I distinctly remember watching the movie "Quarantine" and thinking how shocking but far-off the premise was from anything I would ever encounter in my lifetime. Although many aspects of the film do not apply in our current COVID-19 pandemic, there are similarities that certainly make you do a double-take.

Personally, I came home for spring break and departed with my family for a tropical getaway in Antigua. At the time, the Corona Virus was a topic of concern, but there were no travel bans in place, and we were only told to take necessary precautions. While on the island, the situation RAPIDLY escalated. Penn State initially took action by declaring all classes to be held remotely for three weeks following spring break. Within days, I was told I was going to finish my final semester virtually, graduation included.

Although I, like many others, am extremely grateful for my family's health and wellbeing, I am also disappointed with the way my last semester as a college student is going. I will never get to spend those last nights with my friends, laughing and cherishing our times together. I will never get to walk around campus as a student again. Most devastatingly, I will never get to graduate in a way that feels synonymous with all of the years of hard work getting my degree. I know colleges such as my own are holding virtual graduation and say they plan to have an in-person ceremony when the pandemic ends, but it is simply not the same.

On top of the "lasts" we will never get to experience, college seniors are being thrown into a job force that is currently not hiring head first. I spend most of my free time (I have definitely have more now) searching job boards and connecting with alumni, most of whom have told me that companies are laying off/furloughing current employees and will not be taking on new prospects until things clear up. An already stressful situation most post-grads experience after college has been made almost impossible.

Many will say that others have it worse than we seniors need to get over it. In a way, they are correct— thousands are ill or dying from this horrible virus sweeping the world. Essential workers such as doctors and nurses are nobly working non-stop while putting their own health at risk to save others.

However, they are wrong in the sense that it is MORE THAN OKAY to feel disappointed in the loss of celebrating your personal/academic achievements.

All in all, I am more than grateful that I have my family together, safely social distancing. We are luckier than most who have suffered insurmountable death and loss. With that, I couldn't agree more with the current restrictions in place to keep everyone safe and prevent viral spreading.

At the end of the day, it is okay to agree to the safety measures put in place while still "mourning" experiences you lost. These hardships and difficult times will hopefully make us all more thoughtful and flexible people and professionals.