Tori Sanders

SPEAKERS: Maliq Miller, Tori Sanders

MILLER: Id like to begin by getting to know more about your background. Can you start by telling me about yourself your full name, date of birth, and where you were born?

SANDERS: Hello, my name is Torie. ARCA Sanders. I was born on February 8 2003. And I'm from Harlem, New York.

MILLER: What was it like living in Harlem?

SANDERS: Living in Harlem was fun. You know, living around, definitely, your people love your color. And growing up in those communities is very fun. And it's very enjoyable.

MILLER: How is this similar or different from abroad?

SANDERS: I'm here it's very much populated. It's a mix of cultures. It's a mix of people and it's very nice to like, be introduced to different cultures and different people and understand their backgrounds.

MILLER: Who do you consider to be a family? Can you tell us about your family too?

SANDERS: I consider my mom my dad my three sisters all family and yeah, we all they everyone's started their own lives because they're older but yeah.

MILLER: Growing up who was who was you close with?

SANDERS:I was close to my sister. That's two years older than me. We're best friends. That guy Steve's and we tell each other everything and anything.

MILLER: What were you like as a child?

SANDERS: As a child, I was very rough. very rowdy and I loved sports. And just getting dirty.

MILLER: Can you share a special memory about yourself as a child?

SANDERS: Yes. When I was younger and 2000 can properly Wait, does it 10 Yes. Um, I ran a race and riverbank. And I won first place and as our young because I enjoyed, like running track and field.

MILLER: So let's jump ahead to when you started thinking about college, when did you first start thinking about going to college?

SANDERS: College was always like in my path. My mother went to college my older sister went to college while the college graduates got their diplomas and others Yeah.

MILLER: What expectations did you have for what college would be like?

SANDERS: For college for my path. It was always included with sports. I always thought I was gonna come and be a student athlete and that's what I would pursue and then like find a career that fit me to make money.

MILLER: When did you first hear about Wells College? Or heard about wells college through the SC Pathri program? What made you decide to come to Wells?

SANDERS: The volleyball team on my came off of ACL and meniscus reconstruction surgery. And this was my opportunity to reaffirm like my volleyball skills

MILLER: What did you plan to study when you started college?

SANDERS: I plan to study by chemistry.

MILLER: What is your current major and year?

SANDERS: Biochemistry? 2020

MILLER: Why have you decided as major

SANDERS: I just have not made it because I wanted to go out and do something in the field. Surgery having to do with like anesthesiology.

MILLER: What do you plan to do after college?

SANDERS: After college? I've planned to go to grad school.

MILLER: Let's turn to the pandemic. Now. When did you hear about COVID-19 for the first time?

SANDERS: when I was in junior year in like March bike I heard about one variants of it back in like February.

MILLER: What did you think about a vocal about the tongue?

SANDERS: Oh, it was chaotic. Stressful.

MILLER: What were people around you saying at that time?

SANDERS: People were like very hesitant about it. So like they were not sure if it was real. People were believing it was like Dr. Shawn. This is a very serious matter. Or people were really hesitant like walking in.

MILLER: How did you feel about these initial conversations that were happening who got into COVID telling everybody to take precautions and just be safe and make sure you're safe in your face? Emmys take good care of you.

MILLER: When do you know it was turned into something serious? How did you feel?

SANDERS: The numbers shown on TV actual family members getting sick

Where you stood it was when the pandemic began what did you think when the spring break was extended?

SANDERS: I was like, Yeah, I get to hang out with my friends but then it was locked down and you cannot do that. So it was very sad.

MILLER: What bout when classes were online?

SANDERS: That was a very comfortable situation, but it was not productive at all.

MILLER: Where were you when the lockdown started? Who did you spend lockdown with?

SANDERS: With my family? We got closer. Sometimes friends would come over taking precautions being sprayed down.

MILLER: How do you like change during

SANDERS: life was very close and personal. Very in contact with your family. It was like 24/7. So you got to see more of them.

MILLER: What was your daily routine? Like during this time?

SANDERS: Wake up, wash your face, take shower, eat breakfast that's literally made because everybody got time. Watching TV? Probably go to class. Have you been on the phone?

MILLER: And what challenges did you and others around you face?

SANDERS: Money really like it was more like my mom couldn't work because the schools were the teacher. Like for DOD. So that was harsh.

MILLER: Were there any any unexpected benefits that emerged for you don't like them?

SANDERS: Yeah. Because I was 18 I was able to get a stimulus check.

MILLER: And when did the pandemic impact you as a college student?

SANDERS: It was very nice. Like getting into college was like an easier process. It wasn't as stressful.

MILLER: What challenges did you face?

SANDERS: None, except for my surgery.

MILLER: Any unexpected benefits or happened to new opportunities emerge as a result of the pandemic?

SANDERS: Well, Online Jobs was a nice payout.

MILLER: What did you think about those changes?

SANDERS: They were they were like chaotic efforts. The transition was pretty smooth guy used to spin.

MILLER: Wells has many traditions, what were they? How are they impacted during the pandemic?

SANDERS: Wouldn't know because I don't know much about the traditions

Do you notice that this isn't precipitation of the pandemic between the 00:06:00community? I was in your community back home?

SANDERS: Yeah. Because here is where like if you're vaccinated, you're vaccinated, you're getting tested weekly. So it's like you're on top of yours. Okay, but you don't own the city. Everybody's taking those proper precautions being messed up.

MILLER: And how did that impact you?

SANDERS: None, really, you're used to it.

MILLER: When scientists learn more about virus, government officials began to impose mandates. What did you take when the mass mandate began?

SANDERS: I was like, as it should be. But it's very harsh because everybody wants to wear masks and I understand what people's frustrations were like take your precautions if you don't want to get sick. But if you know your body, you know your body.

MILLER: What were your thoughts when a vaccine was announced?

SANDERS: I was like everyone should take the precautions and make sure.

MILLER: What did you think about the vaccine mandate?

SANDERS: Same like people should either get it or not and take the precaution.

MILLER: What did you make of the controversy that emerged over these mandates? What did you make of the controversy that emerged over these mandates?

SANDERS: I agree with both sides. I can see like I was in between input. As I said, take your precautions.

MILLER: The government provided stimulus checks during this time. What did you think of that decision? And how did the stimulus check impact you and your family?

SANDERS: This stimulus check was a beautiful thing to like, help as I needed it. It was nice to, like have something just to say like our fees just for groceries.

MILLER: Several political protests took place during this period. Many had to do with COVID. But others were associated with Black Lives Matter and other social movements. Did you or others around you participate in these.

SANDERS: Yes, we would go downtown and wear a mask and take all precautions to make sure everyone was safe.

MILLER: Why was it important for you to go?

SANDERS; Because I'm a person of color. And it was unjust situations that were occurring. My period is still occurring now. And you need to speak up about it.

MILLER: Did the pandemic impact your decision in any way?

SANDERS: No, but it did factor others.

MILLERS: Were you engaged in these discussions or topics in other way outside of the protest?

MILLER: Now that vaccines are available and cases have decreased and life is closer to how things were prior to the pandemic. How do you think that the changes and How do you think that the changes in the definition is fine? How do you feel about the changes and back to normal?

SANDERS: I feel that okay. It's about time.

MILLER: How will you make a decision about mass and such when the mandate slipped?

SANDERS: Oh my was here still take on precautions when it's just like stick around. Always like have a mask on me?

MILLER: What lessons are knowledge have you gained over the past few years of the pandemic that you will take with you for the near future?

SANDERS: Always like care for your health. Check out

MILLER: As we conclude his interview. Are there any topics you expected or hoped that we will cover that we adjusted today?

SANDERS: Black Lives Matter movement and of course COVID.

MILLER: Are there any topics in this conversation that you would like to revisit? Thank you for sharing your experience.

SANDERS: Thank you

Transcribed by https://otter.ai