An Open Letter to the Class of 2020 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

An Open Letter to the Class of 2020

We (almost) made it

102
An Open Letter to the Class of 2020

There is no part of this that is fair. We have gone through the same 12 years as every class before us and every class that will follow. But we, we are the ones who are robbed of everything our last four years has led up to. We have spent countless hours studying for the SAT, days and weeks perfecting essays so that we would get into our dream schools. We faced the same celebrations and heartbreaks as every other person who has ever applied to college. Only now, we must commit to a school without spending the day on campus for accepted students day or walking around the downtown going into every store and finding the best place to eat. For kids who applied to schools far away without touring campuses, you need to find your home site unseen through pictures online. Or better yet, we give up and leave the choice up to whichever video gets more likes on TikTok. When we finally make the biggest decision of our lives so far we don't get the chance to celebrate with friends or put a pin in a map, star on a wall or name on a board for the school to see. It's not fair.

If I had known last year that I'd never step on a lacrosse field again, I wouldn't have taken a game for granted. Every spring athlete is in the same shoes. We were teased with a season that ended before it began. We practiced only to find that it was in vain. Many of us planned on ending our sports career after graduation; it was another thing we had to say goodbye to. We were robbed of our last hello. The same goes for the theater kids. The seniors who finally got the lead only to find that they would never see opening night. Many of the musicals have been rehearsing for weeks or months now and to have the time and efforts lost is heartbreaking.

Prom, senior trips, retreats, graduation. These were supposed to be the days we laughed about, silently remembering the memories you made that helped you say your final goodbyes to the life that had become so comforting and familiar. We may never be able to show our kids our prom pictures, only to have them judge our outfits, or tell them about our senior prank and how we were threatened with not walking at graduation. because we may not get to walk either way. We may never throw our caps in the air after listening to the valedictorian give their speech. We may never celebrate our schools traditions surrounding May 1st or our final days at school. Our goodbyes may be left unsaid. We may never get to walk down the halls again or run to class because you can't be late (again).

At only 17 and 18 years old we have been forced to cope with the fact that our senior year will be like no other. This will be taught to our children in their history classes. We are expected to be understanding because of the tragedy that is this pandemic but how about the tragedy of our last months as a high schooler? Should we in turn expect officials, school boards and principals to understand us? Yes. Even though we are lucky enough to stand here healthy and loved that is no excuse to allow adults to be disappointed when we are upset. Yes, we understand that in the greater scheme of things going on in the world, we are lucky. But we are kids. Our lives revolve around the now, the now shows us that everything we've been looking forward to, may never come. We are allowed to be upset. Don't let people who don't understand tell you to look on the bright side. The bright side may be brighter but that doesn't mean it is bright.

Sincerely,

A heart broken Senior


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

20 Things You Forgot To Thank Your Mom For

Moms are super heroes dressed in yesterday's clothing and they deserve an award for that.

1126
family
Facebook

Dear Mom,

You took care of me and my brothers our entire lives and you still continue to! I will not be able to truly grasp all of the hard work that you put into this family until I create my own one day. But, I know that there are plenty of times I forgot to give you a simple thank you or an appreciative smile. I thank you for everything that you have done for me and will continue to do for me. Here are some examples of those times where you had my back and I forgot to pat your back for saving me:

Keep Reading...Show less
pumpkin
Holytaco.com

College is hard. As people ages 18-22, we’re just trying to figure out what we’re doing with our lives, our careers, our eating habits, exercise routines, sleep patterns, and other necessities for adult life. We definitely don’t take proper care of ourselves; it’s basically impossible when we have essays, tests and readings due and somehow we’re supposed to eat right, exercise and sleep. We’re doomed to get sick. I have zero experience in science but when I get sick there are certain things I do to make myself better.

Keep Reading...Show less
Bob's Burgers
Hyannishyball

First of all, there is no shortage of fun when you're together.

And you often find yourselves entertaining each others terrible ideas.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The Unwritten Rules Of "Talking"

What is "talking?" How does one "talk?"

9084
girl holding phone
NYCPRGIRLS

Now that it seems “talking” is the new way to date, and will stay that way until another idiotic term is used to describe the people who can’t settle down and just date someone, I feel as if it’s time to go over the unwritten rules of “talking.”

Rule 1. Having feeling without feeling.

Keep Reading...Show less
The Stages of Having FOMO in College
iamthatgirl.com

Are you one of those people that gets super upset when you miss out on anything? Well, you may have FOMO, or fear of missing out. In college it’s not hard to experience FOMO every once in a while. You just love doing everything and anything, so hen you have to miss out on something it's the worst possible thing in your mind. Whether you’re sick, have to work, or have so much work to do you could cry – FOMO will hit you hard in college.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments