These last five months, since March, have been very challenging for me since I came back to Spain right after the government had declared the state of alarm in the whole country. This meant we were completely locked down in our houses, with police in the streets and only allowed to go out to buy food. It was shocking.
I got along well with this situation mainly the first three weeks because I had so much to study that I did not miss much going outside. Also being at home, back with my parents was very relaxing as we found things to do together in the study breaks, such as chilling on the sofa and walking in the hallway with my mum. One of the most relevant things from this at-home period was the daily meetings we had at 8 p.m. with our community. From our window or balcony, all the neighbors clapped for all the essential workers, especially the health care workers, at the pace of the song "Resistiré". This simple act, performed in many countries around the world, gave sense to the sacrifice of not going out. It was the only time of day I saw other people but my mum and my dad.
At the end of April, the government allowed people to go out one hour a day maximum at different times in the day so kids, adults and the elderly did not run into each other. The first day I could go for a run was the happiest one from the lockdown period because not being able to exercise outside was a hardship.
In mid-May, the state of alarm ended, and the reactivation of the market began with many restrictions, such as limited capacity in the stores and supermarkets, mandatory hand sanitizer and face mask use in the entrance. At this moment, we could gather in small groups, no more than five people, keeping the social distance. Meeting my friends face to face was even an awkward situation, as we were walking in the street so far apart that we could not even listen to each other.
During this time, I avoided as much as I could to watch the news as they brought my mood down, but talking to my friends from U.S. showed me how important the Black movement was and how unfair the system still is. I believe education is the strongest tool against these injustices and I support all the people who suffer or have suffered from this discrimination on a daily basis. Sending all my love and support to all of you and I cannot wait to come back to be with my TOPS!!
GO TOPS!!
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My Story: Women's Basketball's Sandra Skinner (March 26)
My Story: Men's Basketball's Taveion Hollingsworth (April 1)
My Story: Baseball's Ray Zuberer III (April 8)
My Story: Women's Golf's Mary Joiner (April 15)
My Story: Softball's Morgan McElroy (April 22)
My Story: Cross Country's Dedrick Troxell (April 29)
My Story: Women's Basketball's Whitney Creech (May 6)
My Story: Baseball's Kevin Lambert (May 13)
My Story: Football's Malik Staples (May 20)
My Story: Men's Basketball's Kenny Cooper (May 27)
My Story: Track and Field's Adarian Gray (June 3)
My Story: Women's Basketball's Sherry Porter (June 10)
My Story: Volleyball's Nadia Dieudonne (June 17)
My Story: Football's Juwuan Jones (June 24)
My Story: Soccer's Ashley Leonard (July 1)
My Story: Men's Golf's Tom Bevington (July 8)
My Story: Men's Basketball's Jordan Rawls (July 15)
My Story: Volleyball's Lauren Matthews (July 22)
