“This one is a bit specific, but I remember whipped (Dalgona) coffee really vividly. The first time I made it, I was sitting at the island in my apartment on campus a few days after NSU announced we’d be moving online but before I had gone back home to finish out the semester virtually. My friend had been watching a lot of TikTok videos since we didn’t have classes, and we wanted to see if it would work. I was on a video call with my family trying to figure out how to navigate these ‘unprecedented’ events, whipping up some instant coffee, water and sugar by hand in my kitchen — and I didn’t really even like the result that much, given how long it took to make. Looking back, the whole atmosphere of those first few weeks of lockdowns seems so strange, but at the same time, it felt like we were in it together: from whipping up coffee and testing other trends to trying to find any other way to make a new normal for ourselves,” said Madelyn Rinka, co-editor-in-chief.
“A part of me is cringing internally, admitting that this is the most memorable thing from quarantine, but TikTok has really become such a big part of my life. I am usually the last one on a trend and very rarely do I jump on new social media trends, but TikTok really held on for some reason. I don’t post dance videos or even make any content. My account on the app is primarily to like things on my For Your Page (FYP) and to send funny or relatable videos to my friends and family. The algorithm for the FYP is insanely predictable and it finds a lot of the content that I’m interested in and with very little mistakes. My favorite aspect of it is the customization of it. By engaging with your FYP page through liking and interacting with the videos, you can tailor and modify the content that you want to see. I’ve been able to focus content towards mental health and self-care tips and daily affirmations. It’s such a nice and encouraging app for me to open up at the end of the day when I’m feeling down or in the morning when I’m reluctant to start the day,” said Christina McLaughlin, co-editor-in-chief.
“While it’s been just a year, the early days of lockdowns seem so distant to me, like if it were years ago rather than just last year. Yet, what I remember most is the creativity that flourished with everyone’s newly freed time. I remember seeing TikToks and videos of people creating socially distant games, redecorating their spaces and even taking up new creative hobbies, like painting, crocheting and rug making. I think, to this day, people are using their extra time to get creative and explore their creativity. As a creative individual myself, I’ve truly loved seeing all the art and beauty that has come out of such an unprecedented global experience,” said Flor Ana Mireles, copy editor.
“Walks! At first, everyone started walking more to get some fresh air instead of being locked inside all day, but man, am I glad that I have made more of a habit out of it. The fresh air is fantastic. Not to mention, the minimal effort required. I am so happy to still be able to go on these daily walks while my family at home is currently locked in due to the non-stop snow. Walking with friends, walking alone, no destination in mind, just walking. It’s great,” said Rick Esner, news editor.
“It’s been an entire year, and I have yet to be able to fully convince my brain that March was not last month. That said, I think coming up on the year mark really brings a lot into perspective. Like pretty much everyone, I had a boredom driven spurt of inspiration to have a “quarantine glow up” and started working out pretty routinely with my sister. What started as something I did out of pure and absolute boredom has grown into a habit that I am truly grateful for. Working out has become a really positive staple in my life, and I’m so thankful for the time quarantine gave me to stop and focus on me,” said Emma Heineman, features editor.
“I miss playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons with my friends. It was a game that, as a fan of both farming-simulator-esque games and the Animal Crossing franchise, I had waited years for. It came at both the perfect and most terrible moment, but it was a great way to stay connected and play games with friends who I couldn’t see in person. It gave me a way to distract myself from all of the doom and gloom that so many of us have, unfortunately, learned to deal with now. I remember the first few weeks of lockdown being the most stressed and scared I ever remember being, but having a sweet little game about friendship and new beginnings was the perfect remedy to that. I still play the game on a weekly basis, but lots of my friends have stopped playing entirely. I miss exploring each others’ islands and sending each other mail,” said Sofia Gallus, arts & entertainment editor.
“Charcuterie boards! I am no stranger to a nice meat and cheese platter. I’m most familiar with them around the holidays, but this mass appreciation of the art that is charcuterie boards in the middle of a random April was just too good to resist. I personally love the ‘phone eats first’ trend where people simply just take a picture of their delectable meals and post them before they chow down. High definition photos of prosciutto, salami, various cheeses, crackers and fruit is just the type of content I sign into social media for. Whether your charcuterie board is merely Ritz crackers and a string cheese, share it — someone is bound to enjoy it,” said Siena Berardi, sports editor.
“This may sound a little out there, but I miss the concept of time. Like actual time. Only leaving my house three days a week has really messed up my sense of time. Most days, I only remember what day of the week it is and vaguely what month we are in. Do not even try to get the actual date from me. Half of the time, I barely remember that it is 2021; this really just feels like 2020 part two electric boogaloo. Now, it is just filling in the passing time with memes from the putrid cesspool that is Tumblr and mindlessly scrolling through TikTok,” said Alexander Martinie, opinions editor.
