TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — March 11, 2023 marked three years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

It was a big moment in history as people were told to stay home and follow health guidelines. Some Troy University students reflect on the moment they found out about the pandemic.

“I think it was like the first day we got home from Spring Break in high school,” said junior Terry Thomas. “I was probably somewhere in my living room. At first I probably felt excited because I didn’t have to go back to school for a while. When you actually let it settle in, because that was my senior year, I was like ‘dang. Ain’t going back to school.'”

“I was a sophomore in high school and it was around the springtime,” said freshman Elijah Turman. “I think it was around Spring Break. We was getting out for Spring Break and turns out we just never went back to school.”

From online learning to social distancing to even having to wear masks on school campuses, students faculty and staff all had to adjust to a new normal.

“It was kind of weird honestly,” Thomas said. “People sitting all spaced out in the classroom or you’re doing Microsoft Teams. It’s something that you weren’t used to going from high school. It was a strange situation.”

“Just being around people is different because like we had to be like six foot in between people and stuff like that,” Turman said. “It was like pretty difficult at first.”

Although COVID is still prevalent in the world, some people are glad that life seems to be getting back to normal.

To see a timeline of the coronavirus pandemic, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website here.