Mike DeWine has recently stated in a press conference that he is officially closing schools down for the remainder of the year. For a lot of seniors, this is a devastating loss. Unlike students who are worrying about how they will complete online learning for the rest of the year, these students have even more to lose. They are missing out on the remainder of time that they could have spent enjoying their last year.

For high school seniors this means missing out on prom and graduation. Prom for high school students is something that almost every prior high school student remembers experiencing. But because of the outbreak, many high school seniors will no longer have this experience.

For college students, it's missing out on the last events and time that they had to enjoy their college experience, and for seniors, it also means missing out on their graduation. But for anyone who is a first-generation college grad, this is an even more devastating loss.

First-generation college graduates are the first within their family to have gone to college. Their family members were unable to ever go to college or may have chosen not to. They may have grown up being told how important college is for them because their family members have never gotten the experience to go to college themselves. After years of working hard, their family members would have finally had the opportunity to proudly see their students walk on stage and receive their diploma knowing that they are the first to do so.

But because of the outbreak of COVID-19, these students are missing out on this opportunity. According to YR Media, some colleges such as Wichita State have chosen to have virtual graduations rather than simply postponing their graduation ceremony. But most of the seniors can agree that virtual graduations cannot replace an in-person graduation.

I'm a senior in college, and I have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak myself. I was supposed to graduate this year after having to take an extra year to go to college, and this year was supposed to finally be the year that I could graduate after five years of college. After years of struggling with the stress of completing classwork, I am one of the first in my family to receive honors while graduating.

However, because of the outbreak, I have lost the opportunity to enjoy my graduation. In my case, my college, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, has decided to postpone their graduation ceremony to September, which I am extremely grateful for.

I am not a first-generation college grad. My father has gone to college along with family members from both sides of my family. Nonetheless, I can't imagine what first-generation graduates are feeling. For graduation to be virtual means that these seniors are not going to be able to have their friends or family members watch them walk on stage to receive their diploma. They have worked tirelessly, and to have this opportunity taken away from them is devastating.

Their family or friends have advocated for them and watched them as they dealt with the stress of classes and maintaining their GPA. For some first-generation graduates, this may have been the year that they have received honors as well. It's extremely important for them to have their family members or friends at their graduation in person to celebrate all of their hard work as they receive their diploma. Imagine spending years working hard in college courses and being the first to be able to handle the stress and finally being the first to graduate among your family only to have that taken away. This is why many students feel devastated and feel that a virtual graduation will not provide the same experience.

So to any college students who feel devastated over losing time at college, remember that you at least get an extra year to come back and do not have to worry about your graduation. Remember the first-generation graduates who have really lost a worthwhile experience.

However, we will hopefully get through this. Many students have started fighting to have their graduation ceremonies postponed rather than cancelled entirely. Although some colleges still refuse to postpone their graduation ceremonies, the one thing that seniors can really do in this case is to host their own graduation ceremony with family members once the quarantine has been lifted. So to any first generation graduates and seniors out there, remember to find a way to celebrate your own graduation, and your accomplishments will not be ignored.