My Pandemic Story

During Covid, I enrolled in a photography class and began documenting life in the midst of the pandemic. Over six weeks, my camera captured the story of how the coronavirus changed my family forever.

These photographs moved through the tragedy of my life and shaped the trajectory of my future. They revealed loss and grief, but also resilience, strength, and the unexpected beauty of people coming together after tragedy.

Although I cannot share many of these images, their meaning lives in me. I hope that by sharing this chapter of my journey, others are reminded to be mindful, compassionate, and present.

In 2023, my reflections on this time were published in Chronicling a Crisis: SUNY Oneonta’s Pandemic Diaries (JSTOR / SUNY Press), preserving my story as part of the collective history of the pandemic.

They are the backbone of my life, the foundation I return to in both strength and sorrow. Through their loss I discovered a deeper sense of connection to my family, to my roots, and to the values they instilled in me. Their memory teaches me that even in grief there is an opportunity to grow closer to others, to honor the past, and to carry forward the lessons of resilience, kindness, and unity.

All of my work moving forward is dedicated to my beautiful great-grandparents. Your lives and your loss shaped me. Your ending became my beginning. Today I live for you, carrying your spirit in everything I create.

Where I Am Today

The pandemic reshaped not only my personal life but also my creative vision. What began as a class assignment evolved into a lifelong commitment to storytelling through images, words, and digital expression.

I now carry the lessons of resilience, compassion, and authenticity into every project I take on. Whether it is creating visual stories, crafting digital experiences, or amplifying voices that deserve to be heard, my work is rooted in the values my family passed on to me: connection, care, and the belief that even in the hardest times, beauty and unity can be found.

This chapter of my life is not an ending but a beginning, one that informs everything I build moving forward.