The Current 2020

September 22, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 10 Opinions A Starbucks barista’s perspective on dining reopening I work at a Starbucks that has just reopened outdoor and indoor seating, maintaining the social distancing standards. I was apprehensive in the decision to open dining because it could only create more loopholes for people to disregard our safety precautions, and so far, I have been proven right. It’s been much harder to enforce the mask policy when people can sit inside and it makes it even harder to make sure everything is sanitized when customers come in through the wrong doors, especially customers who have a habit of not cleaning up after themselves. With the pandemic, my store hours have been cut, so we have fewer partners working certain shifts. When it gets busy, it becomes harder to maintain order in the store if people are already disregarding the rules we have set in place. I don’t like that we have allowed dining because it gives people the perception that they can bend the rules. Now, customers come in without facial coverings and say they don’t need one because they have the intention of sitting inside. However, that doesn’t change the fact that they are interacting with us and other customers without properly following our policies. It is harder to enforce new regulations when they can simply disregard us or ignore us completely. With customers unwilling to cooperate with us, it makes working so much more frustrating because we are working with the risk that we could contract the virus and many people don’t see that, it’s sad that people can be so selfish in the times we are living in now. By:Ana Maria Soto Contributing Writer Let it out Mental health is a very popular topic within our society, especially now with the pandemic we are in. For months, we were staying inside and limiting contact with others, which caused a spike in loneliness and sadness. It’s important to know that you are not alone. We are all in this together. Talking about mental health can be rather difficult, but extremely beneficial. It is not healthy to bottle up your emotions, which is why talking to someone, whether it is a friend, a family member or a therapist, can make a big difference. Talking about what is going on can teach us how to better cope with and communicate our issues. Someone may seem happy on the outside, but we do not know what is going on behind closed doors. Therefore, it is imperative that we are cautious about how we word and say things. We need to think before we speak and act because something that may not mean a lot to one, may mean the world to someone else. Acknowledging mental health can mean many different things. Saying something kind to someone, doing things that make you happy and being supportive are just a few of the many ways to acknowledge mental health. It is important to remember to take care of yourself both physically and mentally, even if it is just carving out 10 minutes from your day for some self-care. Go for a walk, to the beach, to a park or get involved in a club or sport in school. Remember to notice the small victories within your day, like making your bed or making yourself a meal. Sometimes, it is the little things that can make the biggest impact. I have reached out for help in the past and it was one of the best decisions I made. I decided it was time to put my mental health first and it was time to take action. Finding your support system is key to helping mental health. This is something that we need to work on as a collective. We need to help bring each other up and encourage each other to step outside of our comfort zones. If you see someone dealing with mental health issues, be supportive and encourage them to seek help. Here at NSU, there are resources. So, if you see someone dealing with mental health issues or you are experiencing mental health issues, try and reach out to Student Counseling Services and Well Being. For more information on Student Counseling Services and Well Being, click here. By: Briana Ramnauth Contributing Writer PRINTED WITH PERMISSION E. COWAN Starbucks in the UC