Finding Our Control for Empowerment

I remember walking into the grocery store at the start of this pandemic. The aisles that were once well-stocked and full of merchandise were quite empty and bare. Shoppers went about their business in a zombie-like fashion, often giving blank stares and solemn in their appearance and behavior. The mood was undoubtedly somber; tension and worry lurked, yet no one dared to acknowledge the apocalyptic-looking scene we were all witnessing. It felt like the beginning of the end. And in a sense, it was. Normal, day-to-day routines, practices and traditions suddenly took on a different meaning and had to be reassessed, as they potentially posed serious threats to safety and life. Who would have thought that to give someone a hug or kiss could be dangerous? Yet that was the reality we had to confront. With a blink of an eye, our lives were significantly altered. All thanks to COVID-19.

The impact of this pandemic is beyond measure – global economies are at the brink of collapsing, health care systems are taxed and lives are being lost on an exponential scale. The challenges we face in combating this new age problem are daunting. But we must hope that they, too, shall pass and can be overcome.

As a school counselor who has spent most of my professional life trying to cultivate the development of students and help them see beyond their struggles, I found myself stumped and scared. There were so many things beyond my control, yet I, just like everyone else, had to muster the courage to wade forward despite all the uncertainty and doubt. But how would this be possible? On a personal level, I worried about the safety of my family and how we would be able to survive the whole situation. Did I sanitize enough? Did I buy enough food and supplies? Do we have all the medicines we need? How can I ensure that we stay healthy? How can I continue to access food and supplies while stay-at-home orders are in effect or if shipping services are cut? Will I lose my job? How will I continue to perform my job? And the list goes on.

Although my training as a counselor did not prepare me for the anxiety and stress that a global pandemic would cause, it did help me to understand how I could work through my own struggles using the coping strategies and techniques that I teach my own students. In a sense, I put what I preached to the test. In my quest to get back on my feet, I discovered that the key ingredient to successfully managing stress and anxiety had much to do with assuming control of my situation.

Control can serve as a very powerful remedy for anxiety. When people are in control of their lives and circumstances, they are likely to have peace of mind. Empowerment brings about control. As my fears heightened, I found myself itching to do things to reduce my anxiety and regain some semblance of control. I began looking at planting and growing my own fruits and vegetables, in case food supplies should run low. I would research natural remedies to fight respiratory infections; learn how to cook healthy, nutritious meals for my family; and even venture into sewing my own masks and PPE. While this required an immense amount of effort and learning, these activities did serve as healthy distractions that not only took my mind off stress over how to survive a pandemic, but gradually built my courage and showed me that I was capable of overcoming my own feelings of helplessness.

Through this ordeal, I actually developed a better understanding of how I can be of greater service to students. One fundamental lesson learned is that we are all have the power to respond to whatever situation life throws our way. In our response, we can either empower ourselves to overcome our challenges or choose to remain a victim of our circumstances. Ultimately, our response will determine our fate and outcome.

As we begin the work of helping our own students cope with the stress and anxiety brought forth by this global crisis, we can focus on widening their internal locus of control. A greater internal locus of control will improve their ability to take responsibility for their own actions while also helping them see that they can act on their situation and choose to be empowered, rather than helpless. Although traumatic life events can debilitate, every individual has the power to initiate their own healing and growth. The struggle may be far from over, but the fight has begun. COVID-19 won’t win this round.

Hernalin Analista is chair of the GASC Research and Publications Committee.