So…what now?
We all knew the end of our college years was fast approaching, but we never could have anticipated it would happen like this. Over the course of the last two weeks, universities across the country moved classes online and sent residential students back home in preemptive responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some, such as Rutgers, initially switched to online courses for a few weeks but quickly extended the break from all on-campus classes and activities to the remainder of the spring semester, including the postponement of commencement ceremonies.
This effectively put a surreal ending to the graduating class of 2020’s final moments on campus, with little notice.
We collectively experienced our last day of classes, exciting nights out, student organization meetings and events, late-night food study breaks with friends, randomly pleasant laughs with roommates, and trips on the dreaded Rutgers buses (though no senior will probably ever miss those) all without knowing they would be our last at the time. On top of our existing fears of finding a job after graduation, we now have to be concerned with possibly entering the job market in the midst of an economic recession. Some may have been let go from their on-campus jobs or other sources of income, or had family members experience this sudden change. Many of us still had plans to end our last year on a good note that we now worry may never come to fruition.
But whether you were looking forward to your last chance to improve your grades, learn new skills at an internship, score an entry-level job, finish that project that’s taken you all semester to work on, focus on your mental health, be more social, or simply complete your degree and walk across the stage at graduation, you still deserve to celebrate all of the hard work that led you to where you are now. Even if it may feel selfish to do so or you find yourself thinking something along the lines of, “am I allowed to even feel bad about this right now?” You are allowed to feel dejected over an abrupt ending before the much earned celebration you have spent most of your youth working towards.
A common sentiment to hear during the closure of distinct chapters in life is how the journey of getting to the end is ultimately better than the destination itself. College students of any year know all too well the struggles that go into working towards a degree, and though the specifics of these are unique to individual students, the experience of putting your all towards one main goal is universal. The personal growth and accomplishments gained through these years of effort should be considered just as valuable as a degree, and deserve to be honored as such. Not having those final celebratory days on campus does not take away from the effort you’ve put in to get here. If you’re able to, take some time during these uncertain days to reflect on being proud of all of your accomplishments over the last few years. Even if it’s just for yourself.
Graduation ceremonies are not just a symbolic way to close out some important years of one’s life, but can also be a representation of all the hard work that everyone in a graduate’s life put towards ensuring that they walked across that stage. While the ceremonies may seem boring or excessive to some, and not everyone may be upset with theirs getting postponed indefinitely, others might have been looking forward to it since their freshman year or even earlier. Commencement is a time for families and friends to celebrate this milestone in life, and may be especially valued by those who are the first in their families to graduate or first-generation students.
Our feelings of missing out are valid. But, that does not give way for being reckless and risking a potential further spread of the virus by continuing to go out to parties or on vacations. Stay inside for the health of the elderly and immunocompromised individuals of all ages. Stay inside for the safety of health professionals who are on the front lines battling this pandemic for everyone else.
The 2020 class may have no idea what we’re going to be doing next. But if it’s any consolation, most of the world doesn’t seem to know either right now. We’re living out an unprecedented moment in modern history in real time. To get through this, it’s going to take patience, time and most importantly, social distancing.
So for now, we’ll start moving forward with things one day at a time, making sure to honor our own personal achievements every step along the way in the absence of grander celebrations.
And class of 2020, we are still graduating, ceremony or not.