Items

2022-04-29

Covid Impact

Covid has had a huge impact on everyone throughout these past two years. Many people lost their lives, jobs, and it has impacted people mental health. Living through covid hasn't been easy for many of us we went from living our day to day life and all of a sudden a virus was infecting the whole world and we were stuck in quarantine. Personally this had a huge impact on my mental health i felt like i was going crazy being stuck all day inside with nothing to do. Not just that i was stuck with all my thoughts and feelings that i was avoiding and now they were all there with me making things harder for me. I would typically have some sort of distraction but at that moment i had none. My motivation for school decreased heavily i wasn't able to learn good through a computer screen although i did like just waking up 5 min before class started. When covid started i was a junior in High school and i thought by the time i was a senior and graduating it would all be done but i was wrong. Its been two years now and it is still a thing. It does suck knowing i missed the last half of my high school years i didn't get to experience all the fun senior activities but the thing i am grateful for is i did have a graduation ceremony which at that point is all i really wanted. Recently things have been slowly going back to "normal" and i feel like many of us have gotten used to this.

2021-08-21

State Champions

Before the shut down my junior year of high school, our soccer team had won the state championship. This memory is one of the best experiences of my entire life, but was drowned out by the pandemic. When we returned to school the following August, we were granted our state championship rings--- with a twist. Everyone was in masks, and due to social distancing each player only got to bring 2 family members. It has been a long school tradition that when a team is honored, the entire school and whole families of the players are in attendance. But because of social distancing, this was no longer a possibility. My four little brothers were unable to come, and they were my biggest supporters, My friends and teachers had to watch from the class room via live stream, and although they still got to "see", it simply wasn't the same. This was one of the most important things to me this far into my life, and for the ones I loved and cared for most not to be there for me hurt a lot.

2020-06-25

DVUSD Letter to Parents Announcing 2020 Graduation

On May 1st, Dr. Curtis Finch, the Superintendent of Deer Valley Unified School District (one of the largest districts in Arizona), sent a letter as part of a daily update during the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Due to laws and regulations, there were many people unsure about whether the Class of 2020 would have a graduation ceremony. In this letter, Dr. Finch announced that an in-person ceremony would be held during the summer (July 2-3) due to a survey where the majority of parents indicated that they wanted an in-person ceremony. He stated a specific time for each high school and explained that additional information would be given each week, due to needing to plan exactly how the ceremony will work depending on guidance at the time. On June 25th, the graduation was canceled. This item shows the work and resilience that went into trying to give students and their families the milestones that they were hoping to experience. Many people, businesses, schools, and other organizations worked to find ways to safely host events. While some worked, this is an example of a plan that did not go through.

2020-11-01

Informal Graduation Congratulations – HIST30060

With the cancellation of mass gatherings during the lockdown periods, many university students completing their final semester were sadly unable to attend their formal graduation ceremonies. This photograph, taken in November 2020, shows a congratulatory card and gift which were given to a friend after completing her Bachelor of Agriculture degree. University is a difficult time, and was made even more difficult by the unprecedented pandemic regulations. While very different from the traditional formalities, we still wanted to add a bit of excitement with this token of our appreciation. Small gestures such as this are an example of the innovation and creativity which many had to utilise, once denied access to many regular systems. Furthermore, it represents the importance of reaching out to friends and family whilst in isolation. Something as simple as a card acts as a reminder that there are people who support, care about and are proud of them. HIST30060.

2021-10-06

Sharing Experience, Cochrane Times, October 6th 2021.

2.) This is another photo within the Cochrane Times dedicated to documenting Canada’s first Orange Shirt Day; this was an article from the October 6th paper. The text underneath the photo reads: “Sharing Experience, Residential school survivor Jenny Clark shares her story with those gathered near the McDougall Stoney Memorial Church ahead of a ceremonial walk to Morley on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30.

2021-10-06

Cochrane Times October 6th, 2021 (1)

1.) This is the FrontPage paper for the Cochrane Times newspaper on October 6th, 2021. The front page’s photo content is as follows: “Members of the Stoney Nakoda First Nations and guests on the land make their way down Highway 1A from the McDougall church to Morley in a somber ceremonial walk on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day, September 30”

2021-08-20

A High School Class "Lost in Space"

Lining the walls of my school’s athletic center are 113 shields containing the names of the members of the corresponding graduating class. Over this past summer (2021), the alumni association at my high school posted a photo from the Class of 2021 graduation presenting their shield with the caption included in this post. Out of 114 graduating classes, only one is missing from the wall, and that is my grade, the class of 2020. Like the “generation lost in space” referenced in Don McLean’s American Pie, the class of 2020 was the grade lost in space. I do not resent my school for the lack of an effort to ensure our class was included amongst the others. Yet as the wounds created by the pandemic were closing following a year in college, I returned home to find a deafening gap between the shields of 2019 and 2021 on the walls of my home of 13 years. For months, I felt the need to have in my back pocket a thesis to convince others that I had a right to feel disproportionately cheated by the pandemic. To my brother upset about his second year of college, to high school juniors, and to anyone else who dared to undermine my pain. “There are people dying, and you are complaining about your high school graduation?” Walking this hallway suggests that without a graduation ceremony, a high school class will not be documented in what is more or less an archive of the school. Ironically, it seems that perhaps this graduation was more important than anyone acknowledged.

2020-06-25

Hats Off: Finding Closure Amid Uncertainty

This screen recording, a small snippet taken from a live video posted on the Richardson High School Eaglettes Facebook page on June 25,2020, takes place in the back parking lot of my former high school. The fixture in the middle of the video is a "stick chick", and just beyond the stick chick is the stadium where I performed at every football game for the last three years as a member of the Richardson High School Eaglettes, a Texas style dance team. What you witnessed was the senior hat-hanging ceremony, meant to be performed in our big auditorium at the end of our final show that is usually held in April. This moment is meant to be the pinnacle of the drill team experience, a last bow in front of your teammates, family, and friends as they celebrate and applaud you for your hard work and dedication. Every early morning, every sore muscle, every tear of frustration was meant to be justified in this moment, when I could finally hang the heavily sequined hat that carried the makeup, sweat and troubles of my three-year experience and inwardly declare "I did it". But that moment never came. When school closed indefinitely in March amidst the raging global pandemic, our final show was the first event to be cancelled, followed shortly after by prom and graduation. The disappointment was crippling. I felt my world cave in as every important moment I had waited months for was stripped from me, and soon sadness made way for anger. Then one day I received an email, announcing the date of an outdoor and socially distanced closing Eaglette ceremony. And funny enough, the moment you see here almost didn't happen. I was so content with my anger that I contemplated not attending the ceremony, controlled by the belief that denying myself of this moment would show the pandemic that it could no longer hurt me. But with some motherly encouragement I gathered myself up at the last minute, making it just in time to hang my hat. I recieved honks instead of cheers, headlights instead of stage lights, and the ages old concrete of the parking lot as my stage. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. What you witnessed was my moment of victory, my realization that good can spring forth amid bad, and the moment that I decided I would not let the pandemic defeat me.

2021-05-15

Graduation: We Made It Work

I was very lucky to graduate in Spring of 2021 from Eastern Connecticut State University, as my school managed to create a socially-distanced graduation for us. It was a tricky event for the university to handle, and commencement had to be divided into three ceremonies at various times. You had to wear a mask and each chair was placed six feet apart. Handshakes were skipped in favor of elbow bumps and air fives. Despite all the planning, the event was truly memorable and so special to me. In 2020 my father unexpectedly passed away (not COVID related). Being able to attend a "real" graduation in 2021 meant the world to me, as I felt like I had achieved something and was honoring his memory. Though COVID-19 has limited many events, I was fortunate to have participated in a commencement ceremony this past semester.

2020-12-14

Recommendations for Tribal Ceremonies and Gatherings During the COVID-19 Outbreak

These are COVID-19 recommendations from the CDC specifically addressing tribal ceremonies such as sweat lodge, social gatherings and seasonal ceremonies.

This is a picture of a car covered in balloons, with "Congratulations Alex" written on the side.

2021-05-22

To Celebrate

I worked in the high school settings in 2020 when the lockdowns and social distancing were put into effect. For the Class of 2020, the unknown of what will happen and what could happen seemed to weigh heavy on the young adults I taught. However, they also saw many milestones of teenage life suddenly uprooted as proms, end of the year events such as dance recitals, plays, and senior trips were postponed indefinitely and, in many cases, canceled. However, graduation had to happen, and administrations and staff scrambled to figure out how to celebrate the accomplishments of 13 years of schooling (including kindergarten) for their students. In any other year, students would file onto the grass of their home football field one last time, or in an auditorium, if the school graduating class was too large for the field, to the tune of Pop and Circumstance either played by the band or prerecorded; while families surrounded them in the stands cheering, applauding, and blowing air horns, and holding hand-made signs of support, congratulatory nylon balloons of the class year; and flowers and plushies for the end of the night. However, for the class of 2020 many classes held drive-thru graduations. Where lines of cars decorated with school colors and banners of the graduates’ names displayed on paper or painted directly unto the windows to show pride. Airhorns were replaced with car horns and Pomp and Circumstance was replaced with a DJ playing hits, or “bangers” as students would inform me, of the day. The administration would hand the graduate a diploma and a quick snapshot was taken, and teachers were lined up in the parking lot honking and cheering congratulations to the students they never officially got to say goodbye from when the lockdown of “15 days to slow the spread” was at that point surpassing the two-month mark. But graduation did happen and we as teachers did get to celebrate the students, we worked so hard to be ready for the world. Though nothing could really prep them for the next year of lockdown. Fast forward to the class of 2021 and in the state of Arizona we were no longer in an optional shelter in place but “common sense” guidelines; and high school graduations could and would take place at schools that were able to implement social distancing. Most school employees were vaccinated, but masks were still required for anyone who participated in the ceremony and for those who were in the stands. Chairs were spaced out 6-to-8 feet apart, but students were back on their home field her one last time processing once again to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance. However, attendance was limited to 4 tickets per student, an extraordinarily small amount considering parents and grandparents on both sides are six people, and that did not include: siblings; aunts; uncles; cousins; and friends from other schools. Handmade signs, balloons, and airhorns also returned, though limited, students were still happy that “normal” was returning which to them was marking the end of the pandemic.

This is a picture of a group of people dressed in formal attire standing outside. All are wearing face masks. This appears to be a wedding photograph.

2021-03

Pandemic Wedding: Jon and Brittany Wolf

Walls- What things did you have to change for your wedding to happen? (i.e. limit the number of people, venue changes to outside venues, or making face masks required) Wolf-We never really wanted a big wedding so making it as small as possible due to the current world climate was something that we were more than happy to do. We had to limit the guests to only immediate family even though our original intentions were to have more people present; we just didn’t feel right having any bigger of a ceremony. Our ceremony was also outdoors so our family groups could social distance more effectively and we made face masks mandatory at all times. Walls- What was the biggest concern you had about having your wedding during a global pandemic? Wolf- It was the fact that we could not include many people that we know would have loved to have been there. Our decision to limit to only immediate family was a tough one, but the one we felt most comfortable with. We were worried that some people may have been hurt by this decision. That turned out to not be the case, we were not selective with our invites and instead only invited immediate family. Walls- Did you have any reservations about having your wedding at all? Did you have to push back your wedding? Wolf- Not really. It was pretty low-key so we were not worried about spreading the virus. We had reservations when we originally planned a larger ceremony which is why we decided to change it. Walls- What issues, if any, did you have with the vendors that you had scheduled for your wedding? Wolf- We didn’t have any vendors! :) Walls- If you had to push your wedding back, were vendors really flexible on giving you a new date/ refund? Wolf- Same answer as above. Walls- What does it feel like to have gotten married during a pandemic? Wolf- Surreal. It is amazing to have some sense of normalcy during this absurdly crazy time. The accommodations we had to make were things we never even considered before the pandemic hit. It is definitely a story we will look back on fondly!

This is a picture taken of a graduation stage from the back of a large seating area, looking down into the stage area below.

2020-12-11

Flagler College Graduation

Flagler College had a socially distant graduation in the St. Augustine Amphitheater. Masks were required and graduates did not shake hands when they received their diploma. Each student was allowed two guests and had to enter a lottery to try and win extra tickets. There were two ceremonies, one for the Spring graduates of 2020 and the other for the winter graduates of 2020 on December 11th 2020.

2020-12-01

Graduation pack

Since the graduation has been canceled due to COVID-19, the graduation package had to be shipped to students and let us keep it until it is safe to hold the actual ceremony on campus. I received mine on Dec. 1st, the ceremony was supposed to be hold on Dec. 12 online. I don’t know if the ceremony will be hold in the near future, but I believe that it won’t be what we’ve imagined it. I won’t be able to see all my friends together again, some of us graduated and went to other countries because of the unfriendly policy to international students, and I don’t even know if I will ever see them again.

2020-06-27

We Got Married During a Pandemic

HIST30060: Making History My husband I planned our wedding for November 2020. My extended family lives in Malaysia, and we had organized for them to fly over to Melbourne for the celebrations, inclusive of classic wedding dancing, food and merriment. It obviously did not happen like that – but, it was better. In March, when the restrictions hit Victoria, we decided to move our wedding to June, not even knowing how many guests we would be able to have at that point. A few of our friends eloped, and some even planned a wedding in one night to accommodate the changing restrictions. In the weeks leading up, we pulled together our 20-person guest list, hired a photographer, and on the 27th June 2020, got married in intimate courtyard of our parents’ church. There was no (intense) dancing or fancy decorations, instead we got to focus on each other, on vows we made to each other under God and before our closest family and friends, and we got to live-stream our ceremony to everyone else (big win to not offending anyone). We are so thankful to God – it is better than we could have imagined or planned for ourselves.

2020-09-19

Promotion during COVID-19

Usually military promotions require a ceremony. I would have dressed myself and our two daughter up, my husbands whole battalion would have be present as his superiors would have said a few words. I would have taken off his old rank from his uniform and officially pinned his new one on. Everyone would have cheered and we would have gone to dinner to celebrate. My husbands promotion looked completely different than what we’re used to. He found out he would be pinned ten minutes before the zoom call, the kids were still in their pjs and my husband wasn’t even wearing his pants. Instead we got dressed in a hurry, got on a zoom call with five other people and I pinned him while my dad held the phone. It took less than five minutes start to finish then it was back to whatever we had been doing prior to the call. We ordered in dinner that day just to make it as special as we could. HST580 ASU

2020-08-21

Graduation...with a twist

This picture was taken seconds before I walked across the makeshift stage at graduation. With the sun glaring down and my name about to be called, it almost felt like a normal ceremony. Normal, save the distance between myself and everyone and the sinking feeling that I still couldn’t quite ignore. My last year of high school was anything but what I had imagined it would be. In certain ways, it felt as if I had missed out on what many take for granted. Instead of the final celebrations and traditions of a senior year, COVID-19 gave me an entirely new mindset. I saw the humility of the world, and also the faults we often ignore. I walked across that stage and into an uncertain future, one that I can only look towards optimistically.

2020-07-18

A Socially Distant Graduation

As I sat in my cap and gown, I thought back to my last actual school day. I had spent the day stressing about a statistics test, instead of enjoying time with my friends or thanking my teachers. When the announcement came that we would not return to school, I wished I could redo that day. Yet, I quickly realized that that day, like so many that followed, was a reminder not to take anything for granted and remember what is important. So as I sat with my classmates, I was not sad about the celebrations or goodbyes I missed; I was simply grateful.

2020-08-12

High School Graduation: Quarantine Style

On August 12th, 2020, I graduated high school with my triplet siblings. In our twelve years of public education, never did the three of us imagine for our graduation to look like this. I remember attending my older sister's high school graduation in 2009 - I was a part of the crowd in the bleachers and there were lots of cheers and parties. It would have been a cool full circle moment to have her then attend our graduation from the same high school at the same bleachers, however, 2020 had different plans. Our graduation included no guests, no family, no teachers, we were spread apart across the football field, wearing masks in 90 degree heat, and received our diploma in rows. Although it wasn’t the graduation/end of senior year that we wanted, the strength of our community consistently shone through all obstacles the pandemic presented to us. The strong sense of unity and support the community gave the class of 2020 was truly inspiring and will one day be historical.

2020-06-13

As the Army Goes Rolling Along

Recalled to campus for the annual commencement ceremony by order of the commander-in-chief, these West Point cadets march out onto the green wearing face masks to prevent infection. Just days before the ceremony, a number of cadets tested positive for the virus, underscoring the reality that no place is out of COVID-19's long reach.

2020-05-26

Covid-19 interrupts cultural activities in Bugisu

"Known as Imbalu, in Bugisu sub region hangs in balance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cultural leaders are contemplating calling off event"

2020-05-28

Graduation Pains

As I pondered the loss of graduation, I found myself not sad, but relieved, a feeling I imagine to be in the minority. I reflect on the feelings of someone who does not enjoy events like graduation and how its cancellation was a relief rather than a loss.

05/27/2020

Kris McDaniel Oral History, 2020/05/27

Interview of recent high graduate Kris McDaniel of Blanchard, Oklahoma by Clinton P. Roberts on 05/27/2020. Kris speaks about changes to his senior year of high school and the unique ways his rural town created a drive-through graduation ceremony due to COVID-19. Kris also speaks generally on what it was like to be a young person in high school, missing key moments due to the pandemic, and what he wants future people to know about this experience in this rural community. Submitted for the #ruralvoices collection. Contributed by Clinton P. Roberts, curatorial intern for Arizona State University, HST 580. #HST580 #ASU

2020-05-22

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