By Janie Eyerman

While her car and belongings might have been in Columbus, Ohio for quarantine, Shanti Lerner, Ohio State alumna, was not. Lerner ended up in the Philippines for the duration of COVID-19.

COVID-19 has brought about many negatives, but Lerner, and another alumna, said it has been a blessing in disguise. The pandemic allowed Lerner to reevaluate her career goals and bring her closer to her Filipino culture.

Lerner went home in December 2019 to visit her family for the holidays. As COVID-19 began to gradually spread across the world, Lerner said she decided to wait on her return to the United States, and job search, until she received more clarity on the course of the virus.

The virus quickly became a global issue and Lerner said she had many issues searching for a way to return due to travel bans, lockdowns and testing issues. The Philippines went into lockdown from the middle of March until late May.

“People don’t understand that there are a lot of logistical things you have to go through in order to travel this far,” Lerner said. “For example, certain stopovers, you have to have a different COVID-19 test.”

Since then, she has remained in the Philippines. Lerner said her original plan to return to the U.S. had been disrupted, but it’s not as unfortunate as even she may have thought.

Lerner said this is the longest time she has been in the Philippines with her family since her youth. It has been an opportunity to reconnect with her culture and see the strength of the Filipino community during a global pandemic.

“Experiencing this pandemic with my fellow Filipinos is very humbling and eye-opening because in this country, Filipinos, they are really resilient,” Lerner said.

She gets to interact with her community by exploring her city, Angeles, Philippines, and surrounding areas. Lerner said it’s ironic how much more she learned about her city now versus when she was growing up there.

“I’ve really learned a lot about my city; how big it is and how small it is,” Lerner said. “Growing up here, how did I not know this place and now seeing it as an adult, I don't know, it just brings me an appreciation for my city.”

Taking time to appreciate her home and its people, she realized she isn’t as stressed about many aspects of life as she had previously been. Lerner said she did not need to worry as much about her career path.

"In the U.S. I definitely feel more pressure whereas here, people live more day to day,” Lerner said. “Sometimes there are more pressing matters than just getting a certain job.”

“If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t have thrown myself out there.” - Shanti Lerner

In addition to Lerner, another alumna felt that the pandemic worked out for the better.

Casey Mitchell, Ohio State alumna, reflected on a similar situation. Mitchell said she had a job lined up after graduation but it fell through due to the virus.

“Literally everything about my life was up in the air,” Mitchell said. “I had no clue where I would be, what I would be doing or how the world would be.”

Mitchell said she, too, ended up enjoying where the pandemic led her. She ended up working with her dad before getting hired at a different job.

“It worked out for me to stay with my family a few extra months as I got to savor more moments with them and save up money,” Mitchell said.

Lerner said her time in the Philippines revealed how she actually was practicing career skills at home. The more of the Philippines she explored, the more her idea of personal success changed.

Lerner said she now teaches English on an online website called Italki, continues to write freelance articles for the Ohio State Alumni Magazine and Vice News Asia and even assists at her family-owned cafe. Out of unforeseeable circumstances, Lerner gained other opportunities, just not the ones she originally planned.

“If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t have thrown myself out there,” Lerner said. “Yeah it sucks that we aren’t doing our normal things, but I’m really learning a lot about myself and that there’s no direct path you have to take towards a career.”

Lerner said her experiences gave her a new perspective. COVID-19 wasn't lacking in hardships, but it changed her mindset all through the reconnection to her community and family.

“There’s a saying here called ‘bahala na’ which means ‘let it be' or 'let God and let go’,” Lerner said. “It’s the mentality for everything and you can especially see that now.”