Meet Rebecca Volpe (she/her), currently a patient care tech in an ICU at a local hospital - soon to be ICU nurse. Rebecca is amongst a class being allowed to take their finals and graduate early to work on the front lines of this pandemic. “It’s my calling, I’m grateful to work on the front lines during this pandemic.” In our hour speaking together, she helped me gain insight on not only what it’s like day to day in a hospital during the novel Coronavirus, but what it’s like unwinding from that at the end of the day and shedding light on human struggle, even though she’s considered a hero in our book at this trying time. “I’ve really struggled with letting go of the expectations I had for this time. I had such a clear vision of how these few months would go and I'm grieving the loss of those dreams due to the pandemic… It's interesting being thanked for the work that I do- when to me it was never a choice.” When most of us are asleep, nurses like Rebecca are helping fight COVID-19 amongst other illnesses in the ICU. She’s there to listen, laugh, heal other people while still having their own lives and cares outside the walls of a hospital. “Normally I maintain a very precarious balance between working full-time on nightshift and going to school full-time during the day. At work things are busier, but for school I'm no longer going to class or clinical. I miss seeing my friends at the gym, Metabolic Green Island. Going there was the anchor to my days, it kept my week structured.” To say perseverance is there is an understatement. “This pandemic is teaching me that even if there is chaos all around me, I can still thrive. For a long time I believed if I could just be perfect, nothing "bad" would happen to me. I think trying to be perfect gives me a sense of control. However, this "control" through perfection is an illusion- I can only do the best I can with the circumstances surrounding me. This virus has shown me how truly precious my good health is. I've also noticed, I no longer send calls to voicemail- I look forward to hearing someone's voice on the other end of the line.” The appreciation for human connection, human life is something we all need to be more aware of. After all, this project is more than something to fill my time. This project is to create a sense of gratitude and community from all walks of life - documenting real people processing this historic time in history. Rebecca leaves us with this heart warming message that “The glorification of busy is embedded in our culture, I hope people can honor this time to slow down. I encourage everyone to meet themselves where they are right now- mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Holding on to what could have/should have been will only fester anger and resentment.” Thank you Rebecca for all you do, you’re an essential part of society - COVID-19 or not.
// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Ms. Volpe and not reflective of her employer or Faiella Studios.