Editor’s note: “The new normal” is a continuing series that looks into how members of the Los Medanos College community are coping with a shelter-in-place order amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, most people are still adapting by sheltering in place and social distancing. Though there are those essential workers who are continuing to work, which means continuing to put themselves in harm’s way. Los Medanos College student Chase Leicht is a FedEx employee and among these essential workers.

“Work has been brutal,” he said. “I work in a warehouse there and my job is loading the massive trailers that get shipped around the different states and with the influx of people buying stuff we are in a mini peak season.”

Leicht was working four days a week before the shelter-in-place orders began, but he now works six days a week. With the influx of orders being made due to the pandemic, Leicht is feeling extra pressure to get as much done as he can. 

“I’ll work Monday from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., and then work Wednesday to Saturday, which rolls into Sunday morning until about like 3:30 a.m. I find myself now much more drained than ever,” Leicht said.

On top of having increased stress at work, Leicht is stressed about his online classes. Just as many others, Leicht is struggling to keep up his academic motivation. 

“I really do not like online only classes,” he said. “I get so distracted while being on them because I have everything around me that I can use whether that be my phone/computer or game console while we are doing class. As of lately,  I just find myself super unmotivated with my classes because of this whole situation.”

With the shelter-in-place order extended until May 31, Leicht will continue to work hard and try to finish the semester as strongly as he can.