The Class of 2020… yes, they’ll have stories to tell their children and grandchildren about how they were quarantined at the end of their senior year. I’m sure they would prefer to have the memories of traditional senior year moments than those of an unprecedented pandemic.
High School Senior
The experience I am living is with my high school senior. Having an older daughter, too, I remember how much fun the last part of the year was when she was a senior. The pressure is very much off for the first time. They know where they’re going to college and the workload has significantly lightened up. It’s a time to relax and enjoy the final stretch with their classmates. Lots of fun and so many celebrations.
The Bomb Drops in Little Pieces
We’re all in unchartered pandemic territory. We’ve all watched as the reigns tighten. Times are tough for everyone and actions are more severe every day. People are infected and dying. Health care workers are on the front lines and literally risking their lives while being quarantined from their families. The economy, for the most part, is shutting down and we’re seeing and expecting never-before-seen unemployment rates.
Every day presents more cases, more deaths, more restrictions. Is it even reasonable to worry about a bunch of 18-year-old high school seniors? I say yes. It doesn’t mean we don’t recognize the magnitude of Covid19. Of course we do. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be sad for our children.
Quadruple Whammy
- My high school senior boarded a bus with classmates the day before spring break began. They were headed to Orlando for a statewide Future Business Leaders of America competition. Luggage loaded, ready to pull out of the school parking lot, a member of administration steps on the bus to announce the competition has been cancelled and they need to retrieve their luggage and head to class.
- While on spring break, school announces they will not return to school for two weeks (instead of the scheduled one) due to COVID19. Not terrible… an extended break, right? Except that during the break, they learned they would not be returning until April 1 at the earliest and they would begin online learning. Grad Bash cancelled.
- Now the earliest they’ll return to school is April 15 and that looks unlikely. And prom is cancelled. Many girls had already shopped, found and paid for the perfect dress. My daughter will leave high school never having gone to prom.
- Uncertainty still looms. Not sure if they’ll go back to school at all, but May 1 is the earliest. And to top it all off, graduation is cancelled. Maybe something virtual? Who knows. Maybe something later in the summer when it’s safe? Possibly, although that will bring a host of other challenges. We’ll cross that bridge when we can.
The Impact
Our family has been in full quarantine mode since March 16. Our girls haven’t been at the beach with a pack of friends, grabbed lunch with anyone or hung out at friends’ houses. When our high school senior left for spring break, she didn’t know she might not see classmates again before leaving for college. She didn’t know she wouldn’t be celebrating her graduation with the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” playing as the Class of 2020 enter the venue. Graduation parties are unlikely, college orientations are iffy.
So much uncertainty as these high school seniors mark an achievement and transition to the next stage. Emotions are running high for many during this tough time and I see lots of judging going on. My heart breaks for my daughter and the Class of 2020, for their hard work and achievements. It doesn’t mean I don’t understand that in the current conditions it isn’t the most important issue, but I believe we can grieve for both. I believe God has a plan and we will continue to look for silver linings in this environment.
