Students at CSUSB were asked to reflect on how the pandemic has affected their friendships.
Alex Hernandez, Biology major, Junior
“So for me personally, I definitely ‘ghosted’ or lacked in communicating with friends mainly because of all the mental stress I went through trying to handle work, school, and other obstacles all during a pandemic. I don’t really think people understand the idea that keeping up with your friends during all of this honestly takes a lot of work and, I guess in a sense, drains you a bit. It’s not that your friends personally drain you, but more of the fact that it’s mentally draining having to juggle so many responsibilities on top of trying to handle your social life so you don’t completely abandon friendships that mean a lot to you. I think it’s just really important to know that it’s completely okay to take a break from having to keep in touch with people in order to help your personal, mental, and emotional health.”
Michael Villasenor, Communications major, Sophomore
“With everything occurring, especially with the pandemic, it has made friendships a big challenge for me. Because of the closures of restaurants, amusement parks, and entertainment centers, it has been really hard to go anywhere to escape reality and to hang with friends. Many people have their views of the pandemic as a whole so some of us can go out and hang with friends and others like to stay in quarantine following the pandemic guidelines. What made it difficult for me is that I don’t really get to see my friends that I used to see every day, and it made it hard to get in contact with them. Needless to say, but because of the pandemic, I’ve lost new friendships that I made when attending CSUSB because not everyone can be out during this new civilization that we are currently living in.”
Jennifer Aguado, Mathematics major, Junior
“I realized that not many of them were my “friends” because, before, it was always me reaching out. But with the whole pandemic, we’ve been busier with work so I’ve been absolutely exhausted and busy, and none of those “friends” would reach out. I did also get in touch with old friends or connected more with friends I wasn’t as close to.”
Daniel Perez Anaya, Communications major, Senior
“So I’d say friendships are more valuable now more than ever during this period of social isolation. I tend to check in with my friends (virtually) more than I did before and vice versa. I would also say that the pandemic has made me appreciate my friendships a lot more than before, and it had made them stronger.”
Sara Hernandez, Kinesiology Pedagogy, Senior
“I feel like, because we were stuck at home the first couple of months, I just felt down and had no energy to give to my friends or really anyone for that matter.”
Edilberto Peña Ramos, History major, Junior
“Well, for me, I have friends who are really concerned about COVID so we don’t see each other as much which is totally understandable, and I respect that. Maybe they are looking out for a family member who is at more risk of contracting the virus. I only see them when they feel comfortable to hang out.”
Emily Hagar, Nursing major, Senior
“Due to the pandemic, I have found that it has been hard to maintain some friendships to the level they were at before the pandemic. Going from seeing certain friends and classmates every day to not seeing them for months definitely has a negative impact on friendships. However, I think that the pandemic allowed me to have the time to catch up and reconnect with older friends that I usually was unable to reach out to due to my demanding schedule. Therefore, I think that the pandemic showed me who my true friends are.”
Kendra O’Cull, Liberal Studies major, Senior
“The pandemic has shown me what friendship is because, if the right people are willing to wait to see each other and social distance themselves, then that’s love and real friendship. Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.”
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