Meet Sierra Bailey (she/her), student, staff at a local locked psychiatric unit, and a corpsman in the United States Navy. All while completing her dual masters degree program, she maintained a full time position overnight with the locked psychiatric unit mentioned above, and her Naval career. Sierra tells us currently the U.S Navy has activated her to post at the UAlbany COVID-19 testing site to “test hundreds of people each day using a nasal swab to obtain the sample to send to the labs.” This specific testing site Sierra tells us is considered a “high risk area” and she works right in the "hot zone" which is where the actual testing happens.
Sierra will be graduating from the University of Albany School of Criminal Justice and School of Social Welfare. “I am a Master of Social Work and Criminal Justice as of May 2020. I have been in this program for two years.” Sierra is an extremely hard worker, especially given the circumstances of being on the frontlines of the COVID battle.
Sierra’s story has aspects that span many people’s story lines and retains so much relatability. Sierra was a student and like many 2020 students and graduates alike the second half of their year was flipped inside out. “My biggest struggle with this quarantine is trying to finish two graduate masters degrees online. As if it wasn't hard enough to learn in person, it is now twice as hard online. It seems that we have double the work and I don't have much time to complete my work because I am active duty.” They say that ‘nothing worth having comes easy’, and that ought to be the mantra for the 2020 graduating class. Nevertheless, regardless all of the strife and stress of this year, Sierra has made it and will be graduating. She tells us about the journey to achieve her dual masters, and it has been quite the journey over the last two years. “It was supposed to take me 2.5 years but I added extra classes each semester. I completed two years of clinicals for my social work degree while in the program. My first year was at Niskayuna High school and my second year was at the Albany Stratton VA in the Homeless Program.” Sierra is grateful she had completed the hours required for her internship as well before being called to the COVID testing site.
Speaking of the COVID-19 testing site, that has been a trial in and of itself. Not only are the humans who are doing the testing putting themselves at risk, they’re answering their call to duty and dealing with harsh conditions. “We work 6-7 days a week for about 12-14 hours a day at the testing site. The weather hasn't been the best for us. I am outside in the freezing cold, rain, snow, sleet, winds over 40 mph, and if we are lucky - sunshine. I walk around and test people while my uniform is drenched and my hands are numb. For majority of the day we are stuck in the “hot zone” in our PPE that is hurting our faces and we are sanitizing every time we touch something, trying to not touch anything that can contaminate.” Read that testimony again if you have to.
I say that, because at the end of the day, these humans while working are going in day in and day out to protect all of us at home. The least we can do is honor our own call, and protect them by respecting guidelines put out by the CDC and WHO alike. As things keep opening up in phases, we need to remember these stressful conditions people on the front lines are in while they are keeping us safe. Use those conditions and this story as a motivator to do your due diligence when out in public. Masks are absolutely terrible - I hate wearing them if I’m being honest. That said, when I go out I ALWAYS make sure I have one in my pocket. I keep two in my car, and one in my medicine cabinet at home. I do this because the half hour or so I’m grocery shopping and I have to wear one, in the back of my head is the faces of humans like Sierra, Victoria, Rebecca. The folks who have to wear masks 10+ hours a day at work to keep US safe, counteracts my struggle. I wear gloves when I pump my gas, I’m mindful of my body, all for others.
The weather of the days have not been the only struggle for Sierra, as her everyday activities have changed. “I had to put my normal job on hold in order to begin my orders for the military at the testing site. My daily routine is unknown every day. We don't have an exact set schedule and policies are changing every day. One day you can do something, the next you can't. We work day to day and do as we are told. By the time I go home, eat, and shower, I want to go straight to bed.”
Regardless of the strife though, Sierra realizes her duty and is humbled to be doing this work, now more than ever. “This pandemic has taught me that if I can make it through this, I can do anything. I have learned to be grateful for what I have and how important it is to stay healthy. It is important that we look to help others out and not just ourselves.” Sierra hopes that there is a change coming for the world and that policy makers take this situation "to heart” to figure out what we need to do to effectively help people survive.
When Sierra is not at work, the last thing she is doing is thinking about the current stressors. She is staying positive by planting vegetables, and taking her dog on walks. “We (collectively) are learning that we can find ways to work from home, family time is important, exercise is something we need, we can cook homemade meals that are yummy and affordable, and that we make the best of what we have.”
She’s right, and as I’ve told you day in and day out with these stories - there is no right way to grieve the world right now, but there are right ways to center your mental health and protect others. I’m not a health professional, mental health professional, heck I’m really only a man writing to you through a photojournalism project… but I’m one person. I’m a human in this world that matters. So, when you’re following these precautions, you’re protecting me and the people of this world. That sounds really cliche and cheesy, but it’s true. Like Sierra said, we can make the best of what we have. We can still have connections with people and grow them in different ways. We can still thrive as a society, it just looks different…we got this.
Below is an open letter statement from Sierra to all of you, hoping this will resonate:
“This isn’t fun for me. I fear that I will get COVID, I fear being asymptomatic, I fear spreading it, I fear for my family and friends who have immune systems that are compromised. Please stop being negative and let time do it’s thing. They are beginning trials for new tests and doing random sampling for studies which can take months for complete accuracy. They are working day in and day out. This is not the time to be selfish but to be positive and find new ways to help others. Find a way to make a difference. I’m so grateful for everyone who has been checking in on me every day and those who have sent me self care packages. Thank you. When people ask how I’m doing, I’m honest and tell them how exhausted I am and how much I’m struggling. This is real and this is serious. I want to see my family and friends just as much as everyone else but it makes it difficult when everyone continues to not isolate and follow simple rules. I’m begging you, please stay home. I want my life back, just like you.”
This raw, heartbreaking and honest portrayal from Sierra may be what some of you need. Am I the best person, following all the measures during this? I try to be, but we aren’t perfect. We do though need to take this seriously, and we do need to thank the people like Sierra doing this work. Her story is no where near one of pity - but of positivity that we WILL have a sense of normalcy back if we protect ourselves and others. We WILL find solutions, we have to be patient. We WILL see our friends and family again, but right now be creative to find ways to make it through this quarantine together. We WILL be successful and happy, we just have to be grateful and open.
The applaud doesn’t stop there, today this story is posting on Memorial Day 2020. I couldn’t have pictured a better way to honor this Project, and the men, women, and non binary folk that serve our country past and present. Memorial Day is observed to honor those who protect us. This year, it has a whole new meaning.
Thank you Sierra and all of the humans serving on the front lines of military, or on the front lines of this war with the novel Coronavirus - we will make it through.
In solidarity.
// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Ms. Bailey and not reflective of Faiella Studios.