To Fly or Not to Fly, That is the Question

To Fly or Not to Fly, That is the Question

By Christy Kim

“Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for take off.” These mandatory instructions blared on the speakers during my cross continental flight from Chicago to Turkey. This was my first flight experience since the strike of COVID-19. There have been drastic effects on the reality of travel as we know it. From mask mandates to added security procedures, I quickly realized that traveling in this COVID era is uncomfortable and dystopian.

I do not want to take travel lightly. Peaceful terminal breaks, whimsical glances with mysterious strangers, and every other travel comfort is no longer. One must only brave travel if absolutely necessary.

My first obstacle in my travel experiences was wearing a mask for an extended period of time. My parents hammered in the idea of taking as many precautions as possible. I wore my face shield and double masks, armed carefully for the dangers I might face. I saw the walls of plexiglass as I approached the check-in desk. The flight attendants remained a safe distance away. After receiving my boarding passes and checking my baggage, I went through security.

This consisted of removing my hand carry items and shoes. I placed them in the ever-familiar plastic bins, and walked through the security sensors. Then, I removed my mask for identification purposes, which only occurred once. Finally, I anxiously waited at my terminal to board my 10-hour flight to Turkey.

My in-flight experience quickly upended every other physical discomfort I have faced. I pressed against the leather upholstery airplane seats. My nasal and mouth airways got blocked by my two masks. Any attempt to go to the bathroom was similar to the way that doctors prep for surgery. I had thoroughly wash my hands as well as sanitizethe toilet seat and the door handles.

The seating itself was the only convenient factor as Turkish Airlines, the airline I flew with, made sure to separate its passengers with a seat in between each individual. The food and beverage cart cycles were few to none. Flight attendants tried to avoid contact with the passengers. I did not have as many in-flight entertainment options, as movie releases have been slim to none.

Once I landed in Turkey, I had to go through another round of security. I marked down my potential COVID symptoms and took my temperature before exiting. The look of excitement of my parents on the other side of the exit glass doors was my only saving grace.

My final take away from everything I experienced is that the comforts of flying and “getting away” that I once knew of are no longer. Instead of gazing blissfully out of airplane windows, there are plexiglass dividers of all kinds. Traveling is a serious matter as COVID is not a joke. Cases are rising and ignorant people will fall victim to this deadly virus.

Only those who must, should, fly in the skies. Otherwise, the safety of the ground is one to cling to in these uncertain times.

Homeschooler in the Real World

Emma Folts, a sophomore at Wheaton College, shares her experience about her transition into college and how homeschool has both helped and hindered her.
How has your homeschool experience benefitted you, especially in your transition into college?
I think the one thing that homeschooling did that was really helpful as I entered college was that it taught me time management. As a homeschooler I had the same freedom as a college student has to put things off during the day and go see a friend instead. Since I had that experience, I knew the cost of that.
Also, personal responsibility and accountability with assignments. I feel like a lot of the other students had more expectations for gentler grading and that the professor would give them retakes or extensions, but that wasn’t something that ever happened to me in school. That learning curve wasn’t added because I never had it the other way. I think another thing was that because I was homeschooled, I was familiar with the format of teaching and then studying on my own.
Did you see any issues with your transition socially?
I think that homeschooling had two ramifications for me socially. One was helpful, one was hurtful.
It was really helpful because as a homeschooler, I had spent a lot of time realizing and developing who I was as a person and learning to recognize people who were being themselves, and those were the people I sought out as friends. Friendship as a homeschooler takes a lot more investment. I knew I was choosier with my friends which made me a lot less anxious and a lot more content.
The only real negative impact of the social bit was that I was really used to getting to choose the time I got to spend with people. As a homeschooler I spent a lot of time with people, but that time was controlled by me. As a college student, I found that you can’t really control the time you spend with people and alone time is not really available. Learning to deal with that was a lot harder than anticipated.
Any last comments on homeschool and how it has affected your college experience?
I think homeschooling is really helpful, however it does take a slightly increased amount of advocacy with your peers when you’re entering into college. I think a lot of people come in with certain assumptions about homeschool, especially students. You’re going to get a lot of, ‘oh my gosh, you don’t seem like a homeschooled person!’ [You can’t] take that too personally and explain your experience so that friends can understand it’s an important piece of you, though it might not look like the homeschooling that they’ve seen.
My encouragement to anyone who is a homeschooler transitioning into college is to realize the benefit that you have having been homeschooled, and to realize that the bit of advocacy and explaining that you need to do with your peers is totally normal and that it’s not a big deal. Once they understand your experience, it’s not something I’ve experienced being looked down on for.