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Another Year of Virtual Graduations

Leslie Cote
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CWU chapter.

Earlier last month, Central Washington University unfortunately announced and confirmed that there will be a virtual commencement held for the class of 2021. After long and careful consideration, the university felt that hosting another year of virtual graduations would be the best way to keep students and families safe since COVID-19 obviously still exists. While vaccines are still slowly rolling out, realistically there is little time from now until June to completely ensure everyone’s safety. I felt awful for the graduates last year who didn’t receive a traditional commencement ceremony because it was such shocking news and the pandemic was still pretty fresh, but now history is in fact repeating itself.

woman in black dress stands outside in front of a fence holding her graduation cap
TinTin12 | Pixabay
As a senior who is on track to graduate this spring, I feel pretty frustrated and disheartened in response to the recent decision because I was somewhat anticipating that there would be a change. I tried not to have high hopes, but the answer is finally clear now that I will not have an opportunity to walk on graduation day. I know that my work ethic obviously has nothing to do with the final decision that was made but working hard these past four years towards my English degree now suddenly feels a little less celebratory and commemorative. It’s not that I am against participating in a virtual graduation or think that it is a terrible alternative, it’s just that I’ve always had my eyes eagerly set on graduating with my friends and having a traditional ceremony. My father is the only member of my direct family to have graduated from college so receiving my diploma will be a huge accomplishment for me. I have produced a lot of amazing work while being an undergrad at CWU and I have made a lot of connections and memories that I will truly never forget, I just wish I could have had the real graduation experience to conclude my journey.

 Regardless of this sticky COVID-19 situation that is completely out of everyone’s control, when it all comes down to it, I have to realize that I still pushed myself and did my absolute best as a diligent college student. All that matters is that I made something of myself while studying at CWU and that alone is something no version of graduation can take away.

Leslie is the Vice President and Chief Editor for Her Campus Central Washington University. As a senior at CWU studying English Literature, she hopes to one day become an investigative journalist. Her many interests include playing tennis, watching The Office, and traveling. Leslie is from Issaquah, Washington and she has been writing for Her Campus for two years.