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2020 Graduates Doing Things Differently During A Pandemic
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Many 2020 graduates have been forced to forego the usual celebrations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
They won't take the traditional walk across the stage or move the tassels on their graduation caps from one side to the other in front of a cheering crowd because such gatherings are deemed unsafe and could spread COVID-19.
In addition, those graduating high school have been unable to attend proms, perform in plays or hold assemblies celebrating their achievements.
Our GPB summer interns: Jenna Sanders, Micah Johnston and Sofi Gratas spoke to three students from Georgia about graduation in the time of COVID-19.
McKenzie Artman graduated from Georgia Southern University during the coronavirus pandemic. Her parents planned a surprise drive-through graduation party outside the family’s home in Peachtree City.
“Graduation meant so much to me because I graduated college in three years,” Artman said. “I am very proud of how hard I have worked and I was excited to celebrate with my loved ones.”
Her school required a summer internship in order to graduate. Her original plan was to complete one in Ghana, Africa, working on environmental health. This internship was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
“I was very excited to be immersed in a new culture and help them learn how to be more environmentally healthy,” Artman said. “Especially since I plan on attending graduate school for environmental health. I was also looking forward to learning about different cultures and spending a month in a new country.”
Her sorority advisor got her a new internship with the Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department. She started working on May 18.
“I chose to look at it in a positive way and be excited that I am still able to graduate and celebrate with my close friends and family,” Artman said. “I am also a Public Health major so I understand the importance of not having big events in a time like this.”
Artman is attending graduate school this fall at Georgia State University where she will be studying environmental health.
At the start of his last semester in high school, senior Tristan Lankford was preparing to audition for his school production of Romeo and Juliet. He made plans with his soccer coach to balance both playing a sport and performing in the play.
Although Lankford has played minor acting roles before, he was surprised when he was cast as the male lead, Romeo. But students at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens didn’t return to their classrooms following spring break amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Everyone has their moment, because we’ve worked hard to get here,” Lankford said. “It’s easy to get frustrated because it just seems like we’re targeted, the class of 2020. But when you try and point the finger at someone, there’s no one really to point the finger to.”
Although disappointed, Lankford is still hoping for an in-person graduation ceremony. The Clarke County School District has made tentative plans for its three high schools to host traditional ceremonies later this summer, according to statements from CCSD officials.
Cedar Shoals will be posting a virtual graduation video on May 22, though it will not be live. “People are still kind of optimistic,” Lankford said regarding the possibility of a traditional graduation ceremony. “So I don’t know of any major virtual graduation plans right now, which is almost worse.”
During his senior year, Tristan served as managing editor of his school's news publication, the Cedar Blueprint. He plans on attending the University of Georgia in August to pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism, even though his experience as a freshman could be a virtual one. He is mostly worried about living at home and being unable to participate in the social offerings of his university if classes are online.
“The year you graduate is huge for character development,” Lankford said. He talked about the traditional senior year experience, such as prom and graduation parties, and what it might mean to the Class of 2020 to miss all of that. “These are things that matter in people's lives. And I think we may see that have some kid of long- lasting effect.”
While some schools are offering few alternatives to graduation, others are attempting to accommodate students by celebrating in multiple ways. Effingham County High School has chosen to do both a drive-through graduation and allow for small, in person, family-only graduations as well.
The Georgia high school believes giving students multiple options will accommodate more families’ in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduating seniors like Carson Roberts are thankful for the high school’s adjustments.
“All in all, I’m going to miss a real graduation with tons of people, of course,” Roberts said. “But our community and school system do a great job of representing us in numerous ways.”
The school plans to allow five cars at a time pull in to the graduation, according to Effingham County High School’s website. Five graduates at a time, each with one vehicle of family members, will be allowed to line up and walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. The students have also been encouraged to wear masks and gloves.
Roberts knows he is only one part of an entire student body, but the school’s efforts to make the most of the situation are not lost on him.
“I can’t speak for everyone, but Effingham County is doing an amazing job at making us feel special and making it well known what we deserve,” Roberts said.
Roberts said because of the impact of COVID-19 on colleges and universities has still not decided where he will attend school in the fall.
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