Dear Class of 2020,
Of all the high school movies we’ve watched throughout our childhood, nothing could
prepare us for this. Troy and Gabriella never bursted into song about the rules of social
distancing, or the importance of wearing a face mask in public. In the wake of this
pandemic, we find ourselves asking, what about prom? Water Wars? Our final choir,
orchestra, or band concert? Senior Walk? Graduation? You must prioritize, we are told.
People are sick, really sick. There are worse things in the world.
Without any real time to process the possibility of a quarantine, our childhood dreams have
been stripped away. Truth be told, we’re worried because we know we don’t have enough
time. Come August, we begin to disperse across the country in pursuit of our own journeys.
We knew that from the very beginning, but now the hourglass continues to shift as we are
unable to see the familiar faces we have grown up with since kindergarten in our tightly knit,
non-regionalized school district… Our infamous “Sparta bubble”.
Class of 2020, our feelings are valid. We must remain compassionate for the many
affected by the virus, and for each other, for there are those among us who have lost loved
ones as a result. However, please know that our feelings of frustration are completely
warranted. To not don a cap and gown to cross the stage and receive a diploma; to not
proudly wear our college gear to school on decision day; to not have one last school dance
with our friends... In a society that glorifies the American high school experience, and
notably the iconic senior year it leads up to, how could we not help but feel a sense of
betrayal? We aren’t ready to say goodbye. It may have taken a global pandemic to realize it,
but we took even the simplest things such as human interaction for granted. While we are
uncertain of the future that lies ahead- we must remain hopeful. Should we all continue to
actively adhere to social distancing guidelines, we may not have to bid farewell to our long-
awaited senior year traditions; Even if they must occur a few weeks later than originally
anticipated.
This will be the year that shapes our generation. In the demise of what we have been
dreaming of, not all is lost if we can salvage one thing: Conscious appreciation. May we
move forward with a great sense of thankfulness for human interaction, and rely less on
technology and social media to fulfill us. May we relish in every last ray of sunshine, every
last bite of food from our favorite restaurant. May we raise our children to be kind to all
service workers, medical staff, and other people-regardless of occupation. May we be
encouraging to our sons and daughters who may be hesitant to try out for the sports team,
or go to the school dance...Because high school doesn’t last forever. And no one
understands that better than we do. Most importantly, may we take this hardship as an
opportunity to become better people.
We are compassionate. We are resilient. We are the future. We are Spartan Strong.
-Lauren Groff, Sparta High School, Class of 2020
