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Item description
A black pen and gray marker drawing on a lined sheet of paper of a person on the left with glasses and a long ponytail working at a computer desk to the right. The person is melting down the page, becoming shorter than the desk they are working at.
Image 1970

The Covid College Student

Kathleen Barkow

he piece I entitled "covid feelings" was done as a project for my Drawing one class spring 2021. I used colored pencils and ink. During covid I felt like I had to be this super-hero protecting my son, parents, and my sister's family in regards to covid. I had to give alot of people instructions (for my sister suggestions) in terms of what are family should do about covid. I had to take charge and try to protect my world from getting invaded by covid. After losing my job due to covid layoffs I had to choose wither to go out into the world and find employment and risk bringing it home to my son who has autism or to my high-risk parents. I chose to ride it out with my son at home. In doing so I started drawing more and then I started doing lots of digital art as well, it helped me clear my mind. I rediscovered my passion for art. I then decided it was the right time to follow my passion and go back to school for art. I will be graduating from LCC this spring from LCC with an associate in Arts foundation. I then plan to transfer to MSU to go for my bachelors in fine art with a minor in graphic novel/comic book illustration.

The second piece called "the covid college student" I drew 3 weeks ago. I caught covid in October 2022. It finally got me, during my busiest semester too. I am taking 4 classes and working part time at the school. I was out two weeks with it. During those two weeks I could not afford to fall behind with my classes, I was determined to keep up. Every day I would crawl over to my computer, congested and tired. I felt like a drained mucus blob I would drag myself through my course work. I took me twice as long to complete it and I had to reread things many times. That covid brain fog is no joke. On top of keeping up with schoolwork I had to take care of my son. He was the one who gave me covid. There was not much giving me a break, especially being a single mom. Mom still has to be mom even when she has covid. I still have to be a dedicated college student, even though I had covid. I am happy to say I am back in school and back working after covid, but it was quite a struggle.