Life During The Pandemic

The year 2020 has been described in many ways, unprecedented, unparalleled, unusual, unique, uncommon, but this past year has been anything but normal.

Millions of people globally are adjusting to life on unemployment, working from home, going to school through zoom, sheltering in place, and wearing face masks and face shields every time they leave their house.

Our world as we know has been flipped upside down, and these are truly uncertain times. But just like any other major historical event, we as people and society have always found a way to adjust, adapt, and overcome adversity.

With all the negativity in today’s world, American COVID-19 related deaths sky-rocketing, unemployment numbers at an all-time high in the United States, U.S. suicide rates at an all-time high, and there seems to be little hope in sight.

Yet millions of people around the world are still overcoming their hardships, struggles, and are willing to do anything in their power to achieve their goals and dreams. All over the world, people are struggling, trying to make rent, mortgage payments, pay bills, and put food on their table for their families.

This pandemic has hit people hard all over the world, yet it has hit hardest in one of the most populated places in the United States: Silicon Valley.

Silicon Valley is one of the leading places regarding high-tech companies like Facebook, Netflix, and Lyft. It’s also of the most populated and most expensive places regarding living wages and quality of life in the U.S. as well.

Although it wasn’t a walk in the park to be successful, start a family, and own a house in Silicon Valley, pre-pandemic, yet now it’s ten times more difficult to raise a family during this pandemic.

The odds are heavily stacked against low-income families trying to establish themselves in California. Although many people are leaving California, moving to states that have lower housing rates, yet it’s not impossible despite all the odds.

One example of overcoming significant odds during this pandemic, living in Silicon Valley, is the story of Nica Eglesia.

Nica, a mother of a three-year-old girl, works part-time for the City of Santa Clara in the permit department.

She describes her time during this pandemic while living in Silicon Valley.

“I’ve been working from home since the pandemic started in March. In the beginning, it was really hard to adjust, process, but now a year into the pandemic I’ve been getting a little bit too comfortable.”

There is no doubt that many aspects of our lives have changed during the COVIS-19 pandemic. Nica explains the many aspects of her life that have changed during these uncertain times.

“Bodyweight has changed, my image has changed, and my mental state has changed too. I’m not seeing anyone in person, in the office, because it’s all on the phone,” Eglesia said.

There are a lot of challenging and overwhelming aspects of this pandemic that people face daily.

Eglesia explained what’s most challenging for her during this pandemic.

“Not being able to see friends and family, whenever I want, and not being able to go anywhere. A lot of businesses are closed and shut down. Having a three-and-a-half-year-old can get tiring because we can’t go anywhere. We have to limit our stay at the park or even going outside, and wearing a mask all the time for a three-year-old can be challenging.”

Most people with children, from young children to teenagers, to young adults, can relate to Nica. Even though people are struggling to raise their youth during this time, whether it’s the challenges of online learning, or sheltering in place, yet there are still people overcoming hardships and moving towards their goals.

Nica and her husband, Chris, for example, are one of those young families working towards their long-term goals. They’ve had a goal of buying a house and starting a family, pre-pandemic, yet during the pandemic, they’ve accomplished their goal.

They broke ground on land a few months ago for their new house. Nica gives some wise words to people working and striving towards purchasing a house in California.

“Be patient. It was really hard for me to be patient. Be patient, keep saving, and also take care of yourself during this time. Whether that’s taking a walk or as simple as taking a shower. Self-care, no matter how big or small, is so crucial to mental health.”