The Last Show
For the last 12 years of our lives, we have been making new life within the walls of the school. Growing up with our classmates we shared something very special, our class will always be viewed as the pandemic class. On September 11th, 2001, the Twin Towers came crashing down; it was a horrific day for the Nation. At this time most of our classmates were born. We were born into this world of the unknown. It was 2005, when we all joined together into the class of 2020. Every year we all made new friendships and memories. People come and go but we will never forget the memories we share, we all will carry them in our hearts forever. No one ever imagined a pandemic would force them to miss out on their graduation.
November 17, 2019, there was a report in Wuhan China that an outbreak of COVID 19. The people in China weren’t concerned about it at first, due to them not getting on to the virus it began to spread like wildfire. Every day the news was recording the virus getting closer to coming to the United States. On January 20, 2020, all of our greatest fears became a reality, soon all of the counties were affected with COVID19. Governor, Mike Dewine ordered all of the schools of Ohio to be closed down and we went on lockdown on March 10, 2020. To make matters worse for the graduates of 2020, On May 20, 2020, Governor Dewine signed a new order that would close school for the rest of the school year which confirmed that walking across the stage at time of graduation would not happen. This pandemic has been affecting a lot of people, especially the senior classes around the United States.
The pandemic we are living in right now is putting our time to shine on hold. Due to the social distancing order that was signed by the U.S., seniors won't have the traditional graduation everyone looks forward to. The “traditional graduation symbolizes the closing of one chapter and the opening of another”. This is a very hard time for the senior class, they have put all this time and effort to get here for the last 12 years to not have the opportunity to walk. Senior Jessie Postle stated, “I honestly don’t feel like I am a senior, knowing that I might have the rest of my LAST year taken away from me, it’s really frustrating and upsetting”. This is the last 3 months we are supposed to be with our classmates and share these last memories before we turn the next chapter of life. Jessie stated, “I just want to be with my friends and teachers one last time, play softball, go to prom, and have a traditional graduation. But I have to understand why we can’t right now”. Most of the seniors had big plans for the last few months of school but due to COVID19, it put our senior year on hold. The schools are coming up with ideas to let the senior class have a ceremony of their accomplishments over the years.
Licking Valley High School has a scheduled meeting with all seniors and parents on April 22, 2020, about what they can do to get us recognized for our accomplishments. The school’s creations were a car drive by, diplomas in the mail later ceremony or, preserving graduation for once it is all lifted. Not only did they find a way around the shutdown but they had a light shining at the Randy Baughman Stadium, it lasted 20 minutes and 20 seconds to honor the class of 2020. A lot of other schools across Licking County are doing the same for their students. Throughout this pandemic, our schools, classmates, friends, and families have been our number one supporters.
Personally, this whole situation many of us can’t wrap our heads around, I can’t believe that this has to happen. It’s our senior year, we are all supposed to be hanging out on weekends, doing silly things in school and making the craziest memories these last few months. Due to the virus, our final months together were cut short and our class. However, our hearts may be broken; this virus cannot take away our greatest accomplishments nor does it take away our pride. We have come a long way in the last 12 years of our lives, we are strong. We are the graduating class no one will ever forget about!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/first-covid-19-case-happened-in-november-china-government-records-show-report