Goodbye, Class of 2020!: Reflections from MHS Seniors

Senior year…it’s a year everyone really looks forward to. The year of senior pictures, trips, prom and graduation; the day you get to walk out on stage in front of your family, friends and  classmates and proudly receive your high school diploma so that you can finally say, “I did it!”.

Many dream of their senior year filled with football games and parties, but none imagined that it would be cut short and that they would not be able to make the same memories as others did in previous years. Because of the coronavirus, the Class of 2020 has had to sacrifice a lot of their major high school experiences, but this all just shows how valuable the little things are - like walking down the halls or having lunch with your friends - and that we should try and cherish every moment.

Recently, there was a parade to celebrate the Class of 2020. Families and friends along with teachers and faculty members lined up along the streets and cheered on the graduating class while they drove in their cars. The students decorated their cars in the spirit of their future college with paint, balloons, streamers and more. This celebration served as the last “hurrah” for the Class of 2020 

Here, seniors Skylar Ballard, Olivia Du and Ruka Adachi share their high school memories, experiences and perspectives on the pandemic: 

How did you react when you found out that school was cancelled for the rest of the semester? And how do you feel now? 
When I first heard about school being cancelled, I was pretty excited; I imagined it to be like a 2-3 week break instead of a full-on quarantine. But now, I definitely wish we still had school because that would mean everything has returned to normal. -Olivia

What were you looking forward to this semester?
I was looking forward to graduation the most, like any other senior would tell you, graduation is something special and the weeks leading up to it are important too! I think I was excited for our senior trip to the Bahamas and when our parents [would have] painted our cars! -Skylar

What’s your favorite high school memory?
My favorite high school memory is definitely getting to be part of our marching band. I was really lucky to have been able to serve as the drum major and I was able to experience so many great things that only few people can say they experience, like conducting the band every football game during halftime. -Ruka

What was the most embarrassing moment that you had in high school?
The most embarrassing moment I had in high school was probably getting a nose bleed during a bio 1 test and bleeding over the exam. -Olivia

Do you regret not doing anything when you were in high school?
I regret not playing more than one sport. I really wish I played softball, but I never picked it up when I was young. I only did dance and volleyball. -Skylar

What will you miss most about high school?
I will miss my amazing friends and teachers in high school. Also, the band! The college I will go to does not have a marching band so I will definitely miss having a group I can call my family. -Ruka

What college are you going to and what are you looking forward to?
I’m going to UT Austin in the fall and I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing an independent yet diverse environment. I think Memorial has given me many memories but I’m excited to see what college has to offer. -Olivia

I will be going to Baylor University in the fall to study Business Marketing or Entrepreneurship. I am looking forward to learning how to expand my mum and garter business (other ideas too!) and hopefully be able to come back to it in the future and make them for my kids! I'm very nervous going to Baylor since it wasn’t my first choice, but my friends that are also going are helping me adjust nicely! -Skylar

I’m going to the University of Chicago (UChicago) but I will be taking a gap year because of all of the crazy things going on right now. I’m attending in the fall of 2021 and I’m so, so, so excited to be in an environment where people are genuinely excited to learn. I also look forward to all of the deep dish pizza that Chicago has to offer! -Ruka

Goodbye, Class of 2020, and good luck in college!