Dear Class of 2020: An Open Letter to Graduates

Dear Class of 2020:

I’ve seen Facebook challenge us to post our senior photos in support of you, but I honestly don’t see how that will comfort you. It seems exactly the opposite to me. It feels like we’re putting it in your face that we have to have this experience, and you don’t. I would like to offer you something that I hope will plant seeds of inspiration for the future.

I’m sorry you’re missing the events and rights of way. It sucks that you can’t have experiences that are considered “growing up” experiences like prom, traveling graduation ceremonies, senior jump days, senior trips, and any other traditions that given to seniors at your school. What sucks so much is that you’re missing out on the experiences of school for the last time: having lunch with your friends, those final projects and class days, and time with teachers and peers you didn’t know you were seeing. the last time life was abruptly interrupted by the coronavirus in March.

I have thought many times how devastating this would have been for me, especially if it had happened in my last semester before graduating from college. That was one of the happiest moments of my life. I got engaged over spring break, was working on an independent research study that eventually qualified me for the job I have now, enjoyed all of my classes, reconnected with an old friend, and achieved my goal of achieving a 4.0 GPA . It would have been devastating if they told me not to come back from spring break. My whole life would have changed. Without a doubt, yours has as a consequence of this pandemic.

There is not much comfort to offer you. Perhaps high school seniors heading to college or college students heading to graduate school will recapture some of these experiences in a few years. I went to a semi-formal dance my sophomore year of college that was so much more fun and so much better than my high school prom, but at least I had a prom to compare it to. You are missing out on experiences that cannot be replaced or returned, because there is no way to go back in time and retrieve what you have missed, by choice or circumstance. I’m sorry.

This is a difficult lesson to learn so early in life and in a rather extreme way. I believe that COVID-19 has taught every human being on Earth that we are not in control of everything, and the circumstances may happen that will derail our best intentions and plans. Those are usually lessons that come later in life, through personal things like unexpected changes in health, family, relationships, work, or finances. This is one of two reasons I think we all have an identity crisis in our 40s. We are disappointed that the life plans we made in our 20’s have not worked out as we hoped. Reconciling who we are with who we expected to be is a matter of knowing two things: that the unexpected will happen to throw us off course (as you’re learning now), and that we all want to be more than we are, when the truth is that everything is. that we are is enough.

Unfortunately, you are learning the first lesson before you have that diploma or degree in hand. Life will kick your ass and there is nothing you can do about it except adapt, adjust, strengthen yourself to meet the challenge and take whatever wisdom and opportunities you can from it. The good news is that you can trust the Lord to not only help you, but to make even this tragedy work for your good in the end. The trick is to stop at the end, and we’re not there yet. We are all dealing with this chaotic mess and praying for better days just around the corner.

The second lesson is one that you have to learn for yourself. In fact, I am 44 years old and I am now “getting it” after life tossed me around for a decade until I finally grew up and learned that there were things in me that I needed to resolve in order to reach my full potential. That is, indeed, a lifelong challenge. There will always be things we need to learn, do, correct, adjust and mature. It does not mean that there is a flaw in your character. It means that you are human, just like everyone else on the planet. Just remember that everything you are and everything you have is enough. The Lord will give you what you need as you go through life, and he will work things out to get you where you need to be. You may not always like it, but they are giving you the best and you just have to accept whatever it takes to be the best you can be. Life hurts sometimes, but it hurts and flows. All things pass. Know that challenges will give way to better days and enjoy the best days while you have them. The good news is that you have eternity with Christ, so it’s not like you really run out of time. Do not rush or rush. Simply experience life where you are, enjoy your blessings, and take your lessons with humility and courage.

We all lack life experiences. This is why we are all so anxious, restless, angry, moody and depressed. Nobody knows what to do with this mess, or what the Lord is trying to work in us. But missing milestones is the worst. It feels like being cheated on, and it feels personal. It’s not. You’re not being punished. None of us is. For you, it’s a terrible time, and unfortunately, that happens in life. I pray that it guides you on a better path than you expected, and I know that you will have the light of other experiences shining before you. You can’t get them back, but you can’t lose them all either. The Lord will give you beauty for these ashes. Just stand firm and keep the faith.

No, I will not post my photo from senior year. You don’t need that. What he needs are prayers and support to have the strength to get through this crisis, just like the rest of us.

My best wishes to you in the future. You deserve it!

To be honest,

SherritheWriter

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