The coronavirus pandemic has affected millions of people across the globe, including college students. Schools and colleges have shifted classes online for the rest of the semester, graduation and other school activities have been cancelled and students’ academic plans have been affected. Many Tallahassee Community College students returned home, some students stayed in town, but all of them are doing their best to fulfill their academic requirements to finish out the semester despite the societal upheaval.
By Andrew Mollard | Student Submission
I have been stuck on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, putting my personal health on the line to provide for the residents of Tallahassee.
I am a cashier at Publix, one of the most important jobs to the people of America currently. For Spring Break, I went home to St. Petersburg to spend time with friends and family. I had to come back a couple days early to return to work, and I will remain in Tallahassee until all this blows over since I’m an essential person at my store.
The store has been jam-packed for the last few weeks, giving us no time to relax when we are on shift, just looking forward to that short 30-minute break. I have had to deal with all walks of people during this crisis. Some people have not been happy with how we are handling the situation and have come up with anything to complain about, saying I should be wearing a mask or gloves. We are provided hand sanitizer that I take advantage of all the time, and Publix recently changed its policy so its associates can now wear masks and gloves while at work.
We are now taking more safety measures to help protect our employees, including adding plexiglass walls between the cashiers and customers. We have been working non-stop for the last two weeks and most likely will continue that way since we are essential to the people of Tallahassee.
Andrew Mollard is a first-year TCC student from St. Petersburg, Fla.
How has this global pandemic affected your life as a TCC student / faculty member / staff member? We want to hear from you. Please send us your story: https://forms.gle/ea4z2LjBQho8FadW7
