This Is What It's Like to Start a New Life—and Write a Book—in COVID Times: Jess Ilayalith Mora

For many young graduates, the COVID-19 pandemic put a dent in most future plans. From deserted summer music festivals to delayed careers, the impact of cancellations and never-ending postponements range from short-lived disappointment to life-altering damage. After spending a year abroad in Paris coupled with a strict lockdown from March to April, I moved my belongings to a new city just as far from home while preparing for a remote quarter “at” UChicago. I’ve spoken to many students who have done the same, whether they chose to stay with family outside the US, or similarly prolonged their study abroad (if you can even call it that) experience. It’s strange enough to move to a city, and even more so in 2020. I began to wonder how odd this must be for my graduated friends all around the world. This interview represents the second in a series where we can learn more about what starting a new life looks like in these times and, I hope, providing a bit of hope to those of us with big plans.

Meet Jess Ilayalith Mora, a class of 2020 graduate who recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Jess is currently writing a book titled Spread Your Wings and FLI, which will provide resources to help first-generation, low-income students succeed in higher education. You can pre-order her book here and read on to learn more about what the future author is up to!

What have you been up to since graduation?

I think a silver lining of moving to Jacksonville right now has been that I do have a lot of time on my hands. I work a nine to five, so Monday through Friday I'm on my computer. I work as a financial analyst for the digital marketing team of my company. That’s been really fun. I've learned so much. Even though we're online, my manager and other coworkers are so willing to teach me a lot. Outside of work, I’m writing a book. That takes a lot of time on its own. Up until, say, maybe September, I was interviewing people for my book. So, you know, finding people on LinkedIn and reaching out to them, scheduling calls with them, transcribing those interviews, forming them into stories, putting stories together into chapters… I think I've gotten the time to do that because I'm trying to stay home as much as possible.

I also got a little side gig as an assistant to a video producer who works in LA. That's also been really cool because while he may be on the west coast and I'm on the East Coast, I can still work with him. Working remotely has become the new normal and it's no longer weird to hire someone who doesn't live in the same city as you. I've been able to learn so much just because I've had all this time.

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It must’ve been so strange to end uni in COVID times. The pandemic was still so new to us…

It was definitely a very surreal experience. It didn't really feel like I was graduating even though, since I’m from Chicago, I was able to go back to campus to take some graduation photos. I got my cap and gown in the mail, UChicago sent a few gifts like coffee mugs, coffee, and some Garrett’s popcorn. So that was really nice. But even when I got my diploma mailed to me, it still didn't feel completely real. I think it was because, you know, on actual graduation day, I was just having breakfast with my family while watching the ceremony. It definitely felt a little anticlimactic, not how I expected four years at UChicago to end. I mean, it was the only thing that could have happened. And so, I think I'm just really looking forward to getting to see my classmates and my peers at some point later. I don't know if that'll be June 2021. We might have to wait a little later after that. But I kind of like knowing that I'm going to get to see them at some point. And maybe have a little ceremony depending on what UChicago does.

What surprised you most about your new city?

Ooh, yeah. I think Jacksonville really gets a bad rap. Florida is definitely on the conservative side, but I’ve noticed that Jacksonville wasn't so much. I don't know if it's just the people that I surround myself with. I went in with very low hopes with how things would be in terms of the political climate—especially with this being an election year. I was definitely very nervous about that. But I was happy to see that not all of Jacksonville is conservative, that I was able to find some people and some small businesses to support.

One of the things that I really love about Jacksonville is that it has this small-town feel. But it has all the resources of a city. I think it’s the largest city land-wise in the continental US, which is kind of cool. Another thing I really like about Jacksonville is that it has a huge farmers’ market pop-up scene. I was going to a few of those in Chicago, but that's obviously only in the summer, maybe the springtime. And because it doesn't get that cold in Jacksonville, I'm able to go once a week, maybe a few times a month. I really like that because a lot of the same businesses and pop ups come up in the different farmers’ markets. I'm able to keep up with local vendors and you know, buy some candles, buy some earrings, just buy different things that are Jacksonville-specific. I don't know how long I'll be in Jacksonville for so I really want to enjoy those things that are local to the city, things I wouldn't necessarily be able to find somewhere else.

What made you choose Jacksonville over a big city like Chicago or New York?

I think ultimately, when I was looking at jobs, it came down to staying in Chicago or taking one in Jacksonville. What it came down to was that, I'm born and raised in Chicago, I've been to school in Chicago my entire life, and I really wanted to try something new. Jacksonville seemed to seem like a great place to do it. I love the weather and the cost of living is really low so I'm able to afford some luxuries that I wouldn't be able to otherwise. My apartment building has a pool, but my rent isn't as sky high as it would be if I were living somewhere like New York or LA. There’s a big foodie scene here and eating out isn't very expensive. I'm really enjoying that—and the $5 beers!

I enjoy getting to find my place in a new city, that is one of the most exciting things one can do, which is why I do it a lot. And I try to do it as much as I can.

I think one of the worst parts about moving to a city right now has been that, because we're in a pandemic, I can't really do some active hobbies. Especially with the acrobatics scene, there's a group of people that get together to do acro at a park, that's maybe a five-minute drive from where I am. I have not been able to go because acro is not a socially distant friendly activity and I don't really know any of these people. That's certainly a little disappointing to know that those things are out there, but that I can't really do them right now.

Any silver linings in all of this?

I feel like in the beginning of the pandemic there was this pressure to be productive and I did feel that. I didn't want to burn myself out, especially at the beginning, but I think now I would go absolutely crazy if I didn't have anything to do. While all of the things I’m doing may seem like a lot, I think they help give structure to my day. They help keep me grounded and help me feel like I'm connected to people that I'm not living with. It has been kind of therapeutic for me.

In terms of writing this book, it has most definitely been a blessing in disguise for helping keep me busy. I actually started this book project the weekend after graduation, so I picked it up almost immediately. I really like still having this learning process. It feels a little bit like class in that every week we have a workshop. Right now, it's with the head of publishing. But before that it was with this book author coach who was helping us go through the entire writing process. Now we're going through the entire publishing process. It’s good to meet other people who are going through this process, ask them for feedback, and just support each other in that way.

“I didn't want them to feel like they were alone in their experience or that they didn't have a support system… I've been there before, and these are my words to reassure you that everything is going to be okay.”

What else have you learned from becoming a first-time author?

I've really enjoyed just getting to put my words on paper. I mean, I wrote my entire BA thesis for Public Policy on the experiences of first-gen and the low-income students in higher education, taking UChicago was a case study. This just really came out as a natural extension to that. I was like, “Okay, these are the challenges that first-gen low-income students are facing, what ways can I help address?” I felt like, as I was interviewing people, especially underclassmen, they were expressing to me these common problems like “Oh, yeah, I'm facing this issue where I don't exactly know how to go to office hours. How are you supposed to start feeling comfortable asking your professors or your TA for help without feeling down or like an impostor?” As I was sitting there interviewing students for my thesis, I was realizing I totally went through that. I knew people who went through that. I didn't want them to feel like they were alone in their experience or that they didn't have a support system.

I feel like this is what this book is. It's telling students, whatever you are feeling right now, whether you're a freshman, a sophomore, a junior, whatever, it's okay and it's valid. I've been there before, all these other professionals have been there before, and these are our words to reassure you that everything is going to be okay. These are some tools to help you as you find your way. That's something I really wish I had. I’m just hoping to give back a small part of that comfort that my peers and mentors gave to me when I was in college.