When we think of fortune, we think of massive wealth, treasure hunts, gold mines, and fantastic hordes of gems and jewels. But this year, my idea of fortune is how I am feeling right now, today. Yesterday, I submitted final grades for my four classes of Speech Communication with 110 students. Also, I completed editing my roomies book on graceful aging.Today, I feel accomplished, relieved, and euphoric that, during a pandemic, I am still earning a living by doing what I love. I enjoy teaching young people how to communicate impactfully. In my classes, people age 16 to 50 learn three things:Critical thinkingCritical listeningOutlining and References in APA StyleNow, that looks like a shortlist for a college course. But ask my students if it is that simple. They will tell you it is not.So, Im feeling accomplished because I managed to pull 90% of my students through the switch to online learning, once the lockdown caused our school to close. Of 110 students, seven dropped the course before the lockdown. Nine failed the course because they gave up due to technical difficulties. Perhaps, they did not have a computer or laptop. They may not have WiFi or an internet connection. They could have children at home and not be able to concentrate on schoolwork. There are a plethora of reasons why 16 students did not get through my Speech Communication course.On the bright side, of the 94 students who made it through, there were:44 As or 40%28 Bs or 25%14 Cs or 18%8 Ds or 7%10% of my 110 students this semester either dropped before or after the lockdownI am off for 18 days. I will teach this course over the summer in three classes. Two are 12 weeks and one is six weeks. My challenge is to revert back to my lesson plans for shorter courses since the Fall and Spring terms were 16 weeks long. The fortune is that I taught this class in ONE month at three other schools. So, my real goal is to relax and enjoy my time off.Stay well and enjoy a Happy Springtime!
Community: Boynton Beach
#FIGHTAGAINSTCORONA
They way corona virus has impacted my life is by making it hard to purchase things to put in my household for my brothers and sisters to eat.
The disaster of coronavirus
It has canceled my graduation, grad bash, prom. Instead of going to school, we have to do virtual school. I cant go outside as usual, I cant go anywhere unless Im wearing a mask, and staying 6 feet apart from people. Every object or anything I touch I need to wash my hands
These days shall pass
The Coronavirus has had an impact on my life. It has changed the way we do thing on a daily basis. I lost a family member due to the virus and I have another family member in the hospital on ICU. The I was unable to attend the funeral because of the limited number of people allowed to be there. I was sad because I wanted to be there to show my support. Many people are walking around with the virus and may not know it. Its challenging for folks in my community to get tested because there are no testing sites here. We have to travel to west Delray and the lines are usually long. There is a lot going on and people are making efforts to help each other but we as people have to take this virus serious because it is no joke.
#SOLOdarity
Change. Nobody likes it. Sometimes though, we have to just go with the flow for the greater good of everyone. By no means is it easy being isolated from seeing friends that we’re used to seeing on a weekly basis or not going into work each day. The strange feeling of knowing that you can’t just go to a movie on the weekend or run to the grocery store to pick up one item with out having to put on a mask and gloves…It still seems surreal even after over 60 days of being quarantined at home. I’m used to going bike riding and running with friends. Going solo isn’t the same. I just know we have to have a mindset to carry on as normally as possible so this bad dream will go by faster.
God Grace
I thank God because me and my family still alive bcuz without Him we won’t be here corona virus makes me cherish every moment of life bcuz an a minute u could loose someone you love
27 behind god
I was laid off from work, March 20th due to the covid 19. Its been over a month out of work and I filed for unemployment. I havent received my taxes yet its a 6-9 week wait for that, and I havent got my stimulus check either. I have about $100 left to my name and I have a few bills due at the house to help out with my portion. Struggle to pay bills and keep food in the house, I take care of my mother because shes partially blind, shes get SSI every month but even with that and what I had left over were just hitting ends meet. My aunt got sick from the virus about 2 weeks ago and shes an elderly lady 75 with heart condition, high blood pressure and diabetes. Shes not doing to well right now, what sucks the most is that if your family member gets sick you cant even visit them. I pray every night that she fights the battle and come home to all of her family. I pray itll be over soon, I barely have groceries in the house to make food at night its a really big hassle right now. Im not asking for too much but anything will help right now until my income tax comes in. This pandemic is messing up everything so far but Im keeping hope and faith alive. I read my Bible every night before I lay to rest, praying for better days and praying that the world gets back normal.
The end of the world (Story #415)
Im a diabetic person Im very scared but in the mane of Jesus this virus will go far away from me and my family. Now I seating every day no work no money , this virus arrives like Bigger storm No time to do nothing and save anything my biggest problem i got bill to pay .
my life during the pandemic
Because of the corona virus I am not able to go to work, church and socialize with my friend. I am scared to go to to grocery store because I don’t want to get infected by the virus and bring it to my family. Even though I talk to my family like my mother on the phone but I don’t want to go to her house because since she is old and I am not tested I don’t want to expose her to the virus. I don’t want to be the one to bring it to her. My kids are now are in the house all the time I need to have extra food in my pantry because the eat more than before.
Need a little bit of money
I bearly have time to go shopping and my work is almost closing