A traditional graduation ceremony is now an impossibility, but I’m still trying to stay positive
May 5, 2020
By Alyssa Ferrara
Editor
Graduation was supposed to be our big day. For seniors, it is the milestone we’ve been waiting for throughout our high school careers. Walking across the stage and accepting our diplomas was meant to be proof that the last four years meant something.
It’s a huge achievement and an indication that a chapter in our lives has come to a close. Now, seniors all across the country are grappling with the challenge of bookending their high school experience in a meaningful way even under circumstances that make participating in a traditional graduation ceremony impossible.
While scrolling through social media, I’ve noticed there are two main ways teens are handling the stress accompanying the uncertain fate of this monumental occasion.
Walking across the stage and accepting our diplomas was meant to be proof that the last four years meant something.
Some are turning to comedy. They are creating or viewing memes. They make jokes about attending graduation over Skype or receiving a diploma as a PDF attachment to an email.
The other way I’ve been seeing teens react is by reminiscing about their high school journey and putting together videos or pictures chronicling their high school experiences.
On May 4, Gov. Phil Murphy made the announcement that New Jersey’s schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year. Without the opportunity to finish out my senior year in person, I’ll stick to laughing at the memes, reflecting on my many great LHS memories and making the best of a very unfortunate situation.
