High School Seniors Lose Final Months Together to Pandemic

High School Seniors Lose Final Months Together to Pandemic 

By John Peloso

JRN100 Stonehill News Staff Writer

COVID-19 has left high school seniors sitting at home instead of celebrating with friends. Senior trips, proms, graduations, and final sports seasons have been canceled or indefinitely postponed.

“I’m a little heartbroken that I will not be able to spend this spring on campus with my friends and faculty. But we need to try to stop this virus from spreading at the moment,” said Kevin Urquhart, a senior at Proctor Academy.

Seniors said that the stay-at-home orders and advisories have meant they could not connect in person at school with their friends.

“I am going to miss the community because I go to a prep school, which brings everyone together as a family,” said Urquhart. 

Shea Buckley, a senior at Vermont Academy, said he is keeping in touch with friends using Facetime or Skype, and that helps. But it is not a replacement for being able to hang out in the same space.

“I am going to miss seeing my friends every day. I can Facetime them, but it just isn’t the same. I am also going to miss all the events that are supposed to come during the spring of my senior year,” said Buckley. 

Buckley and others said the transition to online has been chaotic at times as teachers and students get used to the new platforms.

“I understand why school had to be switched like this to ensure everyone’s health and safety, but I do not like it at all. It is hard for me to concentrate with so many voices talking at once,” said Buckley

Urqhart said that even though he is disappointed about losing the remainder of the semester, he also understands the need for the stay at home order. 

“I realize we are going through a pandemic, and at this time, it is extremely important to stay safe at home and complete online classes,” said Urquhart. 

Some students said they are adjusting well to taking classes online, while others said the transition had been a struggle.

“I don’t mind online school and believe it is the right way to keep students active mentally at this time in the world,” said Urquhart. 

Charles Gagnon, a senior at Vermont Academy, offered his thoughts regarding online learning as well. 

“I think that online learning is the best option we have right now, but for me, it is not the way I learn best. I need to have one-on-one instruction sometimes to understand certain concepts which are harder to get that attention in an online environment,” said Gagnon.

Sydney Henry, a senior at Phillips Exeter, said she’s been taking advantage of the time at home.

“I have been doing a lot of hiking with my dog and hanging out with my mom playing board games and watching Ellen reruns,” said Henry.

Students said that their senior year is an essential time in their lives when they are finishing a chapter and getting ready to begin a new one in college. Many said that with the shutdown, it is more cumbersome to get assistance from counselors to coach them through the process. Without being able to sit down with these adults to help them, the process has been even more stressful for seniors. 

“If I could experience one thing that I am going to miss, it would be graduation because it is something that you only get once in your life. I hope they can find a time to reschedule it,” said Buckley.