Should Colleges Cancel Graduation For Coronavirus?
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

If Coronavirus Cancels College Graduations, We Better Still Find A Way To Honor Seniors

Coronavirus is raining on the senior's parade.

15695
If Coronavirus Cancels College Graduations, We Better Still Find A Way To Honor Seniors

I am not a senior. However, as a rising senior at one of the many American universities that have decided to cancel all in-person classes and activities for the rest of the spring semester, I sympathize with the students in the graduating class above me.

Completing four years of college is not easy work. It requires perseverance, dedication, and (most likely) more than one all-nighter camped out in the library. Obviously, the degree is the big reward that students receive as a way of commemorating all of their work. However, it is only fair that students get to celebrate their achievements and hard work with the special events specifically for the seniors during their final year of college.

Thankfully, the students were able to enjoy the senior activities and events offered by Fordham during the fall semester, such as Senior Toast as well as a few celebratory Senior Nights. Yet, this does not take away from the fact that they are missing out on the additional celebratory events that seniors usually have the privilege of enjoying.

The sad reality is that the chances of many American universities hosting a traditional graduation seem slim. This is because the CDC has stated that mass gatherings increase the risk of the spread of COVID-19. If I find this upsetting and I am not even in the graduating class, I can only imagine how the seniors are feeling. Graduation is something that not only students look forward to, but it is also an event that their families and close friends eagerly await. I can guarantee that my parents would be devastated if they found out my graduation was canceled.

You only graduate from college once — it is not something that you can simply skip and re-do another time.

It is important to note that other students are also missing out on two months of their spring semester. My heart goes out to athletes–especially the senior athletes–because some of their seasons had to come to such an abrupt end. For the athletes graduating at the end of this semester, it is unnerving to think that their time as a college athlete had to come to a close this way.

We also cannot forget the study abroad students — such as myself! — who had to end their global experience two months early because of how out of hand this virus has become. Not only did study abroad students miss out on half of their amazing experience overseas, but they also may have lost significant amounts of money on future trips that they can no longer take, plane tickets and Airbnb reservations add up over the semester. It was impossible to imagine the gravity of this virus — that has turned into a pandemic — when booking these trips earlier in the semester.

I understand the decision of many schools across the country for closing down. I respect that the schools are doing what they can to protect their students and staff members, and to stop the spread of COVID -19. Having said that, I strongly believe that a decision regarding a ceremony that is as important as graduation should be thoroughly deliberated.

I am sure that schools can brainstorm some alternatives for the traditional college graduation that still manages to capture and maintain the importance of graduating and receiving a degree.

Report this Content
Student Life

Love Lost

Being the girl that is falling for the boy is never easy.

611
Love Lost
Pexels

You constantly text my phone telling me that you want to see me and hang out, even though we may not have sex we cuddle and that’s intimacy in its own. I’m tired of buying you food and being there for you like a girlfriend when you consistently tell me you aren't ready for a girlfriend. I am constantly feeling I’m getting slapped in the face because I’m doing all these things and getting nothing in return. Every day I feel myself liking you more which is just crazy because why would I even waste my time liking someone there isn’t a future with. I just want you to be honest with me and with yourself, tell me how you feel from your heart, stop just saying you aren’t ready. You are wasting time telling me you aren’t ready because while you are “getting ready” some guy somewhere else is telling me that he likes me and thinks I’m beautiful and wants to date me. I’m not asking for much, but I at least want exclusivity because you ask me for all these things but in return you give me nothing.

Keep Reading...Show less
Pretty Little Liars

From reading the books in eighth grade to watching the television show all throughout high school, "Pretty Little Liars"basically defined my teenage existence. I was completely and totally obsessed on all accounts. However, even though I loved the fact that the books and the show are starkly different, there are simply just some ways in which the books are much better. Let's take a look:

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

To The Girl In The Back Row

I just want you to know you are loved. You are loved so very much.

1558
To The Girl In The Back Row
Sojo.net

Recently I was blessed to be a counselor at a wonderful camp, secluded in a cornfield somewhere in Virginia. I consider myself to be a seasoned camp counselor, as I have not only been a camper for most of my life but have been privileged enough to work multiple camps with all kinds of different facilities. I have worked camps with multi-thousand dollar facilities, with zip lines, rock walls, ropes courses, and boats. I have worked at camps with amazing water sports, camps with paintball, camps with canoes and paddle boats and floating blobs or trampolines in the middle of the water. I have worked at camps with in ground pools and camps without any pools, and even some camps with go-karts. I've had problem kids, kids who refuse to listen to anything I say, kids who sneak out after lights out to meet a significant other, and kids who are every camp counselors dream.

Keep Reading...Show less
Politics

Why The United Nations Is Key For The World

"As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th"- Donald J. Trump

1947
Why The United Nations Is Key For The World
Flickr/ses7

The United Nations (UN) has been in existence since June of 1945. Since then, the world has come together to work on and solve some of the harshest problems that face the Human Race. Be it children in societal ills like Human Trafficking, natural issues like Deforestation, or issues of extreme poverty, the UN has worked together in an attempt to make it a better place for us all. It's the only organization in the history of the world to bring people together in a willing, peaceful way; a feat that not even the League of Nations could do in the Post- WWI era. Why was it that one organization failed, and the other one is still going strong, 72 years later?

Keep Reading...Show less
Rory Gilmore
Bustle

Quick-witted and insanely smart, Rory Gilmore has a track record for memorable, relevant quotes that have become a part of fans’ repertoires. With it being finals season, many of Rory’s words can be conveniently interpreted to reflect life during the last weeks of the semester. Here are some of Rory’s wisest words that explain your life during finals season.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments