I Had COVID

Being a student at Monmouth College with COVID-19 has been an experience. When I found out I was positive, I knew there was no way I was going to be staying in Clealand. I know that the school does not have many other options to offer, but that building gives me the creeps. With that being said, I hibernated in my room at home. I took several naps and binged a lot of The Vampire Diaries.

The symptoms that I experienced included severe headaches, low-grade fevers, body aches, and extreme fatigue. I also lost my taste and smell. Let me just say that was the weirdest thing that I have ever experienced. I remember one night for dinner my mom made country fried steak. She asked me how it was and I just responded with, “I could not tell ya!”

When you let the school know that you have tested positive, they set you up with remote learning and inform your professors with what is going on. My professors were all very sympathetic when it came to the first couple days of experiencing my symptoms. Thankfully, my professors also record their lectures and I was able to watch them on my own time. They were also willing to give me extensions on a few assignments, so I was able to complete them to the best of my ability. The Student Affairs Office also messaged me a few times during isolation to check in and see how I was feeling.

Being away from my friends was not fun either. However, I am happy to have the friends I do because they were always checking up on me. Through long Facetime calls, texts, and Snapchats it made me feel as if I were still on campus with them.

Even though there are several hoops to jump through and hills you have to climb when testing positive with COVID-19, it is reassuring to know that your Monmouth College family is behind you. Friends and caring professors make the recovery even easier. Yes, it is scary, but it is something that you do not go through alone.

Scotty Tartan - Anonymous Contributing Writer