Journal Five from Maci

Image of what the Coronavirus looks like microscopically 

     The Coronavirus has given me many challenges these past couple of weeks that I have had to work through to overcome. My biggest challenge takes part at my place of work. I work at a Dollar General, and at my location we have customers who use our store as their grocery store. The stress that the virus has put on everyone, I’m sure as you’ve seen, has caused people to panic stock. So at my stores location we have ran out of items such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, antibacterial soap, and many other things as well. Our shelves have become more and more bare and the customers that have not stocked up items and have tried to shop just for their regular needs are unable to get adequate items. In these uneasy time people tend to get aggressive, and they take it out on the workers such as myself. I understand why some people are upset, not being able to get a loaf of bread to make sandwiches, but there’s nothing I can do to help them. I don't like the feeling of not being able to help my customers. Dollar General is also considered an essential place of work, so I will continue to work while being on the quarantine. This is a challenge for me because I fear of contracting the virus not for myself, but I do not want to bring it home to my mother who has many underlining health issues. Through all of this the Coronavirus has given me opportunities to try and help people as much as I can in this time of need, as well as giving me a chance to spend time with my mother since she is off work. I don't get to see her very often because of my school and work, but now that school is online due to the virus I am able to see her more.

Firefighter on duty 

The story that stood out to me most so far in the theme of adaptation within Callings, is Dekalb Walcott Jr’s story. Dekalb came from generations of being poor and without good education. Dekalb changed that by setting goals and shooting for the stars to make a life for him and his future family. He attended college and ended up becoming a firefighter, “it provided an opportunity for me—and my family—to move up in society” (Callings 56). By wanting more than what his family had wanted in the past, he was able to overcome the poverty his ancestors had faced for many years and change his life forever. I like this story because it shows if you really have a dream that there are things you can do to achieve it- it is not impossible. By setting off on a new path, Dekalb dug a rode for his new family to follow, which his son did. His son envied him and wanted to become a firefighter just like him. Dekalb was able to give his son inspiration to have a good life and was able to help him achieve it. This story is very important in the theme of adaptation, because Dekalb took the struggles that his ancestors had for many years and turned them into an opportunity to make a new life for himself.