Alexus Ruffin, August 27th, 2024
Title
Alexus Ruffin, August 27th, 2024
Description
In this interview, Alexus Ruffin discusses her experience with the COVID-19 lockdown, and how it impacted her academic career.
Publisher
Detroit Historical Society
Rights
Detroit Historical Society
Language
en-US
Narrator/Interviewee's Name
Alexus Ruffin
Interviewer's Name
Taylor Claybrook
Date
8/27/2024
Interview Length
17:48
Transcription
Taylor Claybrook: [00:00:00] So today is August 27th. My name is Taylor Claybrook, and I'm sitting down with...
Alexus Ruffin: [00:00:06] Alexus Ruffin.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:00:07] Thank you for doing this interview, Alexus. So I want to start by asking, what was your initial reaction to hearing about Covid?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:00:16] I was somewhat in disbelief that there was going to be this matter of a massive change in life. It was just kind of one of those things where I was like, okay, well, there's something going around. We don't really know what's happening, but I'm sure it'll pass. Like, it'll be okay. And then, life stopped for two years, basically.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:00:44] And then when the lockdown finally happened, what was that like?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:00:48] Lockdown was... Somewhat terrible because I had to move out of my dorm. I had just gotten in the swing of quote unquote being on my own, but still in the dorm doing whatever I wanted to do. Just being on my own time and to go back home and not be able to leave. It was ...I was sad I was not connecting with people like...I wanted to, especially being an undergraduate. Lockdown happened my second year. My sophomore year of college, and yeah, it just changed the whole trajectory. Like what I thought my college experience was going to be was just not even an option anymore.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:01:40] And where did you live when you were on campus?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:01:43] I lived in Anthony Wayne Drive apartments.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:01:47] I lived there in my last semester. It was nice.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:01:50] Yeah, it was nice, I loved it.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:01:53] Can you explain your program a little bit?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:01:55] Yeah. So I study sociology. I have a double minor in law and urban planning. Sociology was pretty much... I don't even know how to describe it, I guess. My classes consisted of such a wide variety of things. We talked about things like how society treats people who are older, how, of course, civil rights. It was such a wide breadth like...It's an expansive thing. That's kind of why I went for it is because you touched so many different points that all somewhat come into how our society operates, norms and you know where we are today and how things are not going to always be, but how things got to be, how they currently are.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:02:52] And so when Covid hit, when the lockdown finally happened, how is your academic career impacted like you already kind of mentioned, you have to move back home. So that's part of your academic career being impacted. But aside from that, what was that like?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:03:06] Yeah, I definitely struggled. I didn't realize how... I know what type of learner I am. I know that I'm more of a hands on, conversation based learner. And haptic learning is what it's called, I believe. But I really struggled. It was... Everything was so new in that my instructors didn't really know what was going on either. Like we were all kind of learning together, but, yeah, I felt really isolated. I definitely struggled. Just shifting how I learn, I feel like I never kind of got back to the swing of things and more. So just did what I had to do to graduate and move on. But yeah, I struggled a lot. It was difficult being home, difficult being on zoom every day, especially, I was just in my room by myself. I'm an only child on top of everything, so, like, it was just me and my parents. Yeah. It was, it was... A very hard time.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:04:18] And you said you were living at home. Where is home?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:04:22] Home is the west side of Detroit, Seven Mile and Greenfield.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:04:25] Okay. And what kept you busy during lockdown?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:04:30] Talking to friends. FaceTime. Zoom. Even though I was physically by myself. I definitely still had to talk to my inner circle of people. Walks. Oh my goodness, I would love me a little post, post class walk around the block. I have cats, plural. I love my cats to death. I would be outside with them constantly, as well as the one that's inside. Oh, he just passed away. But, yeah, I just occupied my time with. My immediate surroundings and make do again. I'm an only child, so somewhat used to kind of being alone, but that level of alone was jarring.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:05:23] And then you kind of already answered the transition from in-person to online. But what was it like? Coming back to Wayne State when all the Covid restrictions were being lifted. I think when I met you was, I think, fall semester 2021 where we had come to campus, but we still had to wear masks, so what was that like for you?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:05:43] Honestly, of course things were never to be never the same. And they could never be the same, which is okay. You know, we got our new norm, but I still...It was.... It was great to be back in person, but it also again wasn't the same. Like I feel like I never had the same level of connection after, well, like how I had before Covid. Yeah, honestly, I still kind of struggle. I didn't graduate, at my expected time. I graduated a bit later. Yeah. It just it was never really the same. I do really appreciate, though, Wayne State's resources for, like, mental health. That was much needed, especially that level of just kind of being alone and thinking that you're dealing with these things on your own, but you're not. And they had support to kind of help you out through that. But yeah, I still honestly just was never the same. My college experience definitely was not what I thought it would be. I made the best of it, but. Yeah, I'm still sad I didn't have the most traditional, college experience. I did get to graduate and walk the stage, so that's good.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:13] Thats good. When did you graduate?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:14] I graduated in, January of 23.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:18] Okay. I graduated later than expected too, but we made it, so.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:22] Yes, we made it.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:24] So what was it like working--
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:26] Or was it December, I'm sorry.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:28] No. No. It's okay.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:30] It was December, December of 22 going into 23 because I turned 23. Yeah.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:36] Okay, yeah. It all kind of becomes a blur after it happens. It's just like...
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:40] Yeah, I swear, like the last from 2020 to... I feel like I'm not just now coming out of it, but like.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:48] Oh, it definitely like all fused together.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:50] It does. All the timelines blur together and who knows? I just know I made it.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:56] Yeah, that's really it. That's all that matters. And but what was it like interacting with your family that lived outside of your home?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:08:05] I didn't really. So, I myself was one of, in one of the groups that I can't remember, like this specific term, that they use was like, you really need to be careful of Covid because it's dangerous. I have asthma. It just. Yeah. Wouldn't have been a good mix. But I have a lot... I have an older family, so a lot of my family was also in that grouping of people who really needed to be careful.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:08:38] Let me clarify. Interacting doesn't even have to be like face to face, just you know, just, like talking on the phone.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:08:42] Yeah. So we all kind of shifted over to Zoom and oh my God, teaching people how to use Zoom that are not super tech savvy. Yeah. It's rough. It got done. And I really enjoyed, you know, our little zoom sessions. But it was kind of rough the having to explain, okay, if you mute yourself you need to unmute before you talk. It doesn't just happen, you know. Yeah. But yeah, it did. It definitely changed our level of communication. I feel like it made us all appreciate being with each other and, you know, having that interaction more because we quickly found out what it would be like if you didn't have that. Of course, there was ways to, you know, communicate, but not the traditional ways. And I think that's what was the most jarring for everyone.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:09:35] Yeah. Especially since I feel like black families, like we form our communities by being around one another. So it is it was very difficult. So what was it like, you know, coming out of Covid and you can go and see them?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:09:49] Yeah. We were still much more cautious. I would say, like I vividly remember, I if I went into my aunt and uncle's house, I'm always wearing a mask, of course. And you know, old black people, they're like, I don't know why we had to do all this, but thankfully they did all that. Yeah, it wait one more time. What was the question?
Taylor Claybrook: [00:10:11] So, you know, it's fine. So coming out of Covid and then, you know, being able to see your family again after teaching them how to use Zoom and talking on the phone and stuff like that.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:10:21] It was definitely a relief to kind of get back to the norm. I think our zoom lessons flew right out of their head. It's out of sight, out of mind. But yeah, it was it was a great feeling to finally be back in person and. Like it's comforting to see them and know that they are okay. I will say, ultimately, like my I ended up... Not much later, but, losing my uncle to Covid, even though, you know, of course he took all the precautions we could, but unfortunately, yeah, it was just.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:10:57] I'm sorry. Yeah. You kind of already answered this one, but if you want to elaborate a little bit more, so your sense of community at school was impacted. I know it was impacted by having to move out of Anthony Wayne, but was it impacted in any other regard, you know, like...
Alexus Ruffin: [00:11:17] Absolutely. I crossed Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated in fall 20. An amazing experience. Much different than most experiences, I'm sure. So that brought all right, that made my community even larger. And just the span of people to connect with, not even just to interact like, and have conversations necessarily, but, like, we got things done. Oh my goodness. I think my line hit the ground running when we crossed. And I'm really proud of us for doing that, especially with just the major stipulations we had in being able to interact with our Wayne State community.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:12:08] And you told me where home is. So what was your neighborhood like during Covid? Like I know a lot of people were outside in my neighborhood skateboarding, roller skating, walking, stuff like that. So what was what was yours?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:12:23] We definitely had our little powwows, everybody out on the lawn. You know, we all kind of had our times where it's like, okay, you know, I'm feeling more. I want to interact with some people. So I know that at 2 p.m., Henry's going to be sitting on his lawn and just doing whatever. So if I want to talk to anybody, I'll come out at 2:00. It was kind of like we all knew each other's schedules. Yeah. My community is like, my neighborhood is pretty tight knit. I lived in the same house, well, I have since moved out, but I've lived in the same house since I was born, so. Yeah, everybody looks out for everybody. We knew when one of our neighbors wasn't doing well or actually had Covid, and we looked out for them, of course. Provided anything that we could have left on their doorstep. And, yeah, we definitely all were there for each other. It was a really beautiful thing to see, actually, amidst such a terrible thing happening. You know.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:13:22] Is there anything you wish Wayne State would have done differently? Or would you appreciate about all the Covid efforts that they had in place?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:13:31] In regards to the covid efforts, I just.. The way I was operating and of course, I don't know, sanctions, for lack of a better word, that Wayne State. I thankfully never had Covid. I'm still going strong so I can, you know, I'm sure, credit some efforts to Wayne State as well as, you know, my own ways of going about life. But, I will say I do kind of wish there was more like academic support for people who don't learn in the type of ways that we are now forced to learn in. I will say, of course, everything has to be like, we're all going through this together. So, that kind of in between, like the semester that we were initially going into lockdown, like everybody was scrambling to find, a solution. So like, zoom was new, everything was new. So it's like, you know, I can't be disappointed because everybody is going through this, but. I wish there was more, and maybe there were, but more efforts to help learners who just kind of would have struggled in that format.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:14:52] And you're very lucky. Like I'm meeting less and less people that have not had Covid before. Like you said.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:14:58] Yes. I did not take it for granted. Let me knock on wood.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:15:01] You were so, so lucky. Like I had it and it was weird.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:15:07] I have heard all bad things.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:15:09] it was... It was this weird thing where it felt like my my brain was just fuzzy for, like, a week. I didn't even feel like that physically sick.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:15:16] Yeah. You know, it's crazy. My mom just actually recently had Covid, and she's doing well, thank God. But, yeah, it was. It's still around, so we definitely. And it's on the rise. So protect yourself. Of course. But, yeah, it was I'm very thankful. I truly am. Because like I said before, I have asthma, so I just, you know. To be more careful.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:15:41] And then another question that I just thought of. So how did Covid or how has Covid impacted where you are today?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:15:55] That's like a loaded question.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:15:56] Oh, yeah. If you can take it any way. Like. Yeah. You know, career wise.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:16:02] Definitely. Personally, I definitely recognize now I was really struggling with my mental health as well as just feeling. So what now what am I going to do? Academically. I also, at the end was definitely struggling, so. Yeah, I just.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:16:31] No. You're okay. So how has Covid impacted who you are today?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:16:39] Yeah, I just I think I recognize that I didn't well today, I recognize that I didn't give myself a lot of grace for being in a world changing event. I really do. I feel like I kind of got burnt out towards the end. And I am somewhat now just coming out of that slump personally. I plan to go back to school in January, which I'm excited, nervous, all the of above, alot of emotions. Yeah. Yep, yep. Going back to school in January. I'm very. It's a lot of motions, but I definitely think I was like kind of briefly stunted, and just in. All right. Yeah. So I'm happy to be somewhat coming out of that. And. Now moving on, but moving on differently.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:17:36] Do you have any additional thoughts or questions that came up during the interview?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:17:42] You know, I think we had a really good interview. I actually don't have anything. No more comments.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:00:06] Alexus Ruffin.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:00:07] Thank you for doing this interview, Alexus. So I want to start by asking, what was your initial reaction to hearing about Covid?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:00:16] I was somewhat in disbelief that there was going to be this matter of a massive change in life. It was just kind of one of those things where I was like, okay, well, there's something going around. We don't really know what's happening, but I'm sure it'll pass. Like, it'll be okay. And then, life stopped for two years, basically.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:00:44] And then when the lockdown finally happened, what was that like?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:00:48] Lockdown was... Somewhat terrible because I had to move out of my dorm. I had just gotten in the swing of quote unquote being on my own, but still in the dorm doing whatever I wanted to do. Just being on my own time and to go back home and not be able to leave. It was ...I was sad I was not connecting with people like...I wanted to, especially being an undergraduate. Lockdown happened my second year. My sophomore year of college, and yeah, it just changed the whole trajectory. Like what I thought my college experience was going to be was just not even an option anymore.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:01:40] And where did you live when you were on campus?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:01:43] I lived in Anthony Wayne Drive apartments.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:01:47] I lived there in my last semester. It was nice.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:01:50] Yeah, it was nice, I loved it.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:01:53] Can you explain your program a little bit?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:01:55] Yeah. So I study sociology. I have a double minor in law and urban planning. Sociology was pretty much... I don't even know how to describe it, I guess. My classes consisted of such a wide variety of things. We talked about things like how society treats people who are older, how, of course, civil rights. It was such a wide breadth like...It's an expansive thing. That's kind of why I went for it is because you touched so many different points that all somewhat come into how our society operates, norms and you know where we are today and how things are not going to always be, but how things got to be, how they currently are.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:02:52] And so when Covid hit, when the lockdown finally happened, how is your academic career impacted like you already kind of mentioned, you have to move back home. So that's part of your academic career being impacted. But aside from that, what was that like?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:03:06] Yeah, I definitely struggled. I didn't realize how... I know what type of learner I am. I know that I'm more of a hands on, conversation based learner. And haptic learning is what it's called, I believe. But I really struggled. It was... Everything was so new in that my instructors didn't really know what was going on either. Like we were all kind of learning together, but, yeah, I felt really isolated. I definitely struggled. Just shifting how I learn, I feel like I never kind of got back to the swing of things and more. So just did what I had to do to graduate and move on. But yeah, I struggled a lot. It was difficult being home, difficult being on zoom every day, especially, I was just in my room by myself. I'm an only child on top of everything, so, like, it was just me and my parents. Yeah. It was, it was... A very hard time.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:04:18] And you said you were living at home. Where is home?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:04:22] Home is the west side of Detroit, Seven Mile and Greenfield.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:04:25] Okay. And what kept you busy during lockdown?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:04:30] Talking to friends. FaceTime. Zoom. Even though I was physically by myself. I definitely still had to talk to my inner circle of people. Walks. Oh my goodness, I would love me a little post, post class walk around the block. I have cats, plural. I love my cats to death. I would be outside with them constantly, as well as the one that's inside. Oh, he just passed away. But, yeah, I just occupied my time with. My immediate surroundings and make do again. I'm an only child, so somewhat used to kind of being alone, but that level of alone was jarring.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:05:23] And then you kind of already answered the transition from in-person to online. But what was it like? Coming back to Wayne State when all the Covid restrictions were being lifted. I think when I met you was, I think, fall semester 2021 where we had come to campus, but we still had to wear masks, so what was that like for you?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:05:43] Honestly, of course things were never to be never the same. And they could never be the same, which is okay. You know, we got our new norm, but I still...It was.... It was great to be back in person, but it also again wasn't the same. Like I feel like I never had the same level of connection after, well, like how I had before Covid. Yeah, honestly, I still kind of struggle. I didn't graduate, at my expected time. I graduated a bit later. Yeah. It just it was never really the same. I do really appreciate, though, Wayne State's resources for, like, mental health. That was much needed, especially that level of just kind of being alone and thinking that you're dealing with these things on your own, but you're not. And they had support to kind of help you out through that. But yeah, I still honestly just was never the same. My college experience definitely was not what I thought it would be. I made the best of it, but. Yeah, I'm still sad I didn't have the most traditional, college experience. I did get to graduate and walk the stage, so that's good.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:13] Thats good. When did you graduate?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:14] I graduated in, January of 23.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:18] Okay. I graduated later than expected too, but we made it, so.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:22] Yes, we made it.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:24] So what was it like working--
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:26] Or was it December, I'm sorry.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:28] No. No. It's okay.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:30] It was December, December of 22 going into 23 because I turned 23. Yeah.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:36] Okay, yeah. It all kind of becomes a blur after it happens. It's just like...
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:40] Yeah, I swear, like the last from 2020 to... I feel like I'm not just now coming out of it, but like.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:48] Oh, it definitely like all fused together.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:07:50] It does. All the timelines blur together and who knows? I just know I made it.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:07:56] Yeah, that's really it. That's all that matters. And but what was it like interacting with your family that lived outside of your home?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:08:05] I didn't really. So, I myself was one of, in one of the groups that I can't remember, like this specific term, that they use was like, you really need to be careful of Covid because it's dangerous. I have asthma. It just. Yeah. Wouldn't have been a good mix. But I have a lot... I have an older family, so a lot of my family was also in that grouping of people who really needed to be careful.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:08:38] Let me clarify. Interacting doesn't even have to be like face to face, just you know, just, like talking on the phone.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:08:42] Yeah. So we all kind of shifted over to Zoom and oh my God, teaching people how to use Zoom that are not super tech savvy. Yeah. It's rough. It got done. And I really enjoyed, you know, our little zoom sessions. But it was kind of rough the having to explain, okay, if you mute yourself you need to unmute before you talk. It doesn't just happen, you know. Yeah. But yeah, it did. It definitely changed our level of communication. I feel like it made us all appreciate being with each other and, you know, having that interaction more because we quickly found out what it would be like if you didn't have that. Of course, there was ways to, you know, communicate, but not the traditional ways. And I think that's what was the most jarring for everyone.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:09:35] Yeah. Especially since I feel like black families, like we form our communities by being around one another. So it is it was very difficult. So what was it like, you know, coming out of Covid and you can go and see them?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:09:49] Yeah. We were still much more cautious. I would say, like I vividly remember, I if I went into my aunt and uncle's house, I'm always wearing a mask, of course. And you know, old black people, they're like, I don't know why we had to do all this, but thankfully they did all that. Yeah, it wait one more time. What was the question?
Taylor Claybrook: [00:10:11] So, you know, it's fine. So coming out of Covid and then, you know, being able to see your family again after teaching them how to use Zoom and talking on the phone and stuff like that.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:10:21] It was definitely a relief to kind of get back to the norm. I think our zoom lessons flew right out of their head. It's out of sight, out of mind. But yeah, it was it was a great feeling to finally be back in person and. Like it's comforting to see them and know that they are okay. I will say, ultimately, like my I ended up... Not much later, but, losing my uncle to Covid, even though, you know, of course he took all the precautions we could, but unfortunately, yeah, it was just.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:10:57] I'm sorry. Yeah. You kind of already answered this one, but if you want to elaborate a little bit more, so your sense of community at school was impacted. I know it was impacted by having to move out of Anthony Wayne, but was it impacted in any other regard, you know, like...
Alexus Ruffin: [00:11:17] Absolutely. I crossed Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated in fall 20. An amazing experience. Much different than most experiences, I'm sure. So that brought all right, that made my community even larger. And just the span of people to connect with, not even just to interact like, and have conversations necessarily, but, like, we got things done. Oh my goodness. I think my line hit the ground running when we crossed. And I'm really proud of us for doing that, especially with just the major stipulations we had in being able to interact with our Wayne State community.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:12:08] And you told me where home is. So what was your neighborhood like during Covid? Like I know a lot of people were outside in my neighborhood skateboarding, roller skating, walking, stuff like that. So what was what was yours?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:12:23] We definitely had our little powwows, everybody out on the lawn. You know, we all kind of had our times where it's like, okay, you know, I'm feeling more. I want to interact with some people. So I know that at 2 p.m., Henry's going to be sitting on his lawn and just doing whatever. So if I want to talk to anybody, I'll come out at 2:00. It was kind of like we all knew each other's schedules. Yeah. My community is like, my neighborhood is pretty tight knit. I lived in the same house, well, I have since moved out, but I've lived in the same house since I was born, so. Yeah, everybody looks out for everybody. We knew when one of our neighbors wasn't doing well or actually had Covid, and we looked out for them, of course. Provided anything that we could have left on their doorstep. And, yeah, we definitely all were there for each other. It was a really beautiful thing to see, actually, amidst such a terrible thing happening. You know.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:13:22] Is there anything you wish Wayne State would have done differently? Or would you appreciate about all the Covid efforts that they had in place?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:13:31] In regards to the covid efforts, I just.. The way I was operating and of course, I don't know, sanctions, for lack of a better word, that Wayne State. I thankfully never had Covid. I'm still going strong so I can, you know, I'm sure, credit some efforts to Wayne State as well as, you know, my own ways of going about life. But, I will say I do kind of wish there was more like academic support for people who don't learn in the type of ways that we are now forced to learn in. I will say, of course, everything has to be like, we're all going through this together. So, that kind of in between, like the semester that we were initially going into lockdown, like everybody was scrambling to find, a solution. So like, zoom was new, everything was new. So it's like, you know, I can't be disappointed because everybody is going through this, but. I wish there was more, and maybe there were, but more efforts to help learners who just kind of would have struggled in that format.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:14:52] And you're very lucky. Like I'm meeting less and less people that have not had Covid before. Like you said.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:14:58] Yes. I did not take it for granted. Let me knock on wood.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:15:01] You were so, so lucky. Like I had it and it was weird.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:15:07] I have heard all bad things.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:15:09] it was... It was this weird thing where it felt like my my brain was just fuzzy for, like, a week. I didn't even feel like that physically sick.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:15:16] Yeah. You know, it's crazy. My mom just actually recently had Covid, and she's doing well, thank God. But, yeah, it was. It's still around, so we definitely. And it's on the rise. So protect yourself. Of course. But, yeah, it was I'm very thankful. I truly am. Because like I said before, I have asthma, so I just, you know. To be more careful.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:15:41] And then another question that I just thought of. So how did Covid or how has Covid impacted where you are today?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:15:55] That's like a loaded question.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:15:56] Oh, yeah. If you can take it any way. Like. Yeah. You know, career wise.
Alexus Ruffin: [00:16:02] Definitely. Personally, I definitely recognize now I was really struggling with my mental health as well as just feeling. So what now what am I going to do? Academically. I also, at the end was definitely struggling, so. Yeah, I just.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:16:31] No. You're okay. So how has Covid impacted who you are today?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:16:39] Yeah, I just I think I recognize that I didn't well today, I recognize that I didn't give myself a lot of grace for being in a world changing event. I really do. I feel like I kind of got burnt out towards the end. And I am somewhat now just coming out of that slump personally. I plan to go back to school in January, which I'm excited, nervous, all the of above, alot of emotions. Yeah. Yep, yep. Going back to school in January. I'm very. It's a lot of motions, but I definitely think I was like kind of briefly stunted, and just in. All right. Yeah. So I'm happy to be somewhat coming out of that. And. Now moving on, but moving on differently.
Taylor Claybrook: [00:17:36] Do you have any additional thoughts or questions that came up during the interview?
Alexus Ruffin: [00:17:42] You know, I think we had a really good interview. I actually don't have anything. No more comments.
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“Alexus Ruffin, August 27th, 2024,” Detroit Historical Society Oral History Archive, accessed December 14, 2024, https://oralhistory.detroithistorical.org/items/show/1067.