topic Re: High School Class of 2020 in Community Chat

High School Class of 2020

KarenQVC — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 19:29:12 GMT

Because of what has happened the last 6 months--will they be different than those before them?

Your ideas?

Re: High School Class of 2020

Carmie — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 19:30:48 GMT

Different how?

Re: High School Class of 2020

PreKteacher — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 19:38:03 GMT

I think these kids will be different the way that we are all different now. None of us are likely to take plans for granted!

Re: High School Class of 2020

queendiva — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 19:39:14 GMT

In my state HS graduations can take place on or after July 6 and have limits of total grads and guests for " social distancing". So yes, very different but still better than what the college grads got in May, which was nothing.

Re: High School Class of 2020

GabbyAnn — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 20:07:09 GMT

My daughter just graduated from high school. Her school had a graduation parade and drive through ceremony, to receive their diplomas.

She has a lot of mixed emotions. She is disappointed, of course, because of not getting to finish her senior year as she thought she would. She is, of course, old enough to know things don't always go as we hope. She is hoping that she will get to start college in the fall. She applied for and was accepted into the premed program at the college she chose. Now she's concerned about how it will all it play out. They're saying maybe online courses this fall, but she has two labs scheduled.

I suppose time will tell what happens. She worked very hard and it's hard to see her miss out on so much, at the same time I'm so thankful she is healthy and safe.

Re: High School Class of 2020

CelticCrafter — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 20:09:29 GMT

I feel sad for them.

They missed their prom, senior trip, senior prank, a real graduation and the all night after graduation party thrown by the school.

I also feel bad for the kids that were supposed to get their drivers licenses during the time everything has been shut down. Feel even sorrier for the parents that have to put up with the bad mood!

Re: High School Class of 2020

Nancy Drew — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 20:13:33 GMT

I don't know the answer but I feel extremely sad for them. Maybe in 5 years to get their views when they have had time to reflect and see how they answer.

Re: High School Class of 2020

suzyQ3 — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:44:49 GMT

If they are different, I'm thinking and hoping that it is in a good and positive way.

Re: High School Class of 2020

Sheila P-Burg — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:12:49 GMT

I think the young adults graduating in 2020 will see things differently but not necessary because of the virus. School shootings, etc. would have a tendency to make them have a different view of things compared to graduating classes that did not have to face those fears.

Re: High School Class of 2020

ValuSkr — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:13:03 GMT

A rural town near me put a banner over the road congratulating the town's 2020 graduates. (The town doesn't have its own schools, it's part of another school district.) At first, I thought it wouldn't mean much to this year's graduates and was rather silly. Now I think it's a nice touch and lets those kids know, in a small way, they weren't forgotten.

Re: High School Class of 2020

Pook — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:14:53 GMT

If they had parents who explained to them the seriousness of the pandemic and who talked to them about sacrifice and the realities of life they might be much more sympathic and understanding when things do not go their way but if the parents were ones who spoiled their kids and whined and boo hooed about not being able to do what they want and were stuck indoors then those ones might end up being whiners and more all about themselves throughout their lives!

Re: High School Class of 2020

Sheila P-Burg — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:19:00 GMT

@CelticCrafter ....... Your school had an all night graduation party? Must have been nice. Pretty sure once my class graduated as soon as we were out the door they locked them. We also never had a senior trip.

Re: High School Class of 2020

Mominohio — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:58:04 GMT

I think the ones that had a stake in it, like the athletes that didn't get the final season or banquet or awards, the kids at the top of the class that worked so hard for the titles, the honors, the awards, the kids that were really social, and were on every committee, ran for offices, participated in the prom planning, etc. will all be different. They will for probably a long time, some of them a lifetime, feel a loss for what they missed.

Many kids (probably most of them in many schools) who are just there, not really into any given thing or have any real passion for what goes on in high school, will not be different, will not feel the effects in a negative way. Many of them will be actually relieved that they didn't have to go to prom without a date, or sit at home while others did. They will be just as glad to have not had to sit in the banquets and awards and watch others get recognized while they did not.

I think as in any other part of life, there are those that excel, and are passionate about where they are, and those that aren't (not that they lack passion or don't excel at other things, but the whole school thing at this time wasn't what they were about). This will effect different kids differently.

My big concern/question is how much of what was missed, will 'society' now think we/they don't need? How many traditions will be cast aside? How will this effect those kids to come, and what senior year looks like from here on out?

Re: High School Class of 2020

CelticCrafter — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 22:32:08 GMT

@Sheila P-Burg no, the high school my daughter went to. It's called Project Graduation and it's a nationwide program. A safer alternative than house parties the night of graduation.

Re: High School Class of 2020

FiddleDeeDee — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 22:37:19 GMT

Depends on the graduate and how the people around her/him have been handling world events. I know some are positive, some are depressed, some are angry and sullen; but being honest, they were kinda like that before things went bonkers.

My son just finished 8th grade. No trip. No 8th grade dance. No 8th grade trip to their High School. No year books. No.....nothing that all the other 8th graders have always had before. If you ask him how he feels (and we have) his answer is: "oh well. Stuff happens. There's always tomorrow". He smiles and off he goes. Compare this to our neighbors 8th grader and it's constant "life is over. I want to die. We're all going to die. Why bother. Everything sucks". (one of the things about living in a townhouse is you hear everything when people are on their decks and/or have their windows open).Same age, different outlook. Maybe the parents feel and say the same thing....don't know. We're positive people and yeah, stuff happens. You deal with and continue living.

Like I said, it will depend on the graduate.

Re: High School Class of 2020

suzyQ3 — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 22:40:06 GMT

@Mominohio wrote:
I think the ones that had a stake in it, like the athletes that didn't get the final season or banquet or awards, the kids at the top of the class that worked so hard for the titles, the honors, the awards, the kids that were really social, and were on every committee, ran for offices, participated in the prom planning, etc. will all be different. They will for probably a long time, some of them a lifetime, feel a loss for what they missed.

Many kids (probably most of them in many schools) who are just there, not really into any given thing or have any real passion for what goes on in high school, will not be different, will not feel the effects in a negative way. Many of them will be actually relieved that they didn't have to go to prom without a date, or sit at home while others did. They will be just as glad to have not had to sit in the banquets and awards and watch others get recognized while they did not.

I think as in any other part of life, there are those that excel, and are passionate about where they are, and those that aren't (not that they lack passion or don't excel at other things, but the whole school thing at this time wasn't what they were about). This will effect different kids differently.

My big concern/question is how much of what was missed, will 'society' now think we/they don't need? How many traditions will be cast aside? How will this effect those kids to come, and what senior year looks like from here on out?

@Mominohio, one thing we can always count on is change, even without crises. We manage to adjust to what evolves. We always have. We make new traditions as we go.

Re: High School Class of 2020

KarenQVC — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 23:34:42 GMT

I think some will be more aware that we are all connected.There will be more young people interested in social and world health issues.

Just like my generation grew up with activism re: the Vietnam War and my son was deeply affected by HIV in Africa in the early 2000s.

These things make generations more empathetic it seems.

Re: High School Class of 2020

patbz — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 03:45:27 GMT

@CelticCrafter : My son graduated from a rural CA high school and they got a prom (he didn't go), a trip to Disneyland (I think all CA grade get that and a locked in all night grad party. Even with Covid19 the city raised enough that every kid will win a prize (usually worth about $50) but there is a drawing for a several thousand dollar cash prize.