CAPS, gowns, and covid
CAPS, gowns, and covid
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2020 Seniors felt the consequences of a global pandemic
The entire world has been affected by COVID-19, and 2020 seniors didn't escape the consequences imposed by the virus. While Edgewood was able to put on an in-person outdoor graduation, other staple senior events, such as prom and grad bash, could not be made up for as easily.
Amid fears of virus transmission, the school was unable to put on a traditional Prom for Edgewood Seniors. These students were devastated that one of the most memorable events of their high school experience was suddenly cancelled.
”It was definitely disappointing because we spend money on a dress and you wait for so long for this event to happen... I already had plans for my date..., so it was definitely disappointing and I really wish it had not been cancelled in the way that it was," said Haleigh Woloczak, a 2020 Edgewood Senior now studying at Rollins college.
However, Seniors were also unable to make up for another Senior year event's cancellation: Grad Bash. The cancellation of Grad Bash, a celebration for Florida high school seniors at the Universal theme park, was upsetting for many students, including Woloczak.
”We were all really upset about that because it was something we could not do on our own, we could not make up for that. That was something that was really taken away from us,” said Woloczak.
In contrast, students were relieved that one Senior event, the graduation, would be taking place. While the graduation proceedings could not occur in the King Center, where most Edgewood Graduations are held, Merritt Island High School allowed the Edgewood Seniors to have a graduation on their football field in the open air. Shannon Reid, now a freshman at UCF, was very satisfied with how her graduation happened.“I think that it was very great that I got to have a graduation; a lot of other kids didn’t get to and I think that it is a very important high school experience,” Reid said.
Reid feels like the important thing was that the graduation took place, and that it was in-person., Though the ceremony was likely not what Reid and many other students had imagined it would be at the beginning of the year, the ability to put on an in-person graduation was priceless for these Seniors.
“Every kid wants to be able to be up on stage with their principal, shake hands, and take their diploma. [They want to] smile at the cameras, to mom and dad, be able to see everybody out there looking at them, and clapping for them,” said Reid.
Principal Ingratta speaks at the 2020 graduation
Elias Sanabria, now studying at Brigham Young University, was very surprised and delighted that the graduation would take place in person.
“I was actually expecting a virtual graduation,” he said. “I was happy it was in-person but I had a feeling it would have been virtual, like other schools'.”
But now that the 2020 Seniors have left Edgewood's halls, the question is how this year's graduating class will be affected.
“To be completely honest, I feel worse for the seniors this year than I do for my senior class. My senior class, we at least got some things; we got a senior homecoming, we had a senior spirit week.... The seniors this year are probably not going to have those opportunities," said Woloczak.
While the circumstances may look daunting for this year's senior class, nobody knows how this school year will play out. This year, Seniors, better prepared for COVID-19's new normal, will find ways to enjoy their classic high school senior experiences.
This is Jamie’s 2nd year at Edgewood and her first year on The Edge team. When she is not writing stories for The Edge, Jamie enjoys going on adventures, traveling and crafting. This year, she hopes to improve her interviewing skills.
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