Dear Class of 2020,
Two months ago, many of you went on Spring Break and never returned to school because of a virus that changed everything in a matter of days. School districts and universities all over the country moved to online classes as the Pandemic spread.
But you never lost hope that you could still go back to school and finish out your last semester. But unfortunately, days turned into weeks, then months and finally before you knew it, it was the end of the school year.
There will never be enough words that someone can tell you that will make you feel better about missing your last semester of high school or college.
For High School Seniors, your class missed out on senior traditions like Senior Week, Senior Prank, Senior Skip Day, Senior Night, and Prom. Spring Athletics never finished their last sport season or performing art students never competed at their final UIL, Spring play or concert. But most unfortunate tradition is your class didn’t get a chance to walk for the first time across the stage to receive your high school diploma.
For College Seniors, you didn’t get a chance to go to a final sports game, your last formal, Spring events, last college parties, your college ring ceremony, take Senior pictures, present your Senior Project, go to grad parties, decorate your graduation cap or study one last time for finals at the library. But most importantly after years of hard work, you didn’t walked the stage at your graduation ceremony to finally receive your college diploma.
Pass graduating classes are speechless because we never thought that there would be a class that wouldn’t get to experience these special moments. As a high school and college graduate, my heart goes out to all of you and if I could do anything I would give you my senior memories but I know it wouldn’t be the same.
Many of you dreamed of your final year and doing all the traditional Senior things but you never thought something could take it all away. You all were simply robbed of your ‘Senior Year’ and will never get those special moments back.
But something that the Corona-Virus or anyone else can never take away from you, is your degree. All your hard work all these years was definitely not for nothing. At the end of this, you are not only going to survive the Pandemic but you are going to receive the most important and (college graduates) most expensive piece of paper that will remind you that you’re capable of achieving anything no matter what is happening in the world.
So yes, you might not be able to walk across the stage like you dreamed of but remember you still graduated and you got that degree! While this moment in your life ended differently than what you expected, you are all now entering a new chapter in your life.
For my high school graduates, college will be an exciting experience so enjoy every moment. As for my college graduates, now you’re enter the ‘real world’ and you are all definitely in for a wild but good ride! So look forward to the future because it will definitely be better than the past.
Congrats Class of COVID-19! Just Kidding….Class of 2020,
Lidia
P.S. Congrats to all of my graduating friends. I’ve known some for more than 10 years and others for a shorter time but I’m so proud of each one of you. You all persevered during this time and I know each one will be successful. I love you guys and can’t wait to celebrate you!
