COVID-19 and the US-Canada Border Closing

By Marshall Hurst

Video of Marshall Hurst sharing his COVID-19 story.

Marshall Hurst is an international student who is currently a second year in the MBA program with a concentration in Management and Leadership in the Saunders College of Business. In this video he chronicles his experience with COVID-19 and how he ended up home in Canada just miles away from the US-Canada border, unable to return to Rochester to be with his friends and girlfriend and unable to work. He reflects on how he was able to make the best of his time as well as struggles that he encountered at home. While at home, he was happy to be able to help with his family’s business, but struggled to gain access to information in ASL due to the inability to see the interpreters on the screen during the Prime Minister’s briefings. Marshall ultimately made the decision to return to Rochester and RIT campus for the Fall 2020 semester to continue his coursework and reunite with friends and loved ones in Rochester.

Photo of a park near Marshall’s house. His family donated a tree and a bench in honor of his grandparents years ago. Every time he walks his dogs, he goes though the park. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Marshall walked through this park many times.