COVID -19 has impacted countless people around the world and still continues today as everyone is trying to do their part to flatten the curve.
A group of people impacted by this virus are seniors. Yes, seniors that are old in age but senior students too.
Senior year is supposed to be one of the best especially for high school students.
High school seniors will be missing out on their spring sport season, prom, graduation parties and their last memories with their friends before making a big change after gradaution whether that be a four year university or a different path.
Luke Hatfield, a senior at Newport Harbor High School, said, “I can’t really put it into words… I was supposed to be playing my last baseball season with my friends. I liked going to school because I wanted to be with everyone.”
“Video games are getting old quick and I don’t know if I’ll ever get the right send off with my friends,” said Hatfield.
Lauren Richter, who will be attending Ole Miss in the fall, said she is the most disappointed in the senior trips she had planned that can no longer happen. “I was supposed to go to Coachella and Cabo with my group of girlfriends as one of our last memories of high school and unfortunately that got cut short,” said Richter.
“I know the severity of this virus is growing daily but those were the trips I never imagined missing. It was something I had been looking forward to for a long time,” said Richter.
High school seniors have been cut short of their last memories but they are not the only class of students hit hard by the reality of coronavirus.
College seniors have been home for a month.
Away from their friends. Away from campus. At their family homes waiting it out like the rest of us.
“I never in my wildest dreams imagined this. I mean who could have ever believed something like this could happen?,” said senior Dylan Kaplan.
When asked what he would miss the most Kaplan said he would miss baseball season, his last fraternity formal and most of all the relationships he had formed at Ole Miss.
“I think about my freinds everyday,” said Kaplan. “I wish I could’ve been prepared for this but it would not have made it any easier.”
Abby Griffith said not only is she sad for her and her friends but sad for her parents as well. “My parents always talk about the day I will walk across the stage to get my degree and how proud they will be of me. It just sucks that it might not happen. It’s hard to think about,” said Griffith.
“I would do anything to be in class with my friends or even a class with nobody I know. Crazy for me to be saying that but this virus has made me grateful for so many things I took for granted,” said Griffith.
“I have learned a lot through this crazy time so I guess that’s a positive I can take away from this,” said Griffith.
Zach Blaine 