Elīza Marta Stangaine: “At the vaccination, I will be the first in the queue when social science students will start vaccination.”

When thinking about the emergency and the limitations that you each lack the most? Many mention opportunities to go to cafes, cinemas, concerts. Elīza Marta, who is studying international business and sustainable economics at the Faculty of European Studies in the 2nd year of studies, also lacks friends and opportunities to meet her fellow students in the RSU cafe, she is also tired of distance studies. But she, as a real Latvian, lacks the opportunity to go to her grandmother and meet all the relatives again, even in an event like a Graveyard celebration.

How do you feel at this time and what is the mood for continuing your studies remotely?

When it all started, I was very happy, because there was no need to get up early to catch up on the lecture at 8.15 AM in the morning. In the spring, I looked at distance learning as a great relief, but in October it was already very tired. I simply wanted to meet my group mates and sit in a cafe. When the second state of emergency was declared, it became even more difficult, almost desperate, because, compared to the spring, there was no longer a goal to pursue. There is an emergency situation and we do not know for how long. Even my computer gets tired sometimes because those Zoom links just don't open.

Vaccination would allow us to return to the on site study environment. What is your attitude towards it and what is the prevailing among your fellow students?

I really want to be vaccinated, it is the hope of return. When social science students will start vaccinating, I will be in the front row.

There is an opinion that it is better to wait to see how others will be - there are those who are afraid of side effects. There is also a question among young people who are further away from medical studies: "Hey, how exactly can a vaccine be created in a year?" It is the fear that drives them. Because we are at war, we are not just fighting man against man, but people against the virus, fear is already in the background, people have to fight for survival, but such an attitude towards the vaccine is an expression of these basic fears.

Thinking about vaccination, no matter how funny it may sound, I immediately think that I will finally be able to go to my grandmother, go to the Graveyard celebration again, meet all the relatives there and do it with the peaceful awareness that I do not endanger them.

Social responsibility is a big factor. My motivation to get vaccinated is a combination of many factors - I want to get away from where we are now.

I have already applied for the vaccine. I did so within the first 30 seconds of receiving the email. I would like to tell the rest of my fellow students - something big can often be achieved by taking the first step for many together. We can return to life using the opportunities that are offered to us.