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The Hechinger Report
Student Voice: I couldn’t wait for high school to be over, until it was
From 'Senior Slump' to fears about illness, death and just plain ol' boredom
By Julia Finke
April 2, 2020
A couple of weeks ago, I badly wanted a break from school. I went to bed that night with the intention of skipping the next day.
While I was sleeping, Gov. Ralph Northam issued a mandatory two-week hiatus for all Virginia public schools.
I got what I wished for.
I don’t wish for it anymore.
As the week progressed, it became evident that the situation wasn’t
getting better, and on Monday, March 23, Gov. Northam closed down every
public school in the state for the rest of the school year.
I went to school on Wednesday, March 11, not knowing it would be my
last day as a high school student. I didn’t have my final sign-off
during the morning announcements. I didn’t get to thank my teachers for
imparting endless knowledge to me. I didn’t get to say goodbye to my
friends who I’ll never sit in a classroom with again.
I should be sitting in class counting down the days until graduation,
wishing it could all go by faster. I should be in the middle of “Senior
Slump.”
Instead, I’m stuck at home, hoping and praying that I’ll get the
opportunity to walk across the stage at graduation, decked out in cords
and tassels.
My spring break plan was to visit every college I had been accepted to
so I could make my final decision. Now I may end up committing to a
college I’ve never seen.
I bought my prom dress months ago. It’s pink and covered with flowers,
and it’s the first long formal dress I’ve ever worn. I should have been
wearing it last week while hitting the dance floor one last time with
friends I’ve made over the past four, six, 12 years. Instead, prom was
canceled.
For the past three years, I’ve been involved with my school’s theater.
My last show was set to open on Friday, March 13. My sister, teachers
and grandparents promised they’d come out to see it. After Opening
Night, the rest of the performances were canceled.
Now, instead of performing in the theater, I’m home watching “Survivor.”
I’m also thinking about survival. I know that people’s lives are at
stake, especially the lives of people like my grandparents, but perhaps
even my own life. I used to think of my asthma as a great excuse to get
out of gym class.
Now, like many other things, it doesn’t seem so great anymore.
Because this is really about life and death.
What a difference a couple of weeks can make.
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