“This was not the ending I imagined,” Malala wrote in Vanity Fair about her virtual graduation from Oxford University this year. And while your own child is likely not a Nobel Peace Prize winner — yet — they’re still facing a transition during a most uncertain time.
Here’s what a handful of 2020 8th grade and 12th grade grads have to say to the kids who may be following in their footsteps — graduating during a pandemic.
Stay motivated
Honor your hobbies
“It can be tiring sitting and looking at a computer screen all day, but there are definitely ways you can look on the bright side. I knew that the pandemic would come to an end eventually and would still hold on to hope that we would go back soon. In the meantime, I loved to continue doing my favorite hobbies such as painting, drawing, and reading, which I never really had the time to enjoy beforehand.”
Mia, age 13, Pasadena, California
Show teachers the love
“My advice for any upcoming 8th graders would be just to do your best in school. Getting along with teachers is a plus because they may be more willing to help with students who show more gratitude for them.”
— Jazmine, age 13, Belvidere, New Jersey
Don’t take your friends for granted
“Especially like the situation with coronavirus, you don’t want to take your friends for granted. So, 8th grade would be a good time to really find those few special friends who will stick with you through high school, even though you may make many more during your time in high school.”
— Jazmine, age 12, Belvedere, New Jersey
Stay connected
“I think that it's so important to keep in touch with friends. It's hard to transition from seeing people for upwards of six hours a day, five days a week, and then seeing nobody besides the people in your house. But also, keeping in touch means something different for everyone! For some of my friends, that means a big Zoom call every night. For some, it might just be a check-in text every couple days. Figure out whatever the level of engagement you need is, and then engage!”
— Hera, age 18, Berkeley, California
Make it meaningful
“One thing that I did, as a gift to all my classmates, is make matching bracelets for the graduating class of 2020. That made it memorable. So, have something that all of you can share and remember. It was really hard, not having a graduation and being there together in person. Having a way to connect is so important. So, we wrote letters to each other and we had conversations in class about things we are going to miss about each other — like positive affirmations. That was really sweet, our way to say goodbye. Those kinds of things can bring you together as a class.”
— Gabby, age 14, Los Angeles, California
Have perspective
"I think it's also important to remember that while, obviously, this pandemic has incredible global significance, online school and social distancing does not the end of the world make. Pick up a hobby or something, and remember that everyone's in the same boat. We're in it together, and we'll get through it together.”
— Hera, age 18, Berkeley, California
