Interview with Jennika Lebron

Interview with Jennika Lebron. Interviewed by Samariya Smith on May 24, 2022. Jennika Lebron recalls that the first major disruption to her life was the company she was working for announced that she would be working from home. She took many precautions at the start of the pandemic such as staying at home and only leaving the house to go to the grocery store. She made sure to distance herself from others at the store and to sanitize everything she brought in the home. When the restrictions began to get lifted, she recalls eating out a lot and trying to support local businesses. Jennika initially got information regarding COVID-19 from her parents, but when she left her job and began a new job at Hartford Communities That Care, she began to look to the city of Hartford instead for reliable information. Jennika stated that personal choice was still relevant during the pandemic and believes that it is up to the individual to decide what to do with their own body. Jennika recalls being hesitant when the vaccine first came out due to how quickly it was released, but she ultimately decided to get vaccinated. She is supportive of mask mandates but is unsure if she supports vaccine mandates. Jennika contracted Covid but did not get seriously ill, which she attributes to being vaccinated. Since the pandemic, she has learned to prioritize her mental health. When asked what she lost during the pandemic, she responded that she was grateful to have lost nothing. When asked what she found during the pandemic, she said that she found that when she “filled up my own cup, things are possible.”