How the Pandemic Gave People a Chance to be Extraordinary
In March 2020, the majority of the world went into a lockdown or quarantine. At this time, people were restricted to their homes and short trips to essential businesses. The world shifted in a way that no one could have predicted. This time also gave many people the opportunity to slow down and take more time for themselves. From learning to bake, painting, and more, people worldwide developed new hobbies and learned new lessons that they may not have explored without their time in lockdown. Below is the story of three of those people who found new hobby and a worldwide map of all the lessons learned from those across the world.
The Artist in Lockdown
Camrynne Karr, a senior at Arizona State University, spent majority of her lockdown in her college apartment. Much like every other college student, she spent her time learning how to navigate “Zoom University” and discovering new ways to keep herself busy during her downtime. Karr always had an interest and passion for painting and creating art, but it wasn’t until she needed to find a way to lessen her screen time that she started painting almost every night. She began investing in more art supplies and painting for her family and friends. Now, Karr paints almost everyday as she continues to pursue this new hobby that carried her through quarantine.
Neighborhood of the Traveling Rocks
When it was finally warm enough to walk outside in Illinois in mid April, during lockdown, Lorie Calta decided to take a walk at the local forest preserve. Upon her walk she found a rock that was different from all the rest. The rock was painted and on the back it had the words, “Post a picture to Face Book Lake County IL Rocks group either hide or keep the rock”. It was then that Calta found a new hobby that not only brought her joy, but brought together an entire community during an isolating time. After finding the rock, she decided to join the Facebook group and re-hide it.
“The rock I found and re-hid was found and hid again. I thought it was such a great idea that I started painting my own rocks to hide so I could see how far they traveled.” Calta said.
To Calta and the community, these rocks are more than just a simple painting. Most include messages that are themed and are relevant to each painter’s life. For Calta, she has painted rocks with various meanings.
“I have painted rocks of flowers in my garden, rocks with positive phrases, patriotic rocks, BLM rocks, Kindness rocks, camping rocks, birthday rocks, Pet rocks like a hedgehog, and my newest graduation rocks!” Calta said.
Being able to share this hobby with others is something that Calta truly appreciates.
“I think it has brought the community together on a social platform where we were lacking the group contact due to COVID. People are able to share their rock stories,” Calta said. “I have seen some very talented rock artists give hints on where they are dropping rocks for a cause. Yet, I have seen blob painted rocks by children that when found bring just as much excitement.”
Since she started her hobby of rock painting, she has joined three different rock groups.
“This means they liked my rock enough to join the group. My rock was an inspiration for them and hopefully they will do the same.” Calta said. “Make rocks and spread the joy.”
Aspiring Movie Director takes Youtube by Storm
After graduating from film school one month before the pandemic hit, an aspiring movie director based in LA decided to create videos but for a different platform. Taylor Roberts siezed the opportunity to spend his time crafting his new found hobby, Youtube. While video production and content producing was always a passion of his, entering the Youtube platform was a way that Roberts could nurture his craft and keep himself busy throughout quarantine.
“Because of quarantine, I couldn’t be on sets so I had alot of creative energy built up and needed to put it somewhere. I decided I am going to make a youtube channel and stick with it,” Roberts said. “I kept making videos because it allowed me to release that creative energy.”
Roberts posted his first reaction video when his favorite artist, The Weeknd, released his After Hours. This video gained attention and Roberts saw his channel take off. Since then, he has found the most success by shifting from Hip-Hop and R&B to reacting to pop music artists.
Roberts began finding even more momentum with his channel through deep-dive album reactions which resulted in transforming his channel name from Taylor Roberts to OTDE (Off The Deep End)
While Roberts enjoys making videos, his motivation to continue his channel past quarantine is how his fans and subcribers from all over the world have recieved his content.
“The best part about what I do is hearing how my videos have helped people through quarantine. I have had numerous people tell me they watch my videos because they feel like they are hanging out with a friend and talking about music.” Roberts said. “A teacher from Argentina even told me she was using my videos to help her students learn english. The worldwide impact has been the best part.”
