Coming back to D.C. from my Alternate Break, I had a little catching up to do concerning COVID-19 and its effects on my life. Keeping in constant contact with my parents, and being sure to communicate with my professors, the First Alaskans Institute, and Sen. Sullivan’s office, my immediate future seemed to be very much up in the air. My family, just returning to Alaska after traveling to New York, placed themselves in self-quarantine, working from home and unsure if they had contracted the coronavirus. At American, classes were canceled, university-wide, Monday and Tuesday, and were to be held online for the rest of the semester. My professors, reacting to the unexpected change disjointedly, canceled classes through the week, citing the need to change their syllabi, class structure, etc. For work, I was first furloughed with pay, before hearing that all internships were suspended till at least April 1st, with a weekly reconsideration following that date.
In the meantime, I was anxiously following Alaskan and national news outlets, afraid that domestic travel would be cut off as foreign travel had been, leaving travelers with no options moving forward. As I called my parents daily, I felt an instinctive urge to come home. I knew if I were to get sick, I would face fewer challenges at home. I would have more people to look after me. More capital to help keep me fed and safe. All alongside the security of knowing I could be there for my family if any of them got sick. That I wouldn’t need to worry about being stuck for an indefinite amount of time a continent away from them should travel be cut. For me, all signs but one pointed to going back home. In D.C., I had work. Or at least I had the potential of work. Work that pays. A fellowship that I love. With a group I love. Doing work I find meaningful. The prospect of giving up an opportunity I had worked so hard for, and that I held so much pride in, was not one I wanted to face. Knowing my position as the First Alaskans Institute’s Al Adams Young Political Leader Fellow, I felt I would be letting down not only my own dreams, but the possibility of serving my people. Of advocating their interests. Their perspectives. In considering my position, I can’t help but to take it seriously. Not to mention I was hoping to earn college credit through my participation in the Fellowship. As of that week, I needed to work only 48 more hours to satisfy American University’s internship requirement for the number of credits I had enrolled for. Though I was told I had the opportunity to make up those hours through alternate assignments, I much preferred the possibility to simply keep working through them. All things considered, I was left feeling a great deal of anxiety throughout the week. Not knowing if I would have work moving forward. If I would be able to stick it out in D.C. should travel be cut. Or what classes would look like for me. Everything was up in the air, and I could impact none of it. I could just stay inside. Isolate myself from groups larger than 10 people. Make sure I stayed away from touching my face. And pray that things might resolve themselves. Thankfully, they did. Everyone I talked to showed grace concerning my situation, from Ryan Ringel, the office’s preeminent decision maker on personnel, to Karla Booth at FAI, to my professors and parents, all of whom encouraged me to put health over anything else at this time of unprecedented need. To them I’m so very grateful, for they helped ensure I could (1) work remotely, using a work laptop and cell phone to continue serving the office, (2) fly home and work from Anchorage, and (3) do so in a timely manner. With their help, and the help of Marcus Gamble and Ella Tonuchuk, I’m happy to say I’m back home with my family safe and sound. I still am able to work and write blog posts. And though I’m in the midst of my 14-day quarantine, isolated away from my family in my room, the downstairs bathroom, and the family room directly adjacent to mine, I couldn’t be happier. Thank you so very much to everyone listed, and everyone unlisted. Please be safe throughout this tumultuous time we’re in. And know it’ll be okay.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Mike Juvrud