High school grads ready to face new normal after 2 years of COVID-19
Island highschool graduates who needed to regulate to COVID-19 during the last two years are strolling the stage this week to get their diplomas because the world seems to be to enter a brand new post-pandemic regular.
The graduating class of 2022 is the primary one for the reason that pandemic started to have the ability to dance collectively at promenade or attend a commencement get together with their whole class.
Two Grade 12 college students who had their ceremonies on Thursday informed Island Morning’s Laura Chapin that they missed out on many elements of the highschool expertise the previous two years.
“It undoubtedly hindered plenty of issues we will do proper all through the entire yr, and never simply earlier than the 2 weeks of March break both,” mentioned Matthew Murphy from Kinkora Regional Excessive.
“We normally have a giant journey with the Grade 12 up west the place we keep the night time for a particular program we’re all in. However due to COVID in October, we could not try this … We could not do issues we usually would. So it form of dampened the yr a little bit bit, however we nonetheless made the most effective of it nevertheless we may.”
A studying curve
Ashton Jay from Souris Regional Faculty mentioned the state of affairs not solely affected the enjoyable elements of highschool, but in addition his lecturers — notably originally of the pandemic when faculties had been adapting to the realities of distant studying.
“I used to be in Grade 10 and I had no ambition to do something by any means. And I am not ashamed to say I simply did not do the work,” he mentioned.
“It was plenty of a studying curve for everyone, and I do not actually blame the lecturers on that however very a lot may have been dealt with means higher for everyone. And I feel all of us would have had a greater expertise.”
Now each college students are hoping their post-secondary expertise is extra regular than for individuals who began college whereas COVID-19 restrictions had been in place. Jay plans to main in journalism, whereas Murphy will take accounting.
However for now, they are saying they’re simply excited to lastly attain a milestone they have been constructing as much as for a giant chunk of their lives.
“Tonight, we stroll throughout the stage and stroll by means of the halls for the final time … It is an emotional time and it is unhappy to go away, however everybody is aware of you are going to do nice in your new beginnings,” Murphy mentioned.
“I am a a lot totally different individual than I used to be … [before the pandemic],” Jay mentioned. “Much more mature, and extra outgoing.”
