Positive lessons learned from COVID-19

Workers at BYU-Hawaii's COVID-19 NOMA testing center prepare for students, staff and faculty to arrive for their weekly testing during the Spring and Summer of 2021.

Positive lessons learned

Students who got COVID-19 say the grew through their challenges BY MEGAN GAMIL

BYU–Hawaii students who tested positive with COVID-19 said there is a purpose for why this happened to them. They said their trials of faith were opportunities for them to grow. The pandemic also helped them realize how important relationships are in overcoming challenges in life, they said. Julius Such, a sophomore who is from the Philippines, said he thought COVID-19 was just exaggerated news to scare people and make business. “My wife and I got married two days before we came to Hawaii. Then I got COVID-19. I experienced all the symptoms. I had shortness of breath and it was scary. I have never been this sick before,” he explained. Such said he couldn’t sleep because he coughed a lot. Such said his experience taught him to be extra careful. “It taught me how much my wife loves me. She was more traumatized than I did when I was sick,” he added.

Such said his relationship with his wife grew especially when they had to quarantine separately. Such added, “I needed to take care of myself more because someone cares a lot about me.”

After contracting COVID-19, Jennifer Hachuela Levine, a senior studying hospitality and tourism management, said, “COVID-19 was threatening because I felt uncertain.”

Levine said she didn’t know what to do and where to go when the school encouraged them to go back to their home countries.

Levine said COVID-19 changed her perspective. “There will always be opportunities along the way,” Levine said, adding the pandemic was and will never be a hindrance to developing more skills and talents.

Christine Chuah, a senior from Malaysia studying social work, said when the pandemic started, the university administrators wanted students to go home or go to stay with family or friends. “My sister and I decided to stay with our friends in Utah because our borders in Malaysia were closed,” she explained.

Chuah said they stayed in Utah for two months and had to move again because the space wasn’t big enough for all of them.

However, Chuah said she thought COVID-19 was just the normal flu. “I never expected things would get this worse.”

Chuah said she tested positive for COVID-19 and is a witness to what the virus can do to the body.

“I realized that the pandemic was necessary to change me. I learned to appreciate the little things and treat my loved ones as if it’s my last day with them,” Chuah added. •

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THANKSGIVING IN HAWAII

NO COOKING REQUIRED

WHAT IT IS

Gain a deeper understanding of the best places to go for Thanksgiving dinner on Oahu.

WHERE

All the way from Honolulu to the North Shore of Hawaii.

TOP 2 RESTAURANTS

Duke ' s at Waikiki hosts an annual Thanksgiving buffet.

The buffet contains all of your Thanksgiving essentials. Malia Blackmun says "Going to the buffet with my family is a tradition we ' ve had for a couple year now. " Her favorite is the oven roasted veggies with creamy gravy.

Lei Lei' s Bar and Grill at Turtle Bay offers a take out traditional meal that can be enjoyed picnic style.

Customers can pick up their meal and sit on the grass. Becca Hammond says "For me, eating in nature brings a whole other element to a great

Thanksgiving meal. " Her favorite is the garlic mash potatoes.

WHAT ELSE?

Other places to enjoy the holiday are the LDS church singles ward in Laie, The Sunset Christian Surfer Church, and Salvation Army. These places are a way to bond with the community. Caroline Santos, a member of Sunset Surfers, says "Community is everything to me, and being with them on my favorite holiday makes the holiday. "