Why I started wearing masks again

First of all, I’m not telling you that you need to wear a mask. I think you should (for the time being), but it is your life, your right, and your choice to wear one or not to. I am simply laying out the reasons why I’m wearing masks again when I go out in  public. 

I had stopped wearing masks this summer after the CDC changed their guidelines in May. When they changed the guidelines back again in July, I continued not wearing a mask at first. My logic was that I’m vaccinated, so I didn’t need one. Then I found out that even vaccinated people can get covid and spread it to others and I sat down to have a good long ponder about it. I did something that most people find near impossible and I found incredibly daunting at first. I changed my mind.

The reasons I’m wearing a mask again:

• Although my state has not implemented a mask mandate again (and it’s extremely unlikely they will, given how strongly against masks most Republicans are, Tennessee being one of the most red states in the country), the CDC currently recommends people to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.  Again, this is not a law right now in my state, but it should be. I consider myself to be a law abiding citizen, therefore I plan on following the law. My school district’s superintendent also just recommended this, based on CDC and ADA guidelines, and I will follow my school district’s rules.

• I don’t want to get other people sick. I don’t have Covid right now and I don’t plan on getting it anytime soon, but I could easily get and spread the virus without even knowing it. The virus, as we all know by now, affects everyone differently and a large portion of people who are infected by it are asymptomatic. This means we could have the virus and give it to many other people even if we never have a cough, fever, etc. I value other people’s lives, safety and well-being and do not want to get others sick. Even more than that, the thought that scares me most — I do not want to kill anyone. I cannot stand the idea of me getting the virus, giving it to someone else, say an elderly person in poor health, and that person dying. I know this is extremely unlikely, but it is not impossible and I doubt I would ever be able to get over it if I was the cause of someone’s death.

• I don’t want to get sick. I hate being sick. Being sick sucks. If you like getting and staying sick, there is something legitimately wrong with you. I know that I am in good health and am very unlikely to die if I get Covid (though there is still a microscopic chance). But again, I hate being sick and would rather avoid it if it’s at all possible. When I’m sick, I feel like shit and can only think about getting better. If you think it makes me weak to wear a mask again and it seems like I’m afraid of getting sick, I’d ask you to stop and think for a second of the last time you got sick. I bet you felt weak. I bet you weren’t functioning at anywhere near 100% capacity. I bet you wished more than anything else that you could get better as quickly as possible. This is how I feel when I get sick. I remember the last time I got sick. In March of this year, I had a cough and a fever for a few days and felt like death. It wasn’t corona, I got tested and it came back negative. I had to take my first sick day from work — ever — and I hated it. I hated having to ask my school to scramble to find a sub for my class. I hated letting someone else teach my class. I hated how far behind the class was when I got back to school. I hated every second of being sick. I know that getting sick is a part of life and it’s bound to happen again at various points in my life. I also know that wearing a mask will help prevent me from getting sick right now when Covid rates are skyrocketing from the Delta variant. If the simple act of wearing a mask again can help prevent (I know it’s not foolproof) me from getting sick, then you can be damn sure that I’m going to wear one in public.

• I want to set a good example for others. I know that my wearing a mask will most likely not change anyone else’s decision of whether to wear one or not, but that’s not important. What is important is me setting a good example, being a role model for my kids (students), my friends (a good number of whom are strong conservatives and are vehemently against masks), my family (also mostly strong conservatives), and even random strangers (such as the people who get in my car for Uber rides). Perhaps by my wearing a mask, I can make an impact in the lives of others. Perhaps by my putting a cloth covering with elastic straps around my ears for a few hours at a time when I am out in public, others will be more likely to reciprocate my actions and stay safe and healthy themselves. Perhaps by me performing this incredibly simple act, I can save a life, and others in turn can save countless lives.

I know this might sound like hyperbole or abstract nonsense, but the fact of the matter is this, there is no single more important thing I can do right now to fight this pandemic than wearing a mask (I have been vaccinated for months).  I hate how little power I as an individual have in fighting something so big. I usually like to believe that I can take down any opponent I face. I’m a big strong man who loves competition. This virus is a rival I can’t beat, but you can be damn sure I’m not going to let it beat me.

Call me a sheep if you want. I love it. As a Chrisitian, I consider myself to be a sheep. To understand why I say this, I ask you to read Psalm 23. You’ve probably read or heard it many times in your life even if you’re not a Christian (it’s one of the most famous Psalms/chapters in the Bible), but I’d ask you to reread it again from the perspective of a sheep. “The Lord is my shepherd,” (Psalm 23:1 NKJV). I believe in God and I believe He will take care of me. I believe when I die (not if), I will go to Heaven. I also believe that I have a lot of work to do on Earth before that happens, work that God has called me to do, and there is no reason to put myself or others at risk by not wearing a mask in the midst of a worsening pandemic. 

Before you get mad at me for asking you to consider wearing a mask again, I ask that you sit down and have a good think about it like I did. Think about why you feel the way that you do about masks. Do you actually find it to be such an imposition that you would put others’ lives at risk by choosing not to wear one? Or are you sticking to your guns for the sake of sticking to your guns? By this, I mean, are you so against masks because you hate being told what to do? I bet if you stop and think about the risk you’re putting yourselves and others in by not wearing one, you might not be so steadfast. 

***

PS- If you see me not wearing a mask when I’m outdoors, that’s because all the data that I’ve seen suggests it’s very unlikely the virus will spread when you’re outside, unless you’re in an incredibly crowded area. 

APU students make an impact, working for biotech leaders developing COVID-19 drugs

This article was originally published on APU.edu.

When David Dyer, Ph.D., became the executive director and professor of the newly designed M.S. in Biotechnology program at Azusa Pacific University, he may not have anticipated the significant work his students and graduates would be doing just three years later when COVID-19 struck. Dyer, a researcher and industry consultant for drug development and testing, led the nation’s first multi-campus biotech graduate program for California State University before launching APU’s Master of Science in Biotechnology in 2017. With a focus on training California’s growing high-tech workforce, APU’s program, housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, helps numerous students land prestigious internships and jobs at major companies in the industry.

One of these biotech leaders, Gilead Sciences, located in San Dimas, has developed a promising medicine for the coronavirus called Remdesivir. “Gilead is a highly ethical pharmaceutical company that does things the right way,” Dyer said. Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day pledged to donate 1.5 million doses of Remdesivir to those afflicted with COVID-19. This will enable up to 140,000 patients to receive the potentially life-saving medicine.

Keep Reading: The Benefit of Hands-On Experience in Biotechnology Graduate Programs

Graduate student Najeh Salamah, M.S. ’20, interns at Gilead, where he has logged more than 900 hours so far working on a data integrity project. He is happy to work for a company striving to find a solution to the pandemic. “The manufacturing department is working around the clock with a huge demand and need for Remdesivir, the experimental drug to treat COVID-19,” Salamah said. “Medicines help diagnose and cure illnesses, which enable us to live a safer and better life. Because of continuous mutations of viruses, we need to have tangible technological advancements in order to keep up with epidemics and pandemics. The coronavirus exemplifies this acute need.”

Several APU biotechnology students work at Grifols, another industry leader. Grifols is currently working on a medicine called Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Globulin, made from the plasma of COVID-19 survivors. The drug contains the antibodies of patients who beat the coronavirus and may help others fight the virus if they become infected. Graduate student Helke Criado, M.S. ’20, interned at Grifols for seven months before securing a full-time position. Prior to Grifols, Criado worked as a clinical laboratory scientist for six years, but chose to make a change. “I decided to transition to the biotech field and found APU’s program. It was the best move I’ve made in my career,” she said.

Keep Reading: California’s Biotech Industry Boom and What It Could Mean for You

Criado selected APU because of the program’s success with placing students and graduates in jobs. According to Dyer, the biotechnology industry experiences up to a 40-50 percent employee attrition rate in new hires. “It’s expensive for businesses to hire and train new people. If they move on within a year or so, the enterprise loses that investment,” he said. “At APU, we also focus on the business side of biotechnology, including project management and regulatory affairs. This way, our students are more prepared and well-rounded and companies don’t have nearly as much turnover. Our industry partners love our students.”

According to Dyer, 92 percent of APU’s biotech students get hired immediately after graduation. Many students, like Criado, are hired at the companies where they intern. He believes that Gilead, Grifols, and other pharmaceutical companies also choose APU students because of their strong moral character. Biotechnology professionals often face ethical situations in the development of new drugs and treatments.

“Gilead and other leading industry partners are interested in partnering with APU to create groundbreaking ethical training for the entire industry,” Dyer said.

How to stay spiritually active from home

This article was originally published on APU.edu.

Amidst COVID-19, as Azusa Pacific University students returned home and began online classes, they had to adjust to life without many of the constants that helped sustain them spiritually while on campus, including chapel. APU students usually go to chapel three times a week, learning from renowned pastors and worshiping alongside thousands of their peers. Many students did not realize the chapel before spring break would be their last for some time. While navigating so many changes and uncertainties, a strong relationship with God is perhaps now more important than ever. With this in mind, the Spiritual Life team created a plan to offer one chapel a week online and created a podcast dedicated to helping students keep their walk with Jesus steady.

“None of us could have anticipated how this year would unfold,” said Coba Canales, Ed.D., dean of Spiritual Life. “We continue to place our trust in God. We’re strengthened by the promise of His presence with us and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.” To support students through this time, Canales and the campus pastors film one live chapel a week on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Students can watch it in real time, or watch it later on YouTube. “We remain committed to providing resources, spiritual care, and encouragement to our students.”

In a recent online chapel service, Ta’Tyana Leonard, associate director of Corporate Worship and campus pastor, dove into the passage of Luke 22:39-44 and explored the similarities between Jesus’ prayer on the Mount of Olives and our situation today. “The coronavirus has caused anxiety and fear in our communities. It’s shut down schools, churches, and even cities,” she said. “But I see hope in this as well. I see families spending time together, more than they ever have. I see churches getting creative and spreading the Gospel more than ever. I also see Christians needing to rely and trust in the Lord in ways they’ve never needed to before. Even though it feels like God is not answering our prayers in the way we want Him to, just like in the life of Jesus, God is keeping promises right now.”

To supplement chapel, the Spiritual Life team added a podcast series entitled, “Weekly Rhythms,” with four episodes so far. In the fourth episode, Wesley Parker Reed, discipleship coordinator and campus pastor, offered a piece of advice. “Spiritual disciplines are Christian practices that remind us that we are inherently spiritual beings who are desperately in need of connection with the presence of God to truly live an abundant life through all seasons,” Reed said. “They’re habits that create a very real space for God to work in our thoughts, our feelings, and even our circumstances. They’re ways for us to work with the Holy Spirit, whose desire is to cultivate spiritual growth within us.” Reed suggested students use this time to practice spiritual disciplines and grow their faith.

Canales offered another idea for students to practice during this time—contemplation. “Take advantage of this time to sit back and ask big questions. God, what have you been doing over the last year of my life and during my time at APU? Where have I seen you at work? Who am I and am I who I want to be at this point?” Canales said. “We don’t usually ask these questions because we’re busy running from one class to the next, or from work to hanging out with friends. Our schedules, especially as college students, are impossibly hectic. Right now, it’s different. Build in a space for contemplation, reflection, Scripture reading and prayer.”

Canales recommends reading the Psalms because they capture every range of human experience and emotion. He also suggests a verse to reflect upon: 2 Timothy 1:7, which reads “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” “That’s important to remember. We should not be driven by fear. We should recognize that God is still with us, even during this time,” he said. “For that reason, I also recommend our university passage, John 14. At the end of it, Jesus talks about giving peace to us and not being afraid. God is still giving peace to us through it all.”

The Spiritual Life team is available for students remotely so they can receive spiritual care, including pastoral counseling and prayer requests. APU’s Contemporary Chapel Band created a playlist for students to listen to on Spotify or Apple Music while they work from home. Students can find additional resources on the new Together APU site designed to keep students engaged through virtual community.

The impact of the coronavirus on an APU senior

This article was originally published on APU.edu.

As I drove away from University Village last week, I looked back at Azusa Pacific University’s East Campus for the last time in the foreseeable future. This had been my home for the past four years, minus one summer and a semester away, and all of a sudden, I had to say goodbye. I had to abruptly leave my roommates, my friends, my classes, my jobs, my independence, and my campus with only a week of warning. Everything seemed so sure for the end of my senior year, the end of my 16 years of education, and then it wasn’t. The coronavirus took a lot from me, and countless other seniors at APU and across the country, but it could not take one thing — the memories.

I remember when I arrived on campus in late August 2016. I had been to APU only twice before, once for a preview weekend and once for orientation. I had no idea what to expect over the next four years. I just hoped I would make good friends and grow as a student, a person, and a Christian. The first of these concerns was alleviated when I moved into my dorm room in Smith Hall and met my two roommates, Garrett and Jonathan Davis, who would become two of the best friends I have ever had.

Though in some ways it seems long ago, I can still remember many things from freshman year. My roommates and I would pull pranks on each other and our RA. We would stay up until 1 or 2 a.m. every night because we didn’t have classes until 11 a.m. We would feast on massive Mexicali Grill burritos and show each other countless memes. I don’t think I could go back to living in a dorm now if you paid me, with the community bathrooms and lack of a kitchen, but I treasure the time I had in Smith Hall.

After a summer back home in Reno, Nevada, I returned to APU for my sophomore year. I lived with the same roommates and revelled in the space University Park offered. Each day, I would venture to West Campus where most of my journalism and honors humanities classes took place. I would get into heated debates with my honors friends in colloquy over Dante or Thomas Hobbes, then I would head into my sports communication class where we got into many arguments about our favorite football and basketball players. Though they were vastly different subjects, I loved them both. One of my favorite memories came in the sports communication class when we had the opportunity to attend a LA Clippers game, talk to their head of PR, and sit in on a press conference with head coach Doc Rivers. This experience reinforced my dream of becoming a sports journalist.

Nothing was as impactful in shaping this dream as my time at APU’s student newspaper, ZU News. I began as a staff writer in the fall of freshman year and wrote so many articles that the staff advisor, Kent Walls, hired me that spring as the opinion editor. During my sophomore year, I helped student media transition from four separate outlets to one convergent entity. We rebranded everything with the name ZU, reflecting our motto that we were the student voice of APU. The newspaper, which had gone by the name The Clause for more than 50 years, became ZU News. It was our “baby,” and we student journalists were very proud of the work we did. I served as the news editor my sophomore year, and after a semester away in New York City, I returned and became editor-in-chief. My experience working alongside professional journalists as a video production intern at Newsweek created a higher set of standards for ZU News, and we improved quickly. Stories came out at a much faster pace and students watched their readership climb.

While I valued my experience in New York, I was delighted to be back at APU, living with one of the same roommates and a couple other friends. We moved into a new apartment in University Village, which became a refuge after insanely long days of working at three different jobs. It was great to take a few classes that were unavailable in New York, including I & II Samuel and hiking. Hiking off of Glendora Mountain Road and seeing the incredible mountains just miles away from the urban environment was awesome. On one particular hike, I remember looking out over the San Gabriel Valley and thinking that this might be a nice place to call home even after graduation.

I stayed on campus over the summer and remained in the same apartment for senior year. Two new roommates moved in and our apartment was never the same. There were many late nights with lots of pointless yelling and lots of pranks pulled — there was never a dull moment. This made homework hard to finish at times, but I managed to complete my last general education, public relations, and journalism classes.

This final semester began on a high note, as I accepted a position with Teach For America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending education inequality across the country. I found out I would be teaching English in Nashville, which meant the next few months in Azusa would be my last. Then COVID-19 struck. Everything changed. At first, classes moved online and we were allowed to remain on campus. Then just a week later, we were informed we had to return home and the May commencement ceremonies were canceled.

While I understood the rationale behind these decisions, and realized college students across the nation were impacted in the same way, that did not take away from the pain of having to bid farewell to my friends and my home. I am still trying to figure out how to cope with the fact that I may never see many of my friends, coworkers, and professors again. I am coming to terms with the fact that I may never get to walk across the graduation stage in front of my family, though I know the university is exploring ways to honor graduates. I am adjusting to the worldchanging impact that the coronavirus has had in my life and those of people all over the world. However, in the aftermath of COVID-19, there is solace in knowing that I will always have these memories, and many more, from my time as a Cougar. Just because the ending is far from what I wanted, my college experience at Azusa Pacific changed my life for the better, and I’m trusting God with my future.