How Did I Cope with the Pandemic?

When the pandemic started, I was not anxious, stressed, or depressed. Rather, I was somewhat relieved. Senior year was shaping up to be an incredibly busy time, and even after getting into Duke ED it felt like second semester was dragging, with no point in going to school or putting effort into my extracurriculars. Quarantine sort of gave me the break that I had long desired, and I took full advantage of that. However, I quickly became extremely bored at home.

Unlike most of Gen Z during the pandemic, I did not turn to binge watching my favorite Netflix classics, get hooked into Tiger King, or endulge in an entire series of movies. I have never been a big movie person; I tend not to seek emotional rollercoasters or unpredictable storylines when I attempt to relax. I like to be in control of my story, not let the story control me.

Therefore, video games became my go-to quarantine relaxation activity. Minecraft had seen a resurgence on YouTube earlier in 2018/2019, which pushed many players, myself included, back into the game. The sandbox nature of Minecraft sort of provided me with an alternate reality that I could explore, build, and collaborate within. My IRL (in real life) friends bonded very closely over Minecraft as quarantine had separated us from our normal activities. Additionally, a lot of my online friends from many years ago also returned to the game, and I spent a lot of time reflecting over the nostalgia that this game brought us. This was a game that brought me comfort during some of the most challenging times of my childhood, and it definitely brought me comfort during the uncertainty of the pandemic.


Comments

  1. Derek DeliberatesFebruary 4, 2021 at 10:25 AM

    Hi Edison! I'm so intrigued by the fact that you didn't turn to binge-watching during the pandemic– I personally binged through almost every Netflix original series over quarantine. I find it touching how video games have increasingly connected us virtually: as an avid Animal Crossing player, I would visit my friend's islands while we facetimed each other, and it was a really fulfilling and wholesome experience. That being said, I'm fascinated by how the video game industry is evolving to accommodate these virtual gaps, what with all this new virtual reality technology and artificial intelligence— I'm excited to see where it all goes.

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  2. Lisa AndresFebruary 12, 2021 at 9:47 AM

    I'm curious as to what you mean by the "sandbox nature" of Minecraft, Edison. I'll admit, I know *nothing* about Minecraft, so please forgive my ignorance! :)
    It sounds like it has something to do with the control element you mentioned? I like the point you made about your preference to be in control of the story, rather than let the story control you...how does that play into Minecraft?

    [Teasing out these details can add specificity and detail to your posts, resulting in stronger writing! Remember to engage with your readers, too!]

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    Replies
    1. Edison OoiFebruary 25, 2021 at 11:17 AM

      The "sandbox nature" refers to how there is no objective or storyline of Minecraft. You are essentially placed in a world where you can create, explore, or harvest anything you want, so in theory Minecraft is whatever game you want it to be!

      Delete
  3. Katy TurnerApril 4, 2021 at 7:33 PM

    I have to admit, I never played Minecraft as a kid. I did however start playing it over break because all my friends started playing it! I'm really terrible, but I can totally see the appeal its really fun. I can totally see what you mean about the beginning of the pandemic, I was totally excited for a break from schoolwork, but I was also really sad to not see my friends everyday anymore, and I was really sad about everything we missed as seniors.

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