One year ago today (April 8th, 2020), my classmates and I went to our high school to pick up our caps and gowns. We also found out we would not be returning to school on April 8th. At this point, we had been in “quarantine” for almost a month. Our school, and most of the community had shut down in the middle of March. Our last day of public school was March 13th, 2020, and the last three months of our childhood was suddenly gone. That day was particularly difficult. We got to the school, and picked up my package. It contained my cap, gown, and tassel, although I still had the one they gave me earlier in the school year. It’s still in my car now. The small bag also contained my sash, but I’d have to pick up my cords and metal later.

There I stood, all dressed up in the mirror. In March, not only did the world change, but I did as well. There was a huge sense of hopelessness that I felt hanging in the air all the time. But in this moment, pictured above, I changed again. Even with the uncertainty that was graduation, vacations, and the future in general, I felt hopeful. I knew that no matter what, my classmates and I spent the past thirteen years preparing to receive our diplomas, and we were the first class graduating in this way. We deserved to be proud of ourselves and still do, but our feelings of sadness and hurt, were and are still valid.

Now, I feel even more for the Class of 2021, because they have lost even more than my class, (Class of 2020) did. My class was heartbroken enough by just losing the last three months of our senior year. I can’t imagine how they are feeling. I think it’s so important to be there for each other throughout these hard times. If you need anyone to talk to about anything, you can always email me (paigysvibe@gmail.com), sign up for my emails on the contact page, and my DMs on Instagram are always open! Let me know what you think about this situation, and your troubles, worries or things that you’re grateful for in the comments!