Resident Feature

Northgate High School Seniors

Reflect on Missing the End of Their Senior Year

Grace Decker:

“As freshmen, sophomores and juniors, the class of 2020 sat on the sidelines as the seniors announced their college decisions, threw up their graduation caps, and moved on without looking back, knowing that one day it would be their turn. But these promises were cut short by the quarantine, and seniors are stuck at home without a proper ending to their biggest collective change yet, with no smooth transition to adulthood in sight. As I sit at home and watch TV, read books, and draw, I know how lucky I am to be living comfortably while thousands of people across the world are dying and struggling with the ramifications of the coronavirus. Still, it feels unfair to be robbed of the things I have waited my entire life for. But clearly, as the news tells us every day, the world can be an unfair place, but that doesn’t stop people from living. While it hurts to lose so many once in a lifetime moments, I’m grateful that not being able to throw up my graduation cap is my biggest problem in the cruel age of the coronavirus.”

Matthew Giesecke:

“The subsequent events of the introduction of COVID 19 have left my peers and I emotionally conflicted. We understand that we are more than blessed to be safe and in good health, while families across the globe are left saying their last words to their loved ones on the other side of a glass window. However, we can’t help but find ourselves disheartened for how our senior year has concluded. Events such as Ball, Graduation, and senior trips that we have been planning and been looking forward to for years are all but a faint thought to move past from now. At first the idea of not attending a graduation didn’t seem too bad, as who really wants to sit in the blazing sun for hours on end and listen to what most likely would be a long and predicted graduation speech. Nevertheless, I realized that this ceremony is something that I greatly desire. My grandparents are really like second parents to me, but age is catching up to them. I wish to look out into the crowd to see their faces illuminated in joy from the pride and love they have for me, as there is no guarantee that they will be at my next. The mere notion of not having the moment to create this everlasting memory brings a sense of pain and sorrow to my heart. Instead, my mom, brother and I will celebrate graduation with a backyard bbq. Lastly, the absence of time to cherish the last few months I have with my friends and as a senior at Northgate has eradicated the feeling of closure that I would much desire before I commence what is to be my freshman year at USC.”

Isabel Vladerama:

“Quarantine has been an emotional roller coaster from the beginning. I didn’t know my last day of school would be the last, which is why it’s been so difficult to keep a positive mindset. It’s also been upsetting to hear so many events I’ve been looking forward to most likely won’t be happening, such as ball and graduation. Although right now it seems like there’s more negatives than positives, this quarantine has taught me to be a lot more grateful for everything in my life. I’ve gotten to spend more time with my family and focus on myself, which has been a nice for a change.”

Piper Christensen:

“Quarantine has made me realize how privileged I am because it has truly been the worst thing that has ever happened to me. That being said, it doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to be sad about losing all the “rights of passage” events every other person I know has had. I am constantly thinking about all the things that could have been and am worried that it will not only affect my senior year but my freshman year at college as well. I have lost all energy to do anything productive since I am stuck at home and lost a lot of the things I had been looking forward to my whole life. While I still have hopes for real graduation to take place, I plan on having a barbecue with my family to celebrate either way. If real graduation does not happen, I fully intend to wear my cap and gown at the barbecue and have my mom take pictures of me throwing my cap into the air.”

Compiled by Dr. Allyson Mayo, Resident since 2013