruitment. Last year was online. And then this year, it was in person having to do recruitment online after we had been preparing to do it in person for all these months. And then like, two months before recruitment, it switches to all online. So everybody struggled trying to do that. So everybody's recruitment numbers were a lot lower.

SD: (15:41)
Yeah.

LS: (15:42)
Because it's hard to want to join an organization when you can't be there and actually experience it.

SD: (15:50)
Exactly.

LS: (15:51)
So. Sorry.

SD: (16:00)
Um, so do or did you have a job on and or off campus?

LS: (16:05)
Um, well, I did over the summer.

SD: (16:07)
Okay.

LS: (16:09)
I was bartender.

SD: (16:11)
Okay.

LS: (16:12)
My first summer, the first summer of COVID. We were pretty strict with COVID. Regulations. And then the second, they were more laid back with it. Like, is this kind of like you do it at your own comfort?

SD: (16:33)
Are you doing any community work or volunteering as a result of the pandemic?

LS: (16:38)
No, I am not.

SD: (16:41)
Okay,

LS: (16:42)
sorry.

SD: (16:43)
You're fired. Um, what was your experience of actually leaving campus?

LS: (16:53)
Oh, like when we first got the news?

SD: (16:55)
Yeah.

LS: (16:55)
Well, I mean, we were on spring break, I was back home in Baltimore. So I remember I came down here St. Patrick's Day, and that was the day that I blew my tire. So I vividly remember coming back to get everything I it was difficult to pack because I didn't know how long I was gonna be home. So it's like, and I didn't want to drive continuously come back and forth for everything.

SD: (17:26)
Yeah.

LS: (17:26)
Because it'd be a waste.

SD: (17:27)
Yeah.

LS: (17:29)
So I kind of just packed what I thought I would need. Went home for the break.

SD: (17:37)
So what were your thoughts and emotions as you're leaving?

LS: (17:43)
Um, well, I think I was more excited because I was like, oh, extra spring break. Like, cool. I get to ******* do whatever.

SD: (17:49)
Yeah.

LS: (17:52)
Sorry I didn't mean to curse.

SD: (17:55)
you're fine. So where are you living now?

LS: (18:02)
An apartment? Or do you mean like when I return home?

SD: (18:08)
Both if you want to name both or one or?

LS: (18:11)
Well, I currently live in apartment. When I return home I'm'a crash with parents for a couple of years.

SD: (18:20)
Okay, okay. All right. Um Is there anything else you'd like the people to know?

LS: (18:40)
Um, I think people need to be more or be less uptight about others COVID opinions. I think we need to be more respectful and understanding. COVID got so controversial for no reason when it idn't have to be. So I just think people do take the time and understand others opinions. That's what I think people need to learn.

SD: (19:19)
Alright, one more question before we leave. So did you think COVID was maybe created just for the sake of politics?

LS: (19:30)
Um, I heard the belief that COVID was initially created in a lab in China to do population control in China. And then it just got blown out of proportion. That's what I heard. And I could see that I don't know if it's 100% True, but I could see that potentially like be And nothing, because obviously our governments know more than we do. So. Yes. Could be some kind of guerrilla warfare.

SD: (20:10)
Who knows? Who knows? All right. Thank you.

LS: (20:20)
You're welcome.

[End of Recording]