The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted so many aspects of our lives – our daily routines, social interactions, travel, and mental well-being. In the early months of the pandemic, a research team from Jefferson’s College of Population Health launched a photo elicitation project. The project’s goal was to get a better understanding of how the student community at Jefferson was impacted by the novel coronavirus, with the help of photography. Those who participated in the project were asked to take photos for about a week. A team of student researchers then interviewed the participants to delve into the meaning behind the pictures, and open up a discussion.
A Window Into Student Life During COVID-19
From the challenges of online learning to the isolation of social distancing, Jefferson students use photos to describe the lessons in the wake of COVID-19.
“We hope that this project identifies the unique challenges faced by our students right now,” says Rosie Frasso, PhD, Program Director of Public Health at the Jefferson College of Population Health. “But also sheds light on the struggles that society as a whole is experiencing right now, and what we’re doing to cope.”
Frasso and the research team - Jules LaRosa, MPH student, Cierrah Doran, MPH, Amanda Guth, PA-MPH student, Shimrit Keddem, PhD, MPH, Steve DiDonato, PhD, Martha Romney, JD, MPH, MS, RN, BSN, and other MPH students – plan to analyze the 40 plus interview transcripts, draft a report for Jefferson’s faculty and a manuscript for publication.
From a bathroom-turned-office to a sea of masks at ongoing protests against racial injustice, scroll through the images below that reveal the complexities of these unprecedented times:
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"If someone’s not wearing a mask, I cross the street. I don’t want to make it seem as though I’m treating them differently because they’re not wearing a mask, but at the same time it’s a way to protect myself and others I’m interacting with. But it’s isolating."
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"With in-person classes, you have small talk with your classmates. On Zoom, it feels awkward. Even if you are joking or someone makes a joke, you can't hear other people laughing. You're just laughing to yourself."
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"I was hesitant to go to the protests because of COVID. When I heard that there was a “White Coats for Black Lives” demonstration, I decided to wear my N95 mask and go. Being at these protests and seeing how hurt people are and how important it is to have equal rights, it has increased my empathy and made me more aware of these issues."
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"I feel like every day has been this repetition of not really doing anything. Because I have more time, I don’t feel as much urgency to get stuff done. Volunteering has helped me feel productive. I think if you’re in a position to help someone, why not do it?"
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"This is a picture of me mailing in my voting ballot. I think that one of the interesting things about this whole quarantine is feeling like I’m getting so much more exposure to what's going on in the world. I wanted to make sure that I could get my vote in this year."
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"It was so scary to see these men and women armed. We're already in fear of this virus that we can't see and to be confronted by these weapons... look at all those tanks in the background. It was just really chilling to see all of this at once."
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"I was always a library studier that liked to isolate myself. So now, here we are in this tiny room, and the kitchen is right there to the right. And we're all doing something very different within inches of each other. Yeah. It's difficult."
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"I have insomnia, and now it's really hard to regulate sleeping habits, because it's not like I'm getting up to go somewhere in the morning. So, I don't have that wall forcing me to go to sleep. Sometimes, I'll just be restless, awake, and then suddenly it's 3:18 in the morning. And there's a lot more things to worry about the next day."
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"Once exam week came around, I needed to find a space to study and the bathroom was the only place that worked. I tried to make it as comfortable as I could with this little makeshift cozy seat. The irony is that I was taking the GI (gastrointestinal) exam, so that gave my Zoom study group a good laugh."
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"Every time in quarantine when I'm doing my laundry, I can't get myself to fold it. For some reason, I feel like it's an overload in the sense of how much we have to do. I thought I would be fine with the little tasks, but they have been extremely difficult."
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"This is a sunset in Wildwood. When the pandemic first started, I was so afraid to go outside. But I feel like I’ve really developed an appreciation for nature and any opportunity to enjoy being outdoors."
