For years everyone hypes up how great and important senior year is and at times I took that for granted. Sometimes I wished that I would graduate sooner. But I have never wanted anything more than to go back to school and finish my senior year.
When the talk about this virus first started to become a well-known issue I thought well maybe it will just affect us for a short amount of time little did I know it would strip my family, my friends, and myself of any celebration of what I have accomplished over the last 12 years.
These last few weeks I have been telling myself that I'm okay, that yes this isn't the most ideal situation but it will get better. I said that when I thought I was gonna go back to school and act as nothing happened. Today my school district announced that the remainder of the year would be online. That broke my heart I will never see some of the underclassmen again. I may never see my teachers again. I might never get that final closure.
Like many other people, I was in an activity more specifically a robotics team. Anyone that is or knows of someone on a robotics team knows that its an all-year-round commitment. You work half the year to prepare for competition and the other half of the year you compete with that robot, and those people become your family. As a senior on the robotics team, I was looking forward to doing so many things within the team like the senior walk, presenting to judges, cheering my team on from the stand, and teaching my younger members new things.
Sadly on March 12th, they canceled the entire competition season leaving myself and the other seniors on the team devasted. I remember the moment our coach sat the team of 45 members down to tell us the news, some of us already knew, I just looked at him and immediately broke down in tears because I knew that my time on the team had come to an end. Then I turned away as I heard the pain in his voice as he repeatedly told the seniors how sorry he was because he knew how much work we had put into this team. That was when I knew that this was serious and that my life could be changed forever.
Not only did we work all year to achieve this goal and not get to see what happened but that cancellation meant that we had all of our last moments without actually knowing or appreciating them. We had our last team dinner, team breakdown, our last 4522 (inside joke), our last projects, our last everything. This can also be found true for anyone in any sort of activity. It's heartbreaking to know that everything you have worked towards the last 4 years gets taken away.
Aside from activities, 2020 seniors are not able to experience normal traditions. My school does a candlelight service as well as a final walk down the hall which as of right now, has been canceled. We aren't getting those memories. Instead, our senior year memories will be zoom calls, college scholarships, and loneliness.
I urge everyone to think back to your senior year and the great memories you have with your friends, the traditions you had, even your graduation ceremony and how important those moments were in your life. Now think about how many seniors aren't getting those memories. Yes, there are many other people affected by the current situation but reach out to any seniors and check in on them. We understand that life doesn't revolve around us but our life has just been torn into pieces.
To my fellow seniors: I'm sorry that this year was like this. Take these next couple weeks to reflect on your high school careers. Talk to your underclassmen friends and give them advice and tell them that you love and appreciate them. Make sure they know you will always be there for them. This year was not something we expected and we can't change what has happened so adapt and overcome, this makes us stronger in the end.
To my underclassmen: don't take this time in your life for granted. Go to that football game or join that activity. Please don't wish away your highschool life, cherish what you have and what you will have. You only have one chance to be a teenager. Also, make sure your seniors know you won't forget about them.
Also, a huge shoutout to school districts who are trying super hard to celebrate the class of 2020, thank you!