This story is written by JCU Softball player, sophomore Lauren Sienkiewicz.
 

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Upon discovery of the novel coronavirus, the country began a nationwide shutdown with efforts to slow it's spread in mid-March. Due to this, John Carroll University made the tough decision to send its students home and resume the Spring semester remotely. 
 

After being sent home from school, I found myself, like many other people around the globe, filled with boredom and confusion. I was trying to find activities to occupy my time, such as painting, bedroom renovations, and cooking. 
 

After about two or three weeks into quarantine, stores began announcing shortages in things such as toilet paper, masks, cleaning supplies, and much more. I felt that I had to do something but I didn't really know what at the time. I have grown up with grandmothers that have sewn pillows, doll clothes, quilts, and much more; and I have always wanted to give it a shot but never had the time, nor equipment to do so. 
 

After much thought, I remembered my family had a desk in the basement from my great-grandmother that has a sewing machine built into it, however it was from the 1940s, and was thought to be broken. 
 

So, I went into the basement, found the desk, and brought it into my family room. I plugged it in, and it miraculously started to work. The machine had no directions, therefore I went to YouTube and spent much time looking for videos to teach me how to use the antique sewing machine.
 

In the beginning, since I was trying to teach myself on a single-stitch machine from the 1940s, it was a challenge, however with much practice I figured it out. I began making tie back masks for immediate family, then once I got comfortable and had some feedback I then began making masks for extended family and friends to which I shipped out, as well as my mother's coworkers, since she was deemed an essential worker.
 

After a while, the machine began to make some unpleasant sounds because again, it was from the 1940s, so I contacted my uncle about my late-grandmothers machine. He was so excited to hear that I taught myself to sew just like my grandmother, and immediately offered me his machine. After hunting down some more materials, such as elastic, this more modern machine enabled me to make more upgraded masks. 
 

Currently, I am still sewing for family members and my college friends to prepare them for returning back to campus. I figured washable and reusable masks are much more economical and environmentally friendly than the disposable paper masks. 
 

I do not see masks going away anytime soon, so I am trying to prepare my friends and family for the undeniable future of mask wearing.