Gilberto Almonte

Gilberto Almonte is a sophomore who works part-time at Walmart and lives in Jacksonville. Unlike Hollywood, Jacksonville has fewer cases. Even so, Almonte is religious about wearing his mask.

“See my mom and dad are around forty years old and I don’t want them to catch anything so I take wearing a mask pretty seriously,” Almonte said.

Almonte used to go to school in a hybrid manner, meaning he went to school two times a week and the rest is online. Currently, in Duval county where he lives schools are fully open.

“School feels the same as it used to last year. We go there, switch classes, and talk to friends. I don’t really feel anything different right now in my school after they reopened other than wearing masks,” said Almonte.

His family is also very serious about wearing masks, they wear one whenever they go anywhere. While he doesn’t make his own masks, he has a favorite one. He tries to get one for every new outfit he buys.

“Wearing masks became a daily routine to dress up, my dad usually asks everyone before going in to the car to bring our masks,” said Almonte.

Almonte believes that the virus will last around two years. He feels that way because when they find the cure, they also need to make enough for everyone and give it to everyone, and he thinks that will take a while.

“Wearing a mask hasn’t changed social interactions other than the fact that I can’t see anyone’s full face. So, it seems a little weird when I talk to someone,” said Almonte.