WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:08.590 --> 00:00:14.950 See, I'm looking back almost two years ago when we found out that we would be working 00:00:14.950 --> 00:00:21.900 remotely, and looking back I would have told you at the time so much was unknown that I 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:24.490 think we just had to go with it. 00:00:24.490 --> 00:00:27.970 I was scared because I didn't know what working remotely meant. 00:00:27.970 --> 00:00:31.050 What working from home actually was or consisted of. 00:00:31.050 --> 00:00:32.690 I was a little nervous. 00:00:32.690 --> 00:00:38.820 I didn't know how long we would be gone for, and I also didn't know how to program virtually. 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:43.280 We definitely had to figure out different ways and adapt to the new culture. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:47.910 The biggest challenge working virtually I think was just losing touch with people in 00:00:47.910 --> 00:00:52.760 3D, not only our members, but our colleagues, each other, you know, it was just, it was 00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:56.184 a lot to be kind of all of a sudden isolated. 00:00:56.591 --> 00:01:02.190 Really how we adapted is trying out different ways to connect with students, whether it's 00:01:02.190 --> 00:01:05.059 via Zoom programming, Instagram live. 00:01:05.059 --> 00:01:11.030 It was very hard during the pandemic, but what really helped me a lot was the virtual 00:01:11.030 --> 00:01:13.067 resources that we had at the USU. 00:01:13.899 --> 00:01:19.319 I felt like the USU was extremely helpful in ensuring we had the resources we need. 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.979 Not only did we have, you know, training and development opportunities, but we were also 00:01:22.979 --> 00:01:25.930 provided with like the physical things that we needed. 00:01:25.930 --> 00:01:32.899 I was very grateful that we were able to get support, especially connecting to the servers as well 00:01:32.899 --> 00:01:36.880 as a computer so I could work from home. 00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:42.570 The USU had a lot of resources that helped us throughout this virtual experience. 00:01:42.570 --> 00:01:47.369 They held a lot of webinars and different Zoom meetings to help us navigate through 00:01:47.369 --> 00:01:51.489 this virtual culture and how to still engage students. 00:01:51.489 --> 00:01:57.570 Those different kinds of resources for students and staff allowed us to stay together even 00:01:57.570 --> 00:01:59.859 though we were apart. 00:02:00.789 --> 00:02:07.210 Virtual setting actually helped me a lot to expand my horizon and participate in a lot of things. 00:02:07.210 --> 00:02:12.890 What was most exciting about working virtually is that I could fit more into my day. 00:02:12.890 --> 00:02:21.700 I could attend other centers’ and organizations’ programming because it was available. 00:02:21.700 --> 00:02:28.239 I think it really gave us the room to be innovative and strategic in how we promote to our students 00:02:28.239 --> 00:02:33.840 and engage them online or social media or over Zoom. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:41.170 Although in-person engagement is preferable, online communication really allowed us to 00:02:41.170 --> 00:02:47.150 break down barriers and meet people in a different way than we've ever seen before. 00:02:47.150 --> 00:02:52.180 It was a tapestry of community of we were all going through this together. 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:56.050 Being able to connect with others in other parts of the world really helped open our 00:02:56.050 --> 00:02:59.622 eyes and see what others are going through in the country. 00:02:59.622 --> 00:03:07.870 And my hope is when things begin to return in person, I don't even think normal exists 00:03:07.870 --> 00:03:15.143 anymore or at least what we used to believe was normal, that we could be kinder to each other 00:03:15.143 --> 00:03:23.489 and really foster what connection and impact really means for all of us in our lives 00:03:23.489 --> 00:03:25.419 in the work that we do here at the USU.