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’s going to 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” like prom, traveling graduation ceremonies, senior jump days, senior trips, and whatever other traditions you want. given to seniors at your school. What sucks so bad is that you’re missing out on school experiences for the last time: 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 about how devastating this would have been to me, especially if it had happened in my last semester before I graduated 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 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 off 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 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 recover what you have missed, by choice or circumstance. I’m sorry.

This is a hard lesson to learn so early in life, and in a pretty extreme way. I believe that COVID-19 has taught every human being on Earth that we are No in control of everything, and the circumstances can happen that will derail our best intentions and plans. These 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 the two reasons why I think we all have an identity crisis in our 40s. We are disappointed that the life plans we made in our 20s didn’t work out as we hoped. Reconciling what we are with what we hoped to be is a matter of knowing two things: that the unexpected will happen and throw us off track (as you are now learning), 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 even have that diploma or degree in hand. Life will kick you around 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 am now “getting it” after life turned me around for a decade until I finally grew up and learned that there were things in me that I needed to work out in order to reach my full potential. That is, in fact, 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 all you are and all you have is enough. The Lord will give you what you need as you go through life, and he will work things out so that you are where you need to be. You may not always like it, but you are being given the best and you just have to accept what it takes to be the best you can be. Life hurts sometimes, but it hurts and it flows. All things pass. Know that challenges will lead 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. Don’t rush or rush. Just experience life where you are, enjoy your blessings, and take your lessons with humility and courage.

We all lack life experiences. That is why we are all so anxious, restless, angry, moody, and depressed. No one knows what to make of this mess, or what the Lord is trying to do 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 are. 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 hold your ground and keep the faith.

No, I will not post my senior picture. You don’t need that. What he needs is 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!

Sincerely,

SherritheWriter