Grace Goldmeer
Staff Reporter
On Friday, March 13th the student population of Peoria Unified School District left schools excited for their spring break, rushing home to camping trips, video games, a week of relaxation with less homework than usual. Little did they know, this would be their last day on campus for the year. As news broke about the extended break, then the online learning, then the remainder of the semester students began to panic about prom, yearbooks, concerts and seniors were worried about graduation.
Seniors were stripped of moments and memories, and although it is sad, it allows us to reflect and be grateful for those that we were able to make. Tyler Lamphier, a Senior at Ironwood, has been building memories on campus since he was a freshman. He will miss losing his voice at assemblies and the friend group he built in the media program. Tyler is using his time to play video games and do school work, but between those things he has found time to talk to older generations about their experiences with situations like this “[they] have all compared this situation to past experience[s]” such as other illnesses that had the public concerned like the Swine Flu and Ebola, but none of these have turned the world around like COVID-19. He says what everyone else is thinking right now when he says, “these are really weird times” and did not foresee something happening to this scale any time soon.
Catalina Soto, the Student Body President would normally be very busy around this time of year but, due to the shelter in place the order, is spending her time at home. She looks back on her high school experience with joy and sadness. She participated in cross country and watched herself improve greatly through the years and connected with students across campus through student council. She is disappointed that traditions are being forced to change but is hopeful that they will not go away completely. Catalina, along with the rest of the student body is “trying to make the best of things and looking forward” to tomorrow.
The district's seniors lack the closure they deserve but are presented with a unique opportunity on how they spend their last few months of school. The administration at Ironwood is being flexible, staying in contact and doing all that they can for the seniors and the rest of the student population. It all goes to show that each student, each person, matters and are united by more than just the school we go to.
Image Credit: Cole Keister on Unsplash
Comments