Dedicated! This Student Has Been Socially Distancing Herself From Hometown Friends Since High School

Following university mandates that students leave campus and return to their hometowns, Natasha Greenfield (C ’21) realized that she had been practicing CDC guidelines requiring social distancing for years. Specifically, Greenfield found that she had been isolating herself in quarantine-like conditions every time she entered a six-mile radius of her hometown of Alexandria, Virginia. 

Out of an abundance of caution, Greenfield leaves the house only when totally necessary. For example, she will occasionally “walk the dog” only after dark, when she is sure the neighborhood will be empty. Rarely, and only in dire circumstances, Greenfield will drive to the local CVS Pharmacy to buy a twelve-pack of Diet Coke and a tin of cinnamon Altoids. She will use the self-checkout, obviously.

Greenfield also abstains from social activities like hanging out with high school friends, visiting elderly relatives, going to the gym, dating, talking to people, and even responding to texts and emails. Instead, she practices solitary hobbies like sleeping, watching television, and generally practicing a sedentary lifestyle.

“I don’t really understand the concept of ‘quarantine,’” Greenfield said when asked about her lifestyle. “I wasn't aware there was an alternative.”

Greenfield’s mother, Brooke Greenfield, added, “I think it’s great that Natasha is being so diligent about practicing social distancing and reducing the spread of the virus.”

Under the Button reached out to every single one of Greenfield’s high school friends, and was able to get in contact with all both. While one friend recalled seeing Greenfield the summer after freshman year of college, the other one responded, “Who?”