Seniors from 2018, 2020, and 2021: Reflections, Changes & Challenges

We all know how difficult it has been for students and teachers this school year: COVID-19 has turned the learning world upside down for all involved. But while most students struggle to keep up with their online schoolwork, the class of 2021 has been struggling to even be inside the building they have spent most of their lives in. Everything we have looked forward to throughout high school has been thrown out the window to make space for social distancing, hand sanitizer, and masks. Across the country, students will never know the feeling of senioritis because the virus has taken away much of the fun and freedom that comes with the final year of high school. Not only have seniors lost out on many of the exciting things that they would have gotten, but they have also lost out on things such as sporting events, SAT testing, college touring, job shadows, volunteer hours, and so much more that could have negative impacts on their futures.

In this article I hope to shed some light on the different feelings, opportunities, and emotions that were and are felt by three students who were highly involved in what was going on around them during their senior years. My interviewees I will be introducing are from the classes of 2018, 2020, and 2021.

The class of 2018 was a well known group of students throughout the building. They were seniors while the class of 2021 were freshmen. We looked up to all of them while going through our first year of high school. They were role models that helped set the tone for what we believed our senior year would look like. They experienced no changes or disruptions in their senior year due to COVID 19. From the class of 2018 I have interviewed Brandon Acosta.

What was the best opportunity that was presented to you during your senior year?

The best opportunity I was presented with senior year was the chance to attend All-State PMEA Choir. That was really awesome.

What activities did you get to participate in during your senior year?

I was in marching band, concert band, jazz band, choir, musical, FBLA, and NHS.

When you look back on your senior year, what three words would you use to describe it?

I would call it difficult, because there were a lot of hard losses in our community that year. I would call it fun, because I never felt closer to my peers in my class. And I would call it thrilling, because all of senior year feels like you’re a skydiver about to jump out of the plane. Everything you’ve ever known will never be the same after senior year.

What opportunities were presented to you throughout your senior year?

I got to be the Drum Major of the Marching Band which was so much fun. That year we took a trip to New York City and saw School of Rock [on Broadway]. I also participated in the PMEA District, Region, and All-State choirs. I got to play Billy Crocker in our musical, Anything Goes, alongside some of my best friends. I also attended the FBLA Regional, and State Leadership Conferences where I competed in impromptu speaking.

Do you think you missed out on anything from your senior year?

I really don’t. I am so lucky to have had such great friends, mentors, and teachers around me during my senior year. Although there were definitely highs and lows, all in all, I really enjoyed it.

What was your favorite part of senior year?

My favorite part about senior year was the way my class really solidified itself as a group of friends. The class of 2018 was faced with some really tough challenges, but those challenges made our bonds a lot stronger. Of course, there were still friend groups within my class, but over the course of senior year, I really felt a sense of camaraderie between all of us that I don’t think all classes have.

The class of 2020 was also a strong group of students who did go through a large disruption because of COVID-19. When March hit and they lost the end of their senior year, we all felt terribly for them, but we crossed our fingers for what we would soon head into. From the class of 2020 I have interviewed Ryan Rich.

What was the best opportunity that was presented to you during your senior year?

The best opportunity that was presented to me my senior year was that we still had graduation in person, even though it looked a little different due to COVID 19.

What activities did you get to participate in during your senior year?

I got to be the drum major for the fall 2019 season and I got to practice for the musical for almost 3 months before quarantine started.

When you look back on your senior year, what three words would you use to describe it?

I would say that my senior year was disappointing, stressful, but I’m also thankful that I had most of the opportunities that are normally offered to seniors throughout senior year.

What opportunities were presented to you throughout your senior year?

Even though they were not affiliated through the school, a Facebook page called “Adopt A Senior” helped people get gifts for seniors because they were missing out on their senior year. Senior families also put together a senior dinner for a chance for us to say goodbye to each other in early August.

What did you miss out on during senior year?

I missed out on performing our musical, the marching band trip, prom, senior skip day, senior cookout, a “normal” baccalaureate, and graduation.

What was your favorite part of senior year?

My favorite part of senior year was being the drum major for the band in the fall of 2019.

Now the class of 2021 is trapped in the middle of a mental and emotional battle, are we allowed to feel badly for ourselves while something so terrible is happening around us? Does our senior year hold such importance during this historic moment? Nevertheless we persevere, working as hard as we can to get any tiny sliver of the senior year we deserved. And we are very grateful for anything we receive because this is such a troubling time. From the class of 2021 I have interviewed Brayden Brooks.

What is the best opportunity that was presented to you during senior year?

Being able to join student government, we didn’t really get a chance to accomplish anything though, which is most likely because COVID-19. One positive is that it gave me more time to focus on the little things.

What activities have you gotten to participate in during senior year?

Marching band, student government, and National Honor Society. There have only been small meetings but at least there is something going on. Other than that nothing else has been going on, if it did it was short.

When thinking of senior year, what three words would you use to describe it?

Nostalgic, looking back on the excitement of the fall. Odd, because of COVID-19 and everything that comes with it. But fun, even though we haven’t gotten to do much there is still some fun.

What opportunities have been presented to you through senior year?

Being able to learn to hang out in ways that aren’t in person, and learning to prepare for college during a pandemic.

What have you been missing out on this year?

Spending time with friends, in and out of school. That personal connection you have with people just isn’t there. And we are missing out on everything little fun thing we get to do, it is all very minimal with the fun.

What has been your favorite part of senior year?

Learning to cherish every fun moment, because we aren’t getting very many of our moments. As well as learning to cherish the little things we are given.

While my interviewees have expressed their feelings about their senior years, it has been easy to notice the differences in some of their thoughts and feelings towards their final year of highschool. While Brandon Acosta from the class of 2018 mentions how much he enjoyed it and how he had a “really enjoyable” year, the classes of 2020 and 2021 cling on to the fond memories they have of when high school was “normal”.