CMU School of Drama


Tuesday, September 08, 2020

Unemployed in Alaska: An event planner shares her story

Business Insider: I've always thought of myself as strong. Growing up in Alaska will do that for you. Even though I'm 58 years old, I can still split wood, fix a carburetor, cut salmon, drive a tractor, and do home repairs. Good thing, because my 87-year-old father needs help at his off-the-grid homestead — and lately, I've had the time.

2 comments:

Annika Evens said...

Reading stories of people who are now unemployed because of COVID are so sad to me. But something this woman talks about that is really important is that being unemployed during the pandemic doesn’t just mean lounging around all day. There are so many people who, like this woman, need to care for their family members who are at a higher risk, so getting a high-risk job to pay the bills is not an option for them. So the only source of income that she has is her unemployment check. And with how much back and forth about unemployment there has been recent, I’m sure the unemployment check doesn’t feel very certain every week. It is really hard for me to see all of these people with careers that just are put on pause in so many industries. And the event planning industry, in particular, I’m sure will be one of the later industries to get back on its feet.

Sarah Bauch said...

I imagine being an event planner in Alaska is difficult in itself to constantly find work, due to Alaska having a limited population and it being very remote. Adding COVID on top of this would crush a lot of people’s spirits, but I love that Elisa Hitchcock has turned her unemployment into a somewhat positive experience. It really is a special thing that so many of us have gotten to spend time with our families and loved ones that we wouldn’t have normally gotten to spend. While Elisa is very open and upfront about her financial concerns, she continues to remain focused and positive about not letting crippling thoughts consume her. In a world of so much anxiety and uncertainty, it is so important to find time to unplug and spend time with those that you love. Elisa seems to be a pillar of strength in her family, which certainly is not always easy, and her determination and positivity is inspiring those who are thousands of miles away.