‘I wish I had appreciated it more’
May 10, 2020
As I’m sitting in my room every day completing my virtual assignments and staring blankly at my screen, it is inevitable for me to feel disheartened about the way my senior year is ending.
From the first moment you step into high school, you are told how the four years go by in the blink of an eye. Little did I know this moment would come even faster than anyone could have ever predicted.
From freshman orientation to my last day walking the halls and every moment in between, I wish I had appreciated it more than I already did.
Senior Katie Mullaney traveled to Iceland on a school trip in February of this year. The trip to Iceland was one of the last trips that took place before the coronavirus pandemic restricted international travel.
As a senior in the Class of 2020, having the final months of high school stripped away from me almost instantaneously felt like a punch in the gut. Everything I have looked forward to and dreamed about for years was ripped away.
Will we ever get to dress up for our senior prom? Will I get to race in my last spring track meet with my teammates? Will we even get to walk up and get our diplomas? And while these are the big events we may potentially be missing, I also think of the little things that I won’t get to experience, such as a senior class prank, wearing a college shirt and hat for decision day, ordering my last Mary’s sandwich, or a traditional yearbook signing.
With all that we are missing, I am grateful that one of my last memories with Pascack Valley was my school trip to Iceland. Unlike many other students who got their end-of-year trips cancelled, I was lucky enough to be able to fit in this adventure of a lifetime just weeks before Governor Murphy closed all New Jersey schools.
Despite my current frustration, I have to remind myself that I was fortunate enough to stand underneath the Northern Lights, a moment of my senior year that was truly unforgettable.
This year, I started off the year running cross country in the fall, followed by an indoor track season in the winter. However, I had to end my winter season short, and while I was a little sad to not be finishing the season with my team, I knew that I still had spring track to look forward to.
Our first week practicing for the spring had been so sunny and warm, and I was happy to be starting my final season next to my teammates and best friends — little did I know it would all vanish
I ran my last race without even knowing it was a moment I needed to cherish, which is a feeling that I am sure most student-athletes can relate to. I wish I was able to finish what I started and celebrate with a proper team send-off.
Katie Mullaney ran her last race in the indoor track season this year with the expectation that she would be competing in the spring. However, similar to Mullaney, many student-athletes will not be given the opportunity to finish their last high school sports season due to their cancellation by the NJSIAA.
I would do just about anything to listen to another one of Coach Murtaugh’s crazy stories while sunbathing on the turf. I’m staying hopeful that our team can potentially host a fun field day over the summer, if better conditions permit it, where we can have one more run together.
This is just one aspect of the struggles of being a senior right now, but I know if anyone can get through it — it’s the Class of 2020.
Every day, I pray that this pandemic will all be over almost as quickly as it started, but the reality is that no one really knows. However, despite not knowing, I am optimistic that the school board, faculty members, parents, and my peers will find unique ways to fill in the blanks for what we are missing out on.
Every student in the senior class deserves to experience these iconic high school moments that bring our high school experience to closure as we move on to the next chapter of our lives.
While we are not physically with each other, in efforts to practice social distancing, we are still finding creative ways to stay connected, such as game nights over Zoom or car parades for special occasions.
Who knows, maybe not being together is making us all closer in a sense. This time spent physically apart has given us the time to reflect on how much we mean to one another.
Seniors all across the country and world are struggling with this loss, and we have to try to make the best out of this totally insane situation. We definitely won’t be leaving in a traditional way, but that will forever make us unique.
We are the Class of 2020 — this challenge will only make us stronger in the future.
