This year’s graduating class hadn’t even reached the halfway point of their high school years when the coronavirus emerged and upended almost every aspect of school all at once.
Their classrooms became computer screens. Everything from pep rallies and school dances to football games and theater performances were canceled, modified or pivoted to virtual activities.
Simply hanging out with friends was tricky, with masks and social distancing at play.
And yet, that’s only part of their story for roughly 100,000 seniors statewide set to graduate during the coming days. There were Zoom dance parties with teachers and drive-by birthday surprises — and other poignant moments.
During their senior year, many classrooms switched to virtual learning after a surge of coronavirus cases in August. By October, most classrooms had reopened, but the omicron surge in January upended school life again.
Credit: Courtesy photo
Credit: Courtesy photo
By February, things were finally getting back to some normality — as much as they can during a pandemic.
“The pandemic took away from my high school experience,” said Meron Ayecheh, Clarkston High School valedictorian. “However, it also taught me an important life lesson. Independence. It taught me to completely rely on myself and not on others! I’d say this beats anything else.”
Credit: Courtesy photo
Credit: Courtesy photo
There were also some lighter moments.
Rahul Gudapati, the valedictorian at Alpharetta High School, said one story he’ll tell his grandchildren will be “waking up and getting in the shower at 8:25 a.m. when class started at 8:20 a.m. — and still be counted present.”
Milan Capoor, North Atlanta High School valedictorian, has reflected on many silver linings in the pandemic. She learned to cook and sew, and found new ways to connect with friends, such as playing Minecraft together online.
“Coming back to school at last in senior year, it was clear that as a class we had all changed. We had all grown together. We were friendlier, more supportive, and more collaborative with each other,” she said.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
All across Georgia, seniors will toss their graduation caps toward an open sky. They will get the opportunity to revel in this ritual, which recent graduating classes missed.
“Looking back on the pandemic, I see it as the scary, uncertain, unstable, and dangerous time that it was,” said Capoor. “But I also see it as a crucible of community, of friendship, and of personal growth. In the long term, I hope that this will be part of the message we carry forward; not just that we survived, but that we made it through together.”
Go to Sunday Living and the AJC education page for more graduation stories.
Georgia graduation rates
2022: Not yet available
2021: 83.7%
2020: 83.8%
2019: 82.0%
2018: 81.6%
Source: Georgia Department of Education
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