by Andy Bernardez
As the spread of COVID-19 continues to keep people at home in the United States, the question of whether a cure is being developed or opening up certain states within the upcoming month is something everyone is wanting to know especially for RIT students going on a Co-op this summer. Many of these students have been working hard since they step foot onto RIT to get a Co-op while earning real-world experience and some money for financial purposes. Students apply all over the world waiting to get a response back but with COVID-19, it’s uncertain if many of those students will still be pursuing their Co-op. For one student, his first Co-op experience has taken him down a unique path.
Photo: Russell Harvey
Russell Harvey, a second year Computer Security major, has become one of the many RIT students going on a Co-op this summer. Harvey has been accepted to Co-op at Palo Alto Networks, an American multinational cybersecurity company in San Francisco California.
Unfortunately for Harvey, he will not be going to San Francisco this summer as California has over 20 thousand COVID-19 cases confirmed; but as of May 18, his Co-op will be going fully remote and will be working in his grandmother’s Cottonwood Lake house in Geneseo, New York.
“I was actually very happy when they told me about it” Harvey said, “I didn’t want to go to California and potentially risk myself.” Harvey explains that he was scared of going out to California not only because of COVID-19, but also from a personal perspective of being homesick and California’s high prices. He mentions the difficulties of finding an apartment as one of his biggest financial issues; but since he’ll be working from home, it makes this first time Co-op experience comfortable.
While it’s unclear what will happen in the near future, many people have a list of extravagant things to do once this is all over. For some, it may be a shopping day while for others it may be fine dining; but for Harvey, it’s very simple. When asked what he’ll do when everything is over, he says “Nothing much, just go see a couple friends and that’s it. I don’t want to do anything else that’s too extravagant.”. In the meantime, you can catch Harvey in his room coding on one screen, playing Rocket League on another, and reading guitar notes on the other as he hopes to master his Ibanez bass.
