Oral History with Michelle Brown

Michelle Brown, a junior at Princeton High School (PHS), learned about COVID-19 in November 2019. She had traveled back to Princeton from China just before the first few cases were reported in China. The virus seemed to become a local issue when Princeton University reported cases in the spring of 2020. Since PHS switched to remote learning, Michelle has found it difficult to stay motivated while learning from home. She discusses the racism towards Asian Americans that has increased during the pandemic, including personally being told to “return to her country.” Michelle reflects that this situation has brought out people’s true natures: some people are reacting with selfishness or racism and many are reacting with kindness and understanding. When things return to a more normal state, Michelle looks forward to seeing her best friend and not worrying so much about contracting the virus.