Open Letter from a Graduating Hokie About COVID-19
My heart is in a million pieces. I knew it was inevitable, but that didn’t make finding out graduation was canceled any easier. Virginia Tech, along with many other universities, has canceled commencement due to the health and safety of the community. Even if COVID-19 is no longer a pandemic in May, it is highly unlikely thousands of people will still be allowed to be packed in auditoriums, restaurants, etc.
It’s absolutely heart wrenching to be working so hard for four years for one goal: to graduate and get to celebrate the fruits of your labors. None of us could have expected this is how 2020 was going to go, which makes the reality so much more upsetting.
Growing up, kids are famous for naming out all of life’s exciting stages. Without a doubt, graduating college is almost always included. Students work hard for over a decade so that they can put on that cap and gown and walk across the stage to receive their diploma. It is a huge milestone in anyone’s life that the class of 2020 does not get to experience.
It isn't graduation I am most upset about, it is receiving graduation cords I've earned over the past 4 years, taking graduation pictures with my friends, getting to walk across the stage and feel that all my hard work paid off, celebrating with my friends one last time, senior superlatives, packing up my apartment and knowing it leads to an exciting new adventure. I know there are so many things that can't be changed, but man, life is crazy right now that we no longer get to have so many experiences that are tied to graduation.
I understand and commend Virginia Tech for moving all classes online and encouraging students not to return to Blacksburg in order to combat COVID-19. Graduation, on the other hand, is different. For many of us, this is our greatest accomplishment thus far in our lives, and it is the culmination of years of hard work, late nights, and many, many thousands of dollars. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I feel that we students deserve more than the proposed virtual commencement and tailgate, notwithstanding the many issues (hotels, work schedules, etc.) that this tailgate and attending winter commencement present.
It’s kind of a slap in the face to be told that we are being given a few football tickets and a tailgate to replace one of the biggest events of our lives.
One plus from this entire pandemic is how quickly people have come together to support one another. Social media really is a gift for us to connect even when social distancing. I saw someone post on their Instagram story a few days ago talking about when this all passes, restaurants will be crowded with a 2-hour wait, people will give handshakes and hugs without fear, and we will enjoy the things we have been deprived of these few months with a new appreciation.
Take care of one another
xoxo,
Erica