Penn Pandemic Diary Penn Pandemic Diary, Entry #14: One COVID-19 Story

The author is a graduate student studying biotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Like many others at Penn and around the world, COVID-19 has already had an impact on my life. With travel changes and government restrictions here and in my home country India, I’ve been forced to stay in Philadelphia for an uncertain period of time. The semester has gone online and summer internships have been canceled. It’s a stressful time, one that’s been difficult to endure alone in a foreign country.

Perhaps more than the changes here in Philadelphia, I have been worried of what’s happening at home. Like others in India, my family is currently under complete lockdown. Here, I still see people going out for evening walks when the weather is good or visiting a friend when loneliness becomes too much to bear. But in India, any movement that is deemed unnecessary during this time of crisis is punishable by law. With the number of COVID-19 cases limited, I believe that India is doing what it can to contain the virus. The country is also investing massively to boost people’s spirits during these times.

Despite the stressful situation, my field is more relevant than ever. As a student of biotechnology, I always had a keen interest in microbiology and viral studies. And I see my field gaining a lot of momentum right now: healthcare companies and professionals are pushing day in and day out to find a treatment and a cure for COVID-19. That’s true at Penn as well: my research lab is involved with COVID-19 research and, despite the uncertainty, I am very glad that I get the opportunity to contribute in a small way to the effort to combat this pandemic here in the United States and back home in India.

COVID-19 has been a massive global calamity. It has taken lives and challenged some of the world’s strongest nations and institutions. It also led to a major financial and economic crisis for several industries and countries.

But looking on the positive side, it has taught us some really important lessons. Firstly, we’ve been reminded to value human life everywhere. Wars for power and control seem more meaningless than ever. Second, this pandemic has also helped reduce global pollution. With fewer cars on streets and fewer airplanes in the sky, the earth is getting a moment to to heal. Third, this life-changing pandemic is a true lesson in disguise for my generation. It has taught us to value the small things in life which we take for granted like good health, beautiful nature, and the opportunity to enjoy both freely.

The views expressed in the Penn Pandemic Diary are solely the author’s and not those of Penn or Perry World House.