The May Plans Surrounding College Graduations
After four years of grueling work, imagine finally being done. Imagine the pride and joy a college student feels when walking down the platform to receive their diploma. Whether it is the clapping peers, cheering friends, or doting parents recording the whole event, we know instinctively that in-person college graduation is an extremely memorable moment.
We are almost at our one-year quarantine-anniversary, and coronavirus has truly changed our world. It isn’t just mask-wearing and hand sanitizer; it is the feeling of isolation. Its effects are still very prominent today, which is something that very few would have been able to predict when the first few cases were being announced. The required 6 feet of space has reduced human contact to zoom calls and group chats; hanging out with a large group of friends is less enjoyable, and more dangerous. And with this new reality, monumental celebrations like college graduation have been routinely canceled.
For multiple colleges, virtual ceremonies are being held this spring for another year, disappointing many students. Others have a toned-down in-person ceremony, but family members and friends must tune in from home. These precautions make it impossible for family members to come into contact with the deadly virus while celebrating their graduates and at least offer students the relief that their family will not become infected.
Other colleges are opting for small in-person graduations in which graduates will sit apart from each other, ”elbow-bump” when receiving their diplomas, and take socially distanced selfies. Even at these more normal graduations, schools remain cautious and follow CDC guidelines in their planning. Large stadiums and football fields are particularly popular to reduce the risk of catching the virus.
For example, the University of Oklahoma at Norman is hosting a graduation ceremony for 2020 and 2021 graduates in six separate ceremonies this spring. San Diego State University and Johns Hopkins are both doing fully virtual commencements.
Overall, given the current situation, colleges seem to be doing the best they can. My heart goes out to all seniors for being devoid of a proper send-off. “[Graduation] was the greatest moment in my life,” said Jean Repollet, the president of the College of New Jersey. “If we can give that to our students, all students, but more so those individuals who had the perseverance and the grit to finish, that’s important.”
by Srija Ghosh