The year 2020 was no doubt one of the strangest years we have had in a long time. Ten years from now, most of us will probably look back on this year, remembering it as the year that changed the way the world operates, In this new reality, it is the simple human interaction that I miss the most; being able to pass someone in the grocery store and not subconsciously wonder if they are a walking germ or if I perhaps pose a greater threat to them. The shock of the pandemic has worn off, and in a strange way, wearing a mask feels more normal now than not wearing one. When I was offered a position as a graduate assistant for BEACON in January 2020, I had no idea that I’d be doing the position remotely. Prior to the pandemic, I was looking forward to having an “in-office” experience where I could build organic relationships with my colleagues and sit in on client meetings. It goes without saying that that is not exactly how this year has panned out. From the day I started in August to now, BEACON has been completely online. It was a little tough at first to learn a new position via Zoom meetings and instructional emails. Due to the complex nature of BEACON, there were (and still are) many acronyms and job-specific terminology that have taken time to learn. Also, since the majority of our work is done for external project sponsors, there is pressure to ensure everything is done with extreme precision and excellence in order to deliver top-quality work. After working for BEACON for about five months now, I feel much more adjusted to the position. My colleagues have worked hard to help me feel welcome and to acclimate to my new position. Zoom meetings have become the new “normal.” It no longer feels weird to see my own face on the computer screen during meetings. The BEACON team has done a great job at keeping our internal meetings friendly and interesting, and, although online, I feel that I have been able to get to know everyone on a personal level. Every Tuesday we have a Project Status Meeting where we update one another on project progress via Zoom. As a way of making the meetings more engaging and fun, our director, Dr. Memo Diriker, has insisted that we compete in various “challenges.” For example, a month ago, we had a crazy hat competition. |
