LANSING, Mich. — "We'll just wait until COVID is over"words uttered by so many of us the last few months. But what if that major move is across the country or that new job can't wait. Chris Conte takes a closer look at just how hard moving is during a pandemic and why COVID may be opening some new opportunities for those out of work.
The one thing Elizabeth Wilk wanted this past spring, was just a chance to say goodbye. "it felt so sudden, that it was almost like I was too rushed for a lot of sadness."
This 13-year-old was a 7th grader in baltimore when the pandemic hit. Classes suddenly stopped.and then in may, Elizabeth's mom got a new job. Suddenly this family of four was packing up a u-haul and headed to Maine.
Relocating in the middle of a pandemic both Elizabeth and her brother Charlie have learned, is a little lonely.
"I normally meet all of my friends through school and it’s summer so I don’t even have any friends."
"In the short term I think they’re fine, long-term how is this going to effect them having seen this kind of place in her dreams."
Shannon Wilk always imagined that moving to coastal Maine be like a never ending vacation. But it's been hard to put down roots.
"I feel like we’re not really part of this community yet. I get up every morning and I come to my basement with millions of Americans out of work."
Shannon knew that when she landed a new job at a company in Maine. She knew she had to take it.
"I’m lucky I was offered a job and the job offered stayed in place theirs is just one story in the American struggle to cope with COVID. Major life plans panning out, in different ways than we imagined there comes a point where you have to make the decision, are we going to go or not?
And with so many Americans working from basically anywhere right now it’s giving companies new flexibility in who they’re hiring. It definitely broadens the opportunity to look for talented candidates that aren’t local.
Shannon's boss, Caitlin Dimillo shared "We don’t need somebody down the street that can come into the physical office making the decision and going ahead it ended up being a good thing."
As for Elizabeth and Charlie they are both looking forward to school starting soon even if in-person learning is only two days a week.
"I just want to see people, meet people, I haven’t seen in any new people in six months. I’m excited."
Like so many others, they're learning to be flexible
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