My Senior Ventures project focuses on my personal COVID-19 experience in China since late January.
My initial Senior Ventures project was to work with David Cao to develop a machine learning program focused on pediatric sepsis, but the project was aborted. I did learn a great deal during the first semester from researching the topic. I also developed and provided lessons for students in grades 2-5 focused on the Hour of Code and using Sphero robots. Then, I went home in January to celebrate the Chinese New Year with my family, and I was not able to return to Darlington for the Spring semester. I decided to focus on my personal experience with the pandemic in my country.
The pandemic thwarted my plans of returning to Darlington, and I kicked off distance learning early. I experienced COVID-19 since the initial break out in China. The months I have spent in isolation are unforgettable memories that will effect my life. I wanted to change my project so I could focus on documenting this unprecedented event taking place around the worId. I created a documentary and timeline to share my personal experiences. I recorded what I saw, what I felt, and what I learned from this experience.
I realized the severity of COVID-19 two days after I returned home. My mom read the news that a person that tested positive for COVID-19 had been to the same mall where we had been shopping. At that time, nobody knew that the virus could have a fourteen-day incubation period. My mom and I did not have symptoms so we were relieved. The virus kept rolling on, and the people lived in the fear of the unknown. Instead of being plagued by panic, I decided to record interesting moments of my life: a unique Spring Festival, an empty subway, a new reality show, a city literally paused. Some of my own stress was relieved by paying close attention to this unique experience.
I had to rely on mentors in my home during this time. My aunt is a kindergarten teacher, and we soon learned the schools would not open again until late May. We had a lot of time to hang out together, and she taught me how to cook and brought me to places where I collected my footage. My cousin helped me design the video and she taught me how to use Adobe Premiere.
I hope you enjoy the video and timeline provided in this blog about my COVID-19 experience.