Elizabeth Topalian, Cousin of Bella Topalian, ’23

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines?

Elizabeth Topalian (ET):  I think it’s really good cuz I missing people’s faces but also I’m still kind of weary and like cautious of like especially sick people I think if you’re sick you should still wear it but like if you’re healthy and vaccinated to use you’re allowed to like not wear a mask like

TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask?

ET: Well, I would wear a mask. Like if somewhere you need it, like if I go to a store and they like to require it. But if I don’t wear a mask, that’s because it’s not required, but also like, sometimes I just don’t want to wear one, you know?

TC: What do you think of people who think differently from you: Those that are or are not wearing a mask?

ET: I think that everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Like I’m not going to hate if you know they’re opposing my idea or my opinion, but I just believe what I believe. And I’m not going to judge someone else for thinking differently.

TC: Do you think dropping masks in school was the best decision for the state to make?

ET: I don’t know if it was the best decision for the state to make, but I mean, I honestly kind of like, I don’t think it was the worst, but I don’t think it was the best…Yeah.

TC: Do you think there should be an online option for community members that are not comfortable with these masking guidelines?

ET: Yeah, I think there should be because some people have like sick family members at home and they don’t feel comfortable being with people who aren’t wearing masks. So I definitely believe that there should be an online version.

TC: Do you feel like this mask mandate is causing people to worry or calm them about COVID-19?

ET: I feel like it’s a mix of both like some people might think that it like cases my rise again, but other people are probably like, Oh well COVID is kind of going away. So it honestly varies on the person and I think it’s like mixed