Class of 2020: Triangle high school grads seek the light at the end of the pandemic

Thirteen years of schooling has come to an end in an unexpected way for more than 100,000 North Carolina high school seniors.

The coronavirus pandemic kept seniors home for the last three months of the school year, denying them traditional activities such as mass in-person graduation ceremonies.

But even without those big ceremonies, The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun asked Triangle high school seniors what speeches they would give as they reflect upon what they’ve gone through and what’s to come.

“I know our senior year may not have gone as we wished it would have,” said Hailey Linko, a senior at North Johnston High School in Kenly. “But people will definitely remember the Class of 2020.”

Not a normal senior year

North Carolina public schools have been closed since mid-March to try to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The closure came as many senior year activities were still to be held.

“A normal senior year would have been combating senioritis, spending all night studying for finals and projects, worrying about those finals and projects because of procrastination, going to prom and dancing all night along, taking last walks through the hallways, writing momentous words in the yearbook and just being able to simply give our goodbye hugs,” said Anika Forde, valedictorian of J.D. Clement Early College High School in Durham.

“Normal is not an option now, and we need to find peace but never lose hope for a brighter future.”

The past few months brought back the old feelings that Forde had when she was diagnosed with cancer in her sophomore year. But Forde says her fellow seniors can persevere like she did.

”Painfully I remember missing cherished experiences because of something that was beyond my control,” Forde said. “But I know that fate eventually loosens the grip and there is light at the end of the tunnel. In order for us to survive this life-changing ordeal, we have to have faith and hope.”

Mourning what seniors have lost

Haven Bowers, senior class president of Heritage High School in Wake Forest, said seniors have every right to be mourning over not having gotten what past graduating classes experienced.

“We mourn what we’ve lost and have seen so many rejoice in — and that is OK,” Bowers said. “It is not fair, and it is not explainable. But this is our moment where we rise from a tragedy in our lives. We look forward to our futures.”

Bowers said seniors should remember what they’ve also gained from the pandemic, including knowing they should cherish everyday experiences.

“In moments of uncertainty, humanity has done its best to keep on living, and we as students have done the same,” Bowers said. “We will not take moments for granted that once were.”

Calling on graduates to be leaders

For generations, speakers have used graduation speeches to call their classmates into action. This year is no different.

Sam Wallace, a senior at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, said every student needs to lead, including those who feel they’ve been under-represented or silenced.

“There are those who need to hear your words, see your actions and recognize the hardships you may have faced, may it be racism, sexism or homophobia,” Wallace said. “These challenges require a new generation of leaders to vanquish them.”

Benjamin Gordon, a senior at Riverside High School in Durham, reminded his fellow graduates that they were born not long after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Now they’ll leave high school in a world dealing with coronavirus.

“All of these challenging times were met and are currently being met with passion for change,” Gordon said. “We’re going to be challenged for the rest of our lives in ways that we may not even be able to imagine at this point in time. Attack these challenges with passion.”

Alex Medlin, a senior at South Johnston High School in Four Oaks, says graduates have been placed in these unprecedented times for a purpose.

“Since this is history in the making, we need to know that we can be positive and be a positive influence In someone else’s life and we can step up and be leaders,” Medlin said. “I think this is the time to do so like no other.”

Some of this year’s graduates will leave their communities and the state. Nikhi Tsambasis, a senior at Green Hope High School in Cary, says seniors shouldn’t forget their roots.

“Remember where you came from: this little corner of Carolina that we love so much,” Tsambasis said. “Take all the best things about your home and your youth with you and use them to comfort you when things get tough, and they already are.”

This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 5:30 AM.

T. Keung Hui

The News & Observer

919-829-4534

T. Keung Hui has covered K-12 education for the News & Observer since 1999, helping parents, students, school employees and the community understand the vital role education plays in North Carolina. His primary focus is Wake County, but he also covers statewide education issues.