For my Oral History Extension, I chose to interview my mother once again. Since I was living at home during the time of the interview, it was pretty easy to conduct and we were easily able to come back to the topic throughout my time there. As with the original oral history project, my mother was a bit hesitant and unsure on what to talk about. However, she was eventually able to share with me some of the darker moments of her life and how she moved past them. She continues to shine in my eyes as one of the strongest people I know. To be honest, she is scared in the times of COVID-19 much like many others. My mother is quite an emotional individual, just like me. She’ll worry and cry and worry again on repeat. Her emotions are especially amplified right now. Yet, her fears are for her family, who she still wishes to fiercely protect in these times. Throughout our interview, she reminded me that it's ok to feel scared, unsafe or vulnerable. It’s normal. Just remember to keep pushing forward for the people you care about and who care about you.
Overall, I’m grateful to the project to hear, not just the perspective of my own mother, but the perspective of all the EP’s involved in the class. In 2020, our generation has started to go through crises we were never prepared for and likely never thought we had to be prepared for. Continuing on through 2020, the world is likely to change from what we have known and we will continue to have to deal with unexpected events in our lives. However, as many of the EP’s echoed in their statements, there is life past this. We can persevere and we can move forward although it may be difficult. It was very insightful to hear how each individual coped with their crisis during and after it happened. As each day is plagued with confusion and anxiety on how the future may unfold, I’m glad to be reminded by the oral history stories that we are not in this alone. Listening to the stories only made me further appreciate my supportive networks.
Overall, I’m grateful to the project to hear, not just the perspective of my own mother, but the perspective of all the EP’s involved in the class. In 2020, our generation has started to go through crises we were never prepared for and likely never thought we had to be prepared for. Continuing on through 2020, the world is likely to change from what we have known and we will continue to have to deal with unexpected events in our lives. However, as many of the EP’s echoed in their statements, there is life past this. We can persevere and we can move forward although it may be difficult. It was very insightful to hear how each individual coped with their crisis during and after it happened. As each day is plagued with confusion and anxiety on how the future may unfold, I’m glad to be reminded by the oral history stories that we are not in this alone. Listening to the stories only made me further appreciate my supportive networks.