Seniors across the worlds are being jipped from their high school graduation. Some schools find it unsafe to hold a graduation with the risks of COVID-19. However, some schools are trying to still have their seniors experience the pivotal moment of a teenager's life, in a modified way. My high school is one of them.
My principal has always aimed to please his students, and the way he has handled the pandemic has been outstanding. He has held weekly Zoom calls to update us on special events he is going to be holding, one for which a parade so we can say one last goodbye to our teachers. He is also holding a modified graduation, where will be having it drive-thru style. We will come to the school in our cars with our immediate family, in our caps and gowns, and we will have a modified ceremony. Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and class president will give their speeches, and our principal will send us off as graduates of Ward Melville High School. We will be hearing all of the traditional speeches and honors through our car radio, like a Christmas tree light house. There will be having 5 separate days divided up alphabetically, to avoid traffic issues.
The way we receive our diploma has been carefully designed by our principal and his team; we drive up to the front of our school in a car with our family, the graduate walks out of the car in their cap and gown, receive their diploma with the principal and head staff 10 feet away. Our photos will be taken and there will be a videographer documenting the whole event. They have made it so it is safe enough to not have to wear a mask in the photos.
I am so grateful that my principal has not given up on the senior class. This is such a hard time for graduates to deal with huge milestones were taken from us in a blink of an eye. It is truly heartbreaking.
However, it is very easy to turn a negative into a positive.
When you have bright minds come together and work hard for your students, it just makes the students appreciate the school and the staff even more, because it shows their love for their students. I encourage all schools across the world to still continue to try and have your students experience what they should have experienced, just in a modified way. This is completely safe and it still is quite special.
