By Erin Rodrigues & Zahavit Paz
This year was supposed to be full of celebrations for my family. I was in the unique position of being the teacher for a graduating high school class, a graduate myself, and a mom to a high school senior. Like thousands of others around the globe, my dreams of sending my daughter off to her senior prom, handing out diplomas at college graduation for my students, and accepting my Masters of Arts degree were dashed when the pandemic hit and closed public gatherings and ceremonies.
This year became the year of creative perseverance. Instead of regular proms, we saw virtual proms held in backyards with participants wearing facemasks to match their corsages.
Some ceremonies were canceled completely while others looked for ways to mark the event in some way, even if it looked nothing like those of the past
Other graduations were postponed in hopes of a respite, but to no avail. Instead, some high school stadiums are nearly empty as students stand 6 feet apart and families view the rite of passage via electronic device. Other schools assigned each student and family a time slot to walk across a small decorated stage, allowing at least a photo op and a sense of crossing from one life event to the next, with the ever-present mask marked with hopeful messages and school spirit.
No matter the outcome, graduates of all ages and stages are experiencing a tremendous amount of loss as the social impact of remote learning and virtual society becomes more evident.
Schools from Ivy League universities to preschools shifted to remote learning in March 2020 due to the rampant spread of the Covid-19 virus. As students and teachers alike made equally rapid adjustments to an online learning community, a feeling of surrealism descended the academic communities. Many students had to leave their dorms, classrooms, and desks until further notice, while others had sports, academic, and intern programs abruptly canceled.
The economic toll was only matched by the psychological one. And as the days of distance learning turned to weeks, many began to ask, “what about graduation?” It was obvious 2020 was going to be different.
Sadly, some colleges and universities had to cancel their graduation parties altogether. Southern New Hampshire University (united states) announced there would be no commencement ceremony for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students since the student body is largely online students and many would be traveling from out of state.
The risk of exposure and spreading the virus was just too high. Others held virtual ceremonies using meeting software like Zoom and Webex. Purdue University’s ROTC program held its commissioning ceremony in this manner, with each new military officer attending from their homes.
Purdue University’s Spring 2020 Commissioning Ceremony
Photo credit: CDR Chris Dudley, NROTC Purdue University Executive Officer
High School Senior from San Antonio, Cori says, “I’ve been to quite a few college graduation. I never once thought I’d have one like that [virtual and through social media applications]. It just didn’t match the picture I’ve had in my head for so long.
I’m not a big party person, so I didn’t mind having a very small gathering with everyone else watching online. I know a lot of my friends don’t feel the same way, but I’m just glad to be moving on to the next part of life.”
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