Laughing, crying, stress, fun, excitement. These were the things that were supposed to fill senior year. This was going to be one of the best years of these seniors lives as so many have experienced. Seniors were excited for so many things, football games, prom, graduation and just being around friends all year. Many students were excited to find their dream prom dress and others excited to get out on the field and play their last games.
The seniors were excited for the football games. They were excited to cheer as loud as they could and the band kids were going to finally be able to play their last songs that they had spent so much time developing. The kids on the teams were ready to put their all in this game because they spent years to get where they are. Our senior year was suppose to look so much different. Not having these moments is taking away from the high school experience but is better for their life experience as they have a better chance of staying safe if they are at home.
However, at home the seniors barely see each other. They are lucky to see half the school for two days a week. No one turns on their cameras to see each other in the virtual classes. All they see is a screen where only one teacher is there and only the names of the people who used to sit right next to them appear on a black box. This was supposed to be so different for them. It is safer than being in person with a higher possibility of getting each other sick and their families sick.
It is important to stay safe and this cohort schedule is one of the best ways to solve many of the problems they were having. They can now socialize at school for two days and still get some of their high school experience back.
Now prom was supposed to be so many kids’ dreams, to forget about everything for one night and just enjoy themselves. They would be lucky if they even get to put on their prom dresses and go to dinner as of now. Prom is most likely not going to happen but all they can do is hope.
Graduation was supposed to be the last time they got to hear their classmates names and see their faces before they went off on their own journeys but now it seems like a drive by graduation is the way to go. It is far safer than a normal graduation and it still allows the seniors to see each other and hear their names.
This has been a long school year, getting used to all these new ways of learning. Despite all this tragedy, our school is looking out for our best interest. Yes, prom might be canceled but so many lives are being saved. There are so many more alternatives to the normal. Yes, graduation might not be the normal but sometimes normal isn’t always the best.
Despite all these changes, they are still laughing, crying, being stressed, having fun, and being excited. The seniors are just doing things a little different from normal. They are being safer, making new ways to connect. They will make it through this. This will make them stronger than ever so all they have to do is keep moving forward and being strong.
