Attention to the Whitney Young senior class of  2020… there is a new change to our end of the year events!  Due to the recent circumstances regarding COVID-19, the administration is sorry to say that our Senior Graduation will be held over Facetime.  As everyone knows, CPS has closed all schools, originally till the beginning of April, but now it has been changed to April 20th (although I would not be surprised if this was extended further).  So since the school wants to be safe and to ensure that they are taking the necessary precautions, our graduation will be on Facetime, and our diplomas will be emailed to us as pdf files. 

So what does that mean? This means that if you do not have an Iphone or a device that has the Facetime application, you cannot attend this virtual ceremony.  This means that if you cannot make it into the call on time, you will not attend the ceremony. But, on the bright side, you only really need to dress nicely on the top of your body.  The bottom is a free-for-all; you could wear sweats, shorts, pajamas, you name it!  

Allen Mai’20, exclaimed, “Honestly sucks that graduation will be over Facetime, but at least I don’t really need to dress nicely and I can just be in bed during the ceremony!” 

Yes, Allen, way to look on the bright side!  Sure, it sucks that we will be having an electronic ceremony, but at least we don’t have to sit through hours of hearing people’s names.  We can just hang up or go do something else while our names aren’t being called.

“This is literally horrible.  I did not survive 6 years at this school just to have a dumb electronic graduation.  I can’t believe that our senior year is ruined,” stated Tacarra Meaux ‘20.  

Honestly, Meaux is not the only one out there who is upset over this.  We have all been waiting 4 years, some 6, for this moment, and we get stuck in this situation, which does not feel good at all.  I am definitely upset, along with many others, that our second semester of senior year has come to this.  

“Personally, I don’t really care because I am not a senior.  It does suck that their graduation ceremony will be over video chat, but then again, it is what it is.  It’s not my problem,” said Devin Shaw ‘21.

For all you juniors out there, I’m sure it’s not easy either.  Your SAT is cancelled after your PSAT was cancelled in the fall.  You will be missing valuable college process resources that are helpful.  Lastly, you’re missing the end of the last school year where you are not stressed about college.  COVID-19 is definitely everyone’s problem, and it’s affecting everyone.  

So to reiterate, our senior graduation is now unfortunately over Facetime.  Be sure to be punctual to the ceremony, meaning join the call on time. And for those who cannot attend, your diploma will still be emailed as a pdf.  Let’s try to make the best of this, and let’s hope that everything calms down and goes back to normal soon.