You completed 12 years of primary and secondary school in the American Education System.
You enrolled in college courses and now in May of 2020, you will walk across the stage of your university symbolizing your accomplishment and earning your Bachelor Degree.
Or so you thought...
College seniors everywhere are feeling emotional due to the chaos COVID-19 has caused. This is the final spring semester for many of us.
For others it is only the final semester in their undergraduate; which likely means they will attend graduate school somewhere else.
This is a time to make final memories with your peers, thank your favorite professors, and feel proud when you walk on campus knowing you reached this moment.
Colleges and Universities across the country and world have closed campuses, extended spring break, and converted to online courses for the remainder of the semester due to
COVID-19.
This means many students have lost housing, meals, and even had to return home which could be in a completely different state.
The CDC recently announced their recommendation against gatherings of 50 people for the next 8 weeks to stop the spread of COVID-19.
8 weeks will be mid-May, so what does this mean for 2020 graduates?
Many colleges and universities have already cancelled commencement.
This however, does not mean students will not graduate or not earn their degree.
What it does mean is they not have the satisfaction of walking across the stage with their friends and family cheering for them.
This is a personal and emotional event for many seniors.
It personal for me.
I am a first generation college graduate.
This is my Bachelor's Degree which I have sacrificed many nights, weekends, birthdays, and holidays over the last 5 years to earn.
My family has encouraged me to reach this accomplishment and in the back of my mind, seeing them cheer for me at my graduation always drove me to persevere.
My grandparents are 70 and 73 years old and I am the first of their children and grandchildren to reach this level of academic achievement.
It is personal for me.
I know that I am not the only one.
I know there are others who are emotional over the thought that they may not experience that moment of gratification, satisfaction, and pride come May.
So I want to say:
Congratulations to the Corona Era graduates!
We have stories to tell our children and grandchildren.
Class of 2020 will forever have a bond due to an experience that was out of our hands. (washed hands)
You can take my commencement, but you can't take my accomplishment.