Items

• 
  2020-03-31

  I hate this so much

  On March 31st 2020, my state governor, J.B. Pritzker announced that school would be out of session till the 30th of April. I was a senior in high school, and hearing that broke my heart as the last day of school for the seniors was May 8th 2020. The biggest year of most young adults lives is their senior year of high school, as it signifies their last moments of childhood before embracing adulthood. I was in my mother's bedroom sitting on her bed with my sister watching the live newscast. My sister was a freshman in college at the time and about two weeks before had to clear out her dorm room and bring it all home shortly after her Spring Break had ended. She didn't have a particular reaction to it, not that I can remember. After the governor stated that school was out for another month, I began to cry. My mother cried for me, as she knew how much I had been looking forward to my senior year, and graduation, and prom. While I was crying and watching the newscast continue on, I took a photo of myself on Snapchat, and typed out "I hate this so much". I did hate it, because there was nothing I could have done about it, and I was being robbed of a particularly precious moment in my life. Many seniors in the class of 2020, both high school and college, were robbed of what they deserved that year. I'm submitting this because this is one of many real reactions students in my age group had, and it is important to me since I am currently in college to become a history teacher. I'm living through a historic time that I will be teaching my future students about, and I will use the photos and videos I took as primary sources for it.
• 2021-01-24

  My Student Staff Lost Their Graduations

  I manage a staff of Math and Science student tutors for one of the Arizona State University campuses. In early 2020, five of my staff were seniors who started to get excited about their upcoming May graduations. As COVID-19 started spreading, they began to worry that their commencements would not take place. Sadly, they were correct. It was heartbreaking watching them try to accept that their last four to five years of study would not culminate into the graduations they were so looking forward to experiencing. I tried to comfort them by reminding them that all of their hard work these last several years was about to pay off in a future that would provide them many opportunities to succeed. It did not comfort them. Next, I tried to put into words that although their disappointment was valid, their ultimate goal was not walking across a stage but instead to realize their dreams of becoming scientists, mathematicians, medical doctors, etc. It did not help. In the end, it was what it was. There was nothing I could say to make them feel better. In retrospect, what could possibly have been said to comfort these students who may very well have been the first group since the Spanish Flu pandemic that would not experience a traditional university graduation? This was not a time for words. It was just a time to be there if they needed someone to listen and vent to without judgement. True to form, these five did apply to medical and graduate schools, and forensic science positions. I know great things are in store for them. Hopefully, if this pandemic has taught them anything, it is perseverance in the face of adversity. To not give up and keep moving forward.
• 
  2017-10-16

  Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Women of Words - Lisa Farber

  This is an article by Lisa Farber, talking about her child finishing school in 2020, during the pandemic
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  2020-06-16

  Class of 2020 Celebrated by a Rural Community

  The rural community of Tuttle, Oklahoma honored their class of 2020 high graduates with a sign made out of a round bale of hay. The round bale was located just off of State Highway 37 next to the Tuttle Grain & Supply. As part of the creativity, the bale had a sign saying: "Class of 2020" with comments such as "Proud of You!" and "Congrats!" as well as "Great Job!" The sign then covered the face of the hay bale in the design of a large face mask. The community was acknowledging the circumstances that altered the 2020 senior year and graduation to be a smaller event.
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  2020-04-01

  Covid Graduation Meme

  I am submitting it because I thought it was a good meme that tells a lot not only about what is currently happening in the world but also peoples attitudes at the time.
• 
  2020-06-02

  Post Covid-era Graduation Seflie

  I liked this photo because it reminded me of my sister and her friends taking pictures after their graduations with their masks and diplomas like the girl depicted here is.
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  2020-05-21

  How COVID-19 Will Shape the Class of 2020 For the Rest of Their Lives

  Both my sister and my husband had 2020 graduations so I experienced them well firsthand. That being said, when I read this article I thought it was very well written, and that the stories in it were relatable and a good representation.
• 
  2020-06-23

  A COVID Graduation

  I found this story of an in-person graduation to be a bit tragic story. This is because people wanted to believe that COVID was simply ignored in some states. While living in NC we had people that felt that it was just too little risk to slow down large gatherings, we also had restrictions that prevented this exact behavior. I saw many people were doing graduations online, and some were just not even having graduations at all. But this article shows that there was an attempt to hold this ceremony with indications that people were maybe encouraged to wear masks, but they were not mandatory. While there is no indication of more COVID positive people after the graduation, there is a sense of dread to have to go be tested especially after what should be a cause for celebration.
• 
  2020-11-06

  Adopt a Senior 2020

  In my hometown of Corvallis Oregon, after March 13th the class of 2020 never entered the doors of our high schools again. Anything we left in our lockers and classrooms was put in garbage bags and handed to us from 6 feet away. Our graduation ceremony was a parade of cars through the backroads of my hometown. A mother at my high school decided this wasn’t fair, we needed to have another type of celebration. Mealoha McFadden created a facebook group to “adopt” 2020 seniors in our county and shower them with gifts and praise. Many people got their favorite candies, snacks and others got starter kits for college. In my adoption care package, I got a tool set for my dorm, lots of candy, my favorite soda and a note praising my accomplishment. Although times were especially hard in my hometown, there was a glimmer of happiness when a senior got their gifts.
• 
  2020-09-24

  The New Normal: A Virtual Graduation

  As a graduating senior, this email was sent to me by the Provost Office to notify me that this semester's graduation will be virtual. Ever since my freshman year of college, the idea of walking across the stage at my graduation always inspired me to try my best in all of my courses. My hard work and dedication was geared towards this big moment. While it is admirable that St. Mary's is still looking at ways to celebrate their student's accomplishments in the safest way possible, it is still difficult to process that I'll be walking across my living room instead of a graduation stage.
• 2020-07-25

  My Covid Graduation

  Throughout my high school career, the one thing I was most looking forward to was graduating, as any high schooler would look forward to. Not only just getting my diploma and starting my next step in my life, but the actual action of walking across the stage, looking out seeing my family and friends sitting in the crowd cheering me on. The whole concept and excitement of graduation day. Getting all ready in my cap and gown, sitting in the seats next to my classmates who I had grown up with for 13 years and listening to our principle and class president speak. The feeling of finally being free from that era of my life and walking out of the arena with the diploma in my hand. This is what I was looking forward to at the end of my senior year. When my school first switched to online, I still had hope of going back to normal in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, as we all soon began to realize we were not going back, I realized I would not have this dream of a normal graduation after all. My school still had big plans for our class of 2020 graduation. We had a big senior parade where we drove through our village past all of our teachers and big posters of our pictures lined up on the street. Following that, we had our covid-19 version of graduation. There was a stage set up outside of our school and a section in front designated for close family and friends to watch. That day, I had many emotions. I wanted to be excited for graduation, but the thought of all my class has missed out on was still lingering in the back of my head. I walked across the stage and received my diploma, wearing a mask along with everyone there. I watched all of my friends walk across the stage and receive their diplomas too, but on a video. As heartbreaking as it was, I realized this wasn't something I should be sad about. The pandemic opened up a whole new idea of adapting for everyone. It showed everyone that no matter what could possibly happen, such as global pandemic, there is always a way to make the best out of a bad situation. I was still able to make unforgettable memories and have a memorable graduation. This is important to me because I know this is an event that will always be remembered in my life and it was something that helped change my perspective on everything in life.
• 
  2020-08-21

  A Lone Graduate

  This image was taken of me the day before I moved away from my hometown, and in the middle of a global pandemic, it was the only graduation “celebration” I ever got to have. My graduation was rescheduled countless times because of Covid-19, and in a way, I gave up on the thought of having a true graduation. An in-person ceremony was planned, but cancelled due to a large party thrown by members of my class, which resulted in an outbreak. Though the frown in this picture was not intentional, it sums up the impact that Covid-19 had on my experience as a student in the class of 2020.
• 
  2020-05-14

  Adopt-A-Senior

  When my senior year was cut short by the pandemic, the local community rallied together to “adopt” seniors. A Facebook page was created where parents of seniors would post short bios of their children and other people would “adopt” the teens and get them graduation gifts. My adoptee was a faculty member who I was close with. They gathered letters from all of my favorite teachers from grades K-12, which are pictured above. The letters were heartwarming and helped me find closure in the fact that I may never be able to properly say goodbye to the people who molded me into who I am today.
• 
  2020-06-13

  West Point's COVID Class of 2020

  Despite New York's distinction as the nation's first major COVID-19 epicenter, and the US Military Academy's decision to depopulate their campus during the pandemic, the President of the United States insisted upon an in-person graduation ceremony, even though countless high schools and universities had shifted to virtual commencements to safeguard against a viral outbreak. Nevertheless, the soon-to-be-commissioned 2nd lieutenants maintained social distancing throughout the official ceremony, as is seen here during the president's commencement address. Throughout the pandemic, public health officials have warned against large gatherings due to their proclivity for easy and rapid coronavirus transmission, but that did not stop this president from ordering this commencement or planning mass political rallies.
• 
  2020-06-12

  Life carries on

  2020 has been a constant spiral downward since the beginning of the year and now has reached a new low with the outbreak of the corona virus. It has hindered our ability to get together and finish off the school year forcing us apart to complete it online. A time for celebration ruined as we were nearing the end of the school year and the class of 2020 missing out on there most important event of the school; graduation as it signifys there moving on up in life. The photograph represents the tracking of cases which is just getting higher and higher as it continues to spread causing the closure of public spaces. So far this year has been tragic and we have all lost things and the road to recovery is still a ways ahead so we must continue to move forward.
• 
  2020-05-15

  Smith College Commencement Illumination Night

  One of my favorite traditions during commencement weekend at Smith College, my alma mater, is Illumination Night. The school turns off all the lights on campus and strings illuminated Japanese lanterns along all the paths, and everyone walks through them in hushed tones. This year an alumna had the idea to ask alumnae to create their own “lanterns,” photograph them, and upload the photos to social media. This is a selection of a few of them. The school also created an interactive map that shows the lanterns spread across the globe — you can click on a site and see the photos uploaded from that location. I teach in New York City and had just flown down to New Orleans for spring break when the country went on lockdown. I’ve been quarantining in a friend’s empty apartment here since then, and there aren’t a lot of supplies on hand. So for my own lantern, I just took a paper bag from the supermarket, turned it inside out to hide the logo, used an X-Acto knife to cut the words “my sister” out from it (Smith is a women’s college), and put a few candles inside. Somehow using my hands to make something personal for the graduates made me feel more connected to them than I would have felt had there been an actual Illumination Night — the difference between creating something and merely receiving it. That said, my heart goes out to all graduates everywhere who didn’t get to celebrate their accomplishments with their loved ones. Seeing different alumnae’s lanterns was touching and inspiring, but there’s nothing like a shared space or a simple embrace.
• 
  2020-05-26

  Voices of 2020 - Brooke Degerness

  Brooke Degerness is a 2020 graduate of Northern Cass High School in North Dakota. She was interviewed by a local radio station and shared a positive message to other graduating seniors in the area.
• 
  2020-05-22

  The TRUST Graduation Guidelines

  Guidelines from Cave Creek Unified School District's insurance provider, TRUST, concerning graduation ceremonies. CCUSD moved forward with the smaller ceremonies, even though social gatherings were not recommended by their insurance carrier, the CDC or AZ Health Department. TRUST issued these guidelines, which CCUSD followed.
• 
  2020-05-22

  Desolation

  A school graduation is supposed to be unforgettable - people from all over coming together to celebrate a moment that most students cherish for the rest of their lives. Now with the pandemic, we are forced to graduate within the comforts of our home, yet we feel more disconnected than ever. This picture represents the great memories we made in high school, the great experiences we lost, and the great friends and family that surround and propel us in life. To the class of 2020, these are not easy times, but we will get through them. With your leadership and spirit, the world will be stronger than ever.
• 
  2020-03-25

  congratulations class of 2020 meme

  This image is a meme that satirizes the High school Graduation for the class of 2020. It reveals that this year's seniors are being robbed of a valuable moment in their lives, yet some still try to make the best of it.
• 
  05/12/2020

  Free Krispy Kreme Donuts

  The end of May is usually a time for graduating seniors to enjoy the end of school and celebrate with friends and family, whether in college or high school. With the coronavirus sending all students home for distance learning months before their graduations, celebrations have had to adapt as well. Krispy Kreme is trying to help with the celebrations. At locations across the country, all graduating seniors who are able to show some of their class swag are entitled to a free dozen donuts.
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  2020-05-15

  COVID-19: Creating an Alternative Commencement! : B-CC Barrons Forge Ahead

  Congratulations Will! This personalized sign reminds us that we are a part of a community and should celebrate each other, even in uncertain times.
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  2020-05-12

  COVID-19: Creating an Alternative Commencement! : Proud and Loud

  The home of now a former cheerleader! I know she is happy to share her success with those who pass by!
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  05/12/2020

  COVID-19: Creating an Alternative Commencement! : Home of a Proud Senior

  Right by the front door, this sign shows how this senior's achievement is close to their heart and home.
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  05/12/2020

  COVID-19: Creating an Alternative Commencement! : A Proud Viking for 2020

  Two signs stand in this yard, showing the strength and pride of this senior and their family.
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  2020-05-12

  COVID-19: Creating an Alternative Commencement! : Go Gonzaga

  A graduation sign of a private school in the District of Colombia, announcing the achievement of its seniors!
• 
  2020-05-12

  COVID-19: Creating an Alternative Commencement!

  In communities across the world, children dream of their high school graduation and walking across a stage to receive a diploma. The graduating class of 2020, unfortunately will not share this moment with many classes before them as graduations and all public gatherings have been cancelled during this spring and early summer. This disruption and breach from tradition reveals how we have taken the ritual of graduation for granted as well as many other ceremonies. Society loves ceremony, and while the act of a young adult being handed a piece of paper is not the pinnacle of their accomplishment, the ceremony signifies a rite of passage. Parents and/or caretakers watch the person they have raised receive a credential. Walking across the stage is a momentous point, and for many marks the end of the gestation period. In addition, it recognizes the students’ work and potential, launching them forward into the world. Without this ceremony, students lack the moment that defines a separation of the previous chapter from the next one. Teachers and administrators at some high schools have made “commencement signs” to supplement graduation, and by planting the signs in seniors’ lawns, schools have created an alternate ceremony to officialize the role exit of students. Because our culture loves ceremonies dearly, we feel compassion for high school seniors who are being compromised by the virus and deprived of celebration. The commencement signs in graduates' front yards display students who have the achieved status of completing their formal education, and it reminds us, in a time of introspective isolation, to not lose pride for others or forget our youth. Graduates are like warriors with their positive spirits and persistence through this difficult and adverse time and are being appreciated in a novel way. The signs show us that while many things in our world are currently paused, these students are not, which I feel is a beacon of hope for the future.
• 
  05/12/2020

  COVID-19: Creating an Alternative Commencement!: Red Devils Forever

  Washington International School celebrates its class of 2020 the only way it can, with lawn signs.
• 
  2020-04-20

  Alternate Graduation Dates

  My friend's graduation announcement has the three possible dates of our graduation since we aren't sure when it will be able to happen. I did not even put a date on my graduation announcement.
• 
  2020-03-23

  Boston College's Office of the President Update - March 23

  Boston College responds to MA Governor Charles Baker's closure of non-essential businesses
• 
  2020-03-19

  The Class of 2020's Potential Graduation Ceremony

  This image can give future historians an idea about how graduation ceremonies within the United States might be held online, or in the case of this image in virtual reality.