Covid Cutoff
Seniors reflect on the positives and negatives of losing their senior year to COVID-19.
On March 13, 2020, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced that the school year would be postponed for two weeks due to the rapid spread of the virus known as COVID-19. The ODE chose to close schools in order to protect the health of Oregon students and education professionals. Shortly after this decision was made, the State of Oregon announced the termination of the rest of the school year. The remainder of the class of 2020’s high school education was cut short. While some felt that they had escaped the woes of high school early, others took the loss of the rest of their senior year with heavy hearts. They lost prom, a beach trip, and a traditional high school graduation, among other losses.
Grant Magazine asked Grant seniors to share their feelings about this abrupt ending to their high school experience.
Adrian Cunningham
I am, inevitably, pretty disappointed about my senior year being cut short. As a member of the Grant dance program for four years, I have gotten to watch seniors in the three years before me perform senior pieces, be presented with their dance cords, and say an emotional farewell to the program at the Spring Dance Showcase. I have looked forward to getting to help choreograph a senior piece, and to being a part of such an emotional showcase. Now, I am having to come to the realization that I will never get the opportunity to participate in a final show. As a member of GDC, I was looking forward to touring around middle and elementary schools for another year, especially because this would be my last time. The GDC tour was cut short this year, and I am incredibly disappointed about it, not only for myself, but for the kids who were looking forward to seeing us dance for them this year not getting that experience.
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Nicky Mister
I feel robbed, in a way. Obviously the virus isn't anybody's fault, but I still feel that it took away the last couple months of my high school career. It took away the final celebrations, the emotional goodbyes with teachers, the papers being thrown at the last bell. Back in March, I went through the school day as I normally would, not knowing it was going to be the last day of my senior year. It's a little bit of a heartbreaking feeling, knowing that I'll never go back to the building. It was an abrupt and jarring end, and while I'm excited for the future, I'll miss the last months of my senior year that never happened.
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Erica Ham
It’s an odd, sad feeling to not get to do all the celebrations that, since freshman year, I “knew” would happen. But especially after committing to a university it’s been nice to not have to worry about high school work... at least I don’t have to deal with senioritis!
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Sydney Rawls
It’s all bitter sweet to say the least, I am honored to be a part of a community, and that will never change yet so many memories and opportunities are wasted and will never be gained back but I am so much more grateful for the good times we did have.
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Kristine Martin
Bittersweet.
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Dylan Varga
Sad, because I missed out on three months of time with friends I won’t be with in college, but also relieved, because I was more than ready to be done with school.
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Grace Guyer
Kinda relieved (because) I was already set with my college so everything just felt like busy work waiting for graduation.
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Elanor Wardlaw
Extremely sad and disappointed but I understand that it needs to happen. So many things I’ve looked forward to are not happening and I just don’t feel like I had a real end to high school!
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Thalia Clow
People say high school isn’t like what it is in the movies and they were more right then they thought this year.
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Corbin Markle
Really glad I was able to leave the toxic culture of our school behind.
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