Not Another Virtual Event...
I have to say, the idea of an online conference sounds a lot less fun than the in-person version. When I heard about the opportunity of presenting my research at the 55th Annual Conference from the National Collegiate Honors Council, I was beyond excited about the new experience. I imagined myself traveling to Dallas to present in front of a big audience, answering questions about my poster and networking with other honors students. Mind you, this was before the COVID-19 pandemic. You can imagine how bummed I was when reading the announcement that the conference would be held virtually. Instead of traveling to Dallas, I would join a Zoom call. Instead of feeling excited about speaking in public, and anxious about possibly messing up the scientific name of a bacteria, I would be hearing my pre-recorded voice speak about the bacterial diversity of East River. On the brighter side, this is just a conference, and it is still happening, albeit virtually. Now, as I finish recording the audio for my presentation, I can’t help but reflect on how much every single aspect of our lives has changed as we try to adapt to the new reality, and do what is necessary to prevent the further spread of this virus. I wonder how the new normal will look like.
About the Author:
Veronica Martinez Castro is a Freshman at LaGCC currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Science. This is her last semester at LaGuardia, after which she will transfer to a senior college to pursue a bachelor's degree in Ecology.