The Pandemic as Teaching Tool

Taylor Wilcox is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee taking 18 credits, performing lab research on campus, and working at Froedtert Health. Wilcox is 20 years old and grew up in Campbellsport, Wis. She is working toward her undergraduate Biochemistry degree and hopes to become a thoracic surgeon.

Q-Micaela Luehring: What has been the hardest thing to deal with living through this pandemic?

A-Taylor Wilcox: The hardest thing is trying to learn biochemistry online. That is something we have to be very adaptive to as students with the pandemic in general, with working at the hospital, having to put gowns on each time I walk into a new room. And just seeing patients who wouldn’t otherwise be sick with severe etiologies and respiratory distress.

Q: Is there anything you’re afraid of with this pandemic?

A: Not necessarily. I think that as we are getting a vaccine it is still really important to be careful and be aware of how we are composing ourselves during this active pandemic. I think it’s very hard because a lot of us haven’t lived through this, so now that we have a vaccine, we think that we can run free. My personal fear is jumping the gun a little too soon and then having to deal with the repercussions of that.

Q: Do you think (as a biochemistry major) have you learned from the pandemic in classes? To then apply to your major with the chemistry and biology integrated?

A: The biochemistry degree is very integrative with what’s going on with the pandemic. So, global diseases and we can apply that to virology, which has both biological and chemistry components to it.

Q: After the pandemic is over, how do you think your life, your friends’ life, your family’s life will be different?

A: I think that we will all be a little more aware and not take the little things for granted. We will also be more aware for the people around us. As we see, such a little thing can turn into a huge thing and effect others around us and other we love so greatly.

Q: Do you think there is any little thing each individual can do to help this pandemic to end quicker?

A: Just like wearing a seatbelt in a car, doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to be saved from that seatbelt. This is just a little precaution that we’ve seen studies show that if you wear a seatbelt, the more likely you will be able to make it through an accident. Same with the masks and hand sanitizers, these little things should continue because COVID isn’t the first virus or pandemic and it sure isn’t the last.