The Shoemaker Bugle

by Joceline Rodriguez 

Senior year. It’s said to be one of the best years of high school. Normally, there are so many fun activities and events to enjoy with your friends as school is coming to an end. It’s one time in our lives that we’ll never be able to experience again.

Although most teens would agree that school sucks, and it is not very fun, what IS amazing is how we meet new people and develop new friendships. School has its ups and downs for sure,  but it’s honestly a great experience–with the right people.

Before COVID, everyone would always complain about going to school, and they talked about how much they would prefer to do school online instead of dragging themselves half-asleep to campus every day.

But now, after a year of “learning” at home,  I know many kids and adults who would jump at the chance to return to campus right now instead of doing classes via Zoom and Schoology all day every day alone and in isolation.

At first it was not bad. In fact, it was kind of fun–a novelty.  But the newness has quickly worn down like an over-sharpened pencil.

Last year, the class of 2020 suffered major disappointments. They didn’t get to have the full senior experience with prom, activities, and graduation. On campus life was cut short–right at the most exciting part of the year.

Graduates couldn’t walk the stage in person with their friends.  Families couldn’t sit in the crowd and cheered them on. Instead, all everyone got was just a video of all the seniors’ pictures on a TV screen.

However, this years’ seniors have it worse. We didn’t even get to step foot on campus for one day of our senior year! And it sucks knowing that we probably won’t be having graduation in person either.

We’re all wishing for things to get better. We’re all hoping that the vaccine will allow us to actually graduate live and in person. We’re all at home waiting.

But, no matter what happens, we can finally see a light at the end of the dark and lonely tunnel. Eventually everything will go back to normal.

Maybe the class of 2022 will be able to experience the whole traditional senior year thing complete with dances, homecoming, prom, grad night, and an actual graduation.

If they do, I hope they truly appreciate it.