2020 class of high school students faces the effects of the pandemic
For several months, Kaylee Juárez and her mother had been preparing everything to celebrate the young woman's graduation.
However, in the midst of the COVID-19 quarantine, many celebrations have been canceled and others – such as Los Altos High School, in Hacienda Heights, which is part of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District – live with the uncertainty of not knowing how The school year will close for the 2020 class.
"I like to plan ahead and that was the saddest thing, because we already had everything bought … Her gown, her cap, we were ready with photos, we had already bought her dress for the 'Prom', although there were still months to go. We were just waiting for the dates to celebrate it ”, Jessica Fernández, mother of the young woman, explains in a phone call with La Opinión.
He acknowledges that it has been a sad situation for his family but he keeps alive the hope that something can be done so that the students close their cycle in the best possible way.
“Her school is avoiding saying that it will not happen, so she is hopeful that even if it is September or when it is possible, she is going to celebrate something… My way of thinking is that, if there is still the possibility that she could have her graduation and we are going to wait to wear her dress ”, says Fernández.
"We still have so much hope, they have not cut our wings like in other districts."
On Saturday, April 18, Kaylee would have celebrated her graduation party and admits that it was a day she had waited to crown all the effort she had dedicated to her studies.
“I thought it would be a nice night, because my friends and I are all very good students and we have always been focused on school… I thought that after all these years of work it would be fun to be together and forget about classes and stress, ”says the student, whose grade point average is 3.8.
"I think last Saturday is when she hit him hard. He woke up and said, "Ma, today would have been my Prom." I feel that when those special dates arrive, she is feeling it, "adds Fernández, referring to the order to 'Stay at Home' and its consequences.
He adds that he still does not know how his daughter will feel the last week of May, when her graduation ceremony was planned.
The Mexican American mother, who is a third grade teacher, confesses that sadness seizes her knowing that her daughter may not enjoy this experience.
“Honestly, at first I think I felt it more, because she has not lived those experiences. Everything was going to be new but my daughter understands that we are going through a difficult stage and that there are more important things to focus on. ”
Positive attitude
Kaylee, apart from being an exemplary student, is very aware of the situation the world is going through and tries to stay positive in any circumstance and this is how she is facing the possibility of not having a conventional graduation.
“It's sad when I think about it, but I have to stay positive. If in the end we do not have a party or a graduation ceremony, it will be the best, due to the situation we are experiencing now, "he says.
"I just hope that in the summer we can have our graduation, but right now I am trying to stay positive about it," adds the young woman who will turn 18 next Tuesday.
Her mother can't help but be moved to tears when she dedicates a few words to her daughter.
"I think it's sad, knowing that you saw her work hard every day (and knowing that there will be no ceremony) or not being able to celebrate it. But I want you to know that I am very proud of the young woman she is becoming. ”
Jessica and Kaylee go one day at a time dealing with the melancholy of imagining that glorious night, but their motto is that as long as the school doesn't cancel the celebrations, anything can happen.
"Not having news is good news, if we have not heard everything canceled it is because they are looking for options for this situation," says Fernández.
Graduation but at home
Lissette Mandujano already has her high school diploma in her hands.
"I thought I was going to graduate with my friends, but it feels good to have my diploma after working so hard to get it," said the 17-year-old who graduated a year ahead of schedule by completing two school years in one .
High School Principal William J. Johnston arrived at her Wilmington home last Friday to present her long-awaited certificate.
"The director spoke to us and told us that she was coming to the house to graduate her, she knew that Lissette was really looking forward to that," said the young woman's mother, Maite Mandujano.
"For me the most important thing of all is that he has obtained his diploma, although it would have been nice to have a normal graduation, but if it is not possible or way".
Sponsor a young person
Dozens of Facebook groups have been created to support the 2020 class, but one of the most popular is "Adopt a Senior."
An initiative where members sponsor a young man who is about to graduate and send him from a greeting card to other details such as flower arrangements, cakes, food or any gift that can make students happy.
The group was created two weeks ago and already has more than 65,000 members and successfully continues its mission of bringing happiness to future graduates.
