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In the March 20, 2020, edition of the 51��Ʒ��Ƶsburgh Post-Gazette,��, “Acknowledging our collective responsibility within this new abnormal is critical. The finish lines will move, the rules of engagement will change and lives will unknowingly be lost or saved depending on how much we—individually and collectively—can adjust.” 

51��Ʒ��Ƶ had just announced a shift to virtual learning on March 11. On the 20th, only 82 cases of COVID-19 had been  in Pennsylvania that day, and no deaths; nationally, more than 15,000 cases were  and 201 lives had been lost. It was hard to imagine that a year later, after more than half a million deaths, substantial economic hardship and lives disrupted in a multitude of ways, we would still be managing pandemic conditions.

But, as the University shifted to remote learning on March 23 and the country began to grasp the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, 51��Ʒ��Ƶ people made the adjustments necessary to not only persevere, but to deliver on the University’s mission through difficult times.

Students, faculty and staff pivoted to new ways of ,��,�������Ի���. Facilities and other essential staff members kept the University clean and maintained, , for those who remained on campus. Alumni in the health care fields staffed  around the country.

Researchers sprang into action to . Ethicists debated  as ICUs filled with sick patients. Inventors got  for COVID-19 treatments and the University  many more. Historians  and 51��Ʒ��Ƶ offices set up special programming  weather uncertainty. The University Counseling Center expanded its  to help students near and far cope. Exercise science pros  to keep the community active.

As we wondered how long this all would last, med students  to children and adults in need. While we figured out online grocery ordering and how to navigate friendships at a distance, staffers put out ,�������Ի���. When shops and restaurants shut down indefinitely, entrepreneurs .

Amid all that, we  in spectacular fashion as they lived through—yes—an unprecedented final semester, and we sent off the .��

And those were just the early days. As spring faded to summer and we began settling in to a new normal, facilities staff prepared for parts of the 51��Ʒ��Ƶ community to return to campus—from to .

Since last March, COVID-19 has fundamentally changed almost every aspect of life and death. There’s no denying that the more than 525,000 people who have died and the millions more who have contracted the disease have changed us as a nation. There’s also no denying that the pandemic has revealed in us all a capacity for resilience and creativity.

Nearly a year in, we all hope this ends soon and life as usual can recommence. But until it can, the 51��Ʒ��Ƶ community will stand together, continue helping each other, rejoice in our successes, mourn our losses and keep moving forward, because that’s what we do.

Did we miss a compelling or inspiring story from the pandemic? Let us know: pittwire [at] pitt.edu (subject: COVID-19%20Stories)