Oh The Places You’ll Go: My Class of 2020 Grad and Her Friends

My daughter Katie is a Class of 2020 graduate.  She, like her classmates, found her world turned upside down when the COVID pandemic brought us to a screeching halt.  She left school on March 13th, thinking that she was just getting an extra week of spring break.  None of us could have predicted that March 13th would be her last day of on-campus learning of her senior year of high school.  Spring sport seasons were put on hold, then cancelled entirely… her senior season of lacrosse ended just days before her first scheduled game.  No prom. No senior skip day, grad walk through the the elementary and middle school, all night party, or traditional graduation pomp and circumstance.  Her expectations for finishing high school were shattered and it was so sad.  But Katie, and her friends, shocked us with their resilience.  Instead of dwelling on all they were sacrificing, they adapted. Shifted their energy to their jobs, their communities, and their friendships.  They celebrated what they accomplished in new and creative ways.  They looked forward to their future, with a fresh appreciation of how awesome their high school experience had been.  I watched Katie and her friends and I learned from them how to pivot with grace and sacrifice with kindness when life is unfair. To say we are proud of Katie and her friends is an understatement.

These kids were born in the aftermath of 9/11.  They graduated in a pandemic.  They have – and will continue – to change their world.  Oh the places you’ll go…  We can’t wait to cheer you on in this next chapter.  May you always know that God goes before you, behind, beside and with you.  I love you!

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