Dear Seniors,
We’re so sorry.
This was it. You worked so hard throughout your four years to finally walk across that stage and accept your diploma while your fellow students and faculty cheered you on.
This was the time for you to be experiencing all of your “lasts” to give you a sense of closure on your college career.
You were supposed to take graduation pictures all over your favorite spots on campus. You were supposed to have one more coffee date with your closest friends at Bongo. You were supposed to hunker down in Lila until 3 a.m. with your friends, studying for finals and reminiscing on the past four years.
You were supposed to have all of that and more.
But unfortunately, life is unpredictable. If you asked your freshman year self if you ever thought a worldwide pandemic would affect your senior year, you probably would have said no.
Everything you’re feeling during this time is valid. You’re allowed to feel anxious, upset or even just OK. This has hit everyone in a way that is indescribable.
Don’t let this hard time diminish how proud you should be of yourself. You worked so hard for that GPA and diploma. You gave everything you had in all of your classes. You got out of your comfort zone to make those lifelong friends. You’ve come so far. You deserve to celebrate.
Remaining motivated for the rest of the semester will be hard. Even though it may take a while to adjust to this new normal, finish out this semester strong. You’re doing the best you can in a situation that is completely opposite to the ideal.
One day this will all be a distant memory. A new normal will set in and time will begin to heal all of the sadness you’re feeling.
And soon, you’ll be able to walk into your graduation in August with your head held high. This will be a moment that will forever bond you and your fellow seniors for the rest of your life.
In the meantime, reach out to those faculty members that helped shape your college career. Check in on your friends who you’ve shared your life long memories with.
We’ll get through this together.
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Article written by Tina James.