Editor’s Note: David Bates is a student enrolled in Dr. Leo Jeffres’s Specialized Writing class.

Life has been changing dramatically for many of the past couple of months as the coronavirus outbreak has spread quickly around the globe, forcing millions of Americans to stay home day after day. For me the quarantine has meant struggling to pay rent while balancing out other necessities to get me by until unemployment checks can take a weight off my shoulders.

Because of record numbers of filings for unemployment, assistance has slowed, and people like me are anxiously waiting for help before our next set of bills become due.

Luckily, going outside to get some fresh air has been my saving grace. I would surely go insane if it were not for the short walks when the weather is nice enough.

However, those walks are becoming more difficult too, as allergy season is kicking into full gear; leaving me, on multiple occasions, unsure if I was coming down with the virus or if the passing of the spring equinox has finally caught up to me. Of course, coughing or sneezing in public is not an option anymore, as everyone around you will look with the same question you just asked yourself: Do they have the virus?

While I was confident things would start to settle down over the summer, I am starting to lose hope. I was so excited for a trip to Ireland that I was supposed to be taking over the warmer months, but I just learned the airline canceled the flight. I am sure that even more events will be canceled, leaving us wondering what we are going to do when it is truly beautiful outside.