A Toast to You

The Corona Times – April 14, 2020

by Beth Ellis

Beth Ellis is a Communication and Humanities Instructor at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine. She shares her thoughts of teaching online during the COVID-19 crisis.

Beth Ellis’ lecture area

Early in the morning, in the comfort of our living room, my husband William and I drink coffee and watch the sun rise, in contrast to us beginning the day communing with our colleagues – mine at Mayland Community College and William’s at Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge. I state how much my life as an instructor transformed after March 13.  Kind of ironic, isn’t it, that the last day my students and I met, in our physical classroom, was Friday the 13? And, all of us knowing the likelihood of assembling together again in Room G204, as a learning team of 20, was very small, to protect against COVID-19?

Monday, March 16 was the last day I drove to Mayland. There were, as predicted, no students. It was good medicine to fellowship with other faculty, staff . . . work family, albeit from a 6-foot distance. The exchanges were brief, as we needed to contact our students, to make sure they had strong enough internet access at home to complete their studies remotely. We also needed to be mindful of what to transport from our campus to home offices.  Walking through the building to the parking lot that evening was bittersweet. So quiet. Empty classrooms, hallways, lounge areas. My prayer was, and is, for students to remain safe and well at home.

Today happens to be Monday, April 13. A month later. After William finishes his coffee, he walks to the kitchen table, to begin work via his laptop. I pour a second cup and retreat to my office, situated, of all places, in my closet. When we built our home, I asked for a window here, not for much reason outside inviting more natural light. Now, in addition to clothes, this space contains a folding table and comfortable stool – computer, files, legal pads, books, spot for my coffee, or tea later. The window has transformed into a channel, offering repose from the glowing screen, allowing me to witness the colors of spring, the clouds moving at a fast clip across the sky, and Rainer Dog playing in the grass, wrestling an old towel.

In the past few weeks, my students and I have been communicating completely over wires, fiber, and airwaves. There is a proverbial “tension of opposites” with this technology – cold and distant in and of itself, but offering so much opportunity for connection: countless emails, discussion posts, reflections, formal papers . . . affirming statements, constructive feedback, and encouragement. Some students embrace learning from a distance, journeying into deeper levels of reflection and alone time . . . others struggle, for multitudes of reasons, whether they be difficulties tapping into good enough internet service, putting in more job hours due to parents’ being laid off . . . not being able to enjoy special events like graduation.

“Even though certain circumstances have ripped away a lot from us in these few short months, we’ve made it. Courageous. Steadfast. Hopeful. Here’s to our class of 2020,” states one of my students. Seated in my closet office, with the late morning light shining through the window, I have the honor of watching, listening to, and grading my public speaking students’ celebratory toast videos.  My students – dressed business casual to formal, some with beautiful place settings arranged on a kitchen table, some standing behind a makeshift podium, all holding a nice glass, mason jar, or water bottle, convey with conviction words of joy, thanksgiving, resilience. I miss my students. I am so proud of them.

A toast . . . to all students, teachers, family, friends, community.

“i carry your heart with me(i carry it in. my heart)”
– e.e. cummings

“Life’s what you make it. Always has been, always will be.”
Eleanor Roosevelt, Grandma Moses

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalph, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings

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About the Numbers

You will note a series of numbers contained in the blog. They document the spread of virus through confirmed cases by the federal Centers for Disease Control and by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. These are the official totals provided by state and local government at the date of the post and do not include estimates or cases not confirmed by these agencies. This is our effort to provide an accurate gauge of confirmed virus spread as it continues during the pandemic.