HR Newsletters 2021

A Year of Challenges: Change Brings Positive Outcomes, Too Dr. Krystal Thurman During the recent Lenten season, I spent much time in reflection. It gave me an opportunity to recog- nize and even appreciate the changes caused by the pandemic and other upending events of the past year. Change can be difficult, especially when it is unplanned. Change can also the impetus for making decisions that positively enhance our personal and professional lives. As an eternal optimist, I choose to focus on the positive effects. Here is a quick look down my memory lane at some of the more significant events that created seis- mic shifts in my life then and now. February 2020 – the MCCB hosted Dr. Paul Byers of the MS Department of Health to speak with us about an unknown new virus called COVID-19. He spoke about the implications it had for public health. Some were fearful and some were unmoved by the session. We all knew it might lead to a shift, but no one could have predicted what was ahead. March 2020 – the MCCB, like all other agencies in Mississippi, switched to remote-work format. It was exciting, strange, anxiety-inducing, and equilibrium flipping. Children and pets suddenly became part of the workplace landscape. Zoom became a verb, noun, and an utterly indispensable tool. April 2020 – stress levels rose as it became apparent the number of COVID cases were increasing. Parents, such as myself, had become full-time parents, teachers, short-order chefs, referees, and therapists. May 2020 – While preparing for a Labor Day weekend visit to see family after some travel restrictions had been lifted, I sliced my foot with an obnoxiously large shard of glass. After two visits to Urgent Care, the eight stitches received finally did the trick at keeping it secure. November 2020 – My son’s school announced its official closure, which would happen the day after returning from Thanksgiving break. Parents had less than seven business days to make arrangements for their children with autism. Although uncertainties surrounded the weeks leading up to the closure of schools and businesses and shortages of everyday essentials, I felt lucky to work in an agency that gotten the facts from straight from the State’s Epidemiologist., Dr. Paul Byers. Our agency closely monitored the impending pandemic and took pre- cautions to keep staff safe and healthy. We found ourselves in the midst of uncertainty and upheaval yet we managed to shift to virtual working days with few hiccups along the way. The days spent working from home allowed us to test our ability to maintain productivity while balancing home-life demands. Now, one year later, we find ourselves with a hybrid working structure that, I dare say, may not have been considered prior to the pandemic. For me personally, I would also assume for others, the new hybrid structure has been a welcome and appreciated change. Sure, it took some time to find my groove when working from home, as I’m sure it did everyone. However, I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to avoid commuting two days a week, to be in my home office with top-of-the-line equipment thanks to our agency, and to remain connect- ed and productive. Continued - Here are the reasons those events are significant and positive.

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