Recently, it was announced that North Allegheny will remain closed for the rest of the school year, along with all other schools in Pennsylvania and many more across the country. While this news elicited strong emotional reactions from all students, it hit seniors especially hard.  High school, as the graduating class knew it, was over for good, and much sooner than anticipated. 

“This was our time of the year, especially the second half, to relax after all the hard work we put in every day, to share the time, to make memories with our friends, and to enjoy moments in school that make us laugh,” senior Mansi Avunoori said. 

While cherished events like Prom, graduation, and Senior Banquet have officially only been postponed, many are speculating that some, if not all, of them will be cancelled at some point due to the continuing social-distancing regulations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“I’m definitely upset that we won’t get everything most seniors do,” Sami Ky said. “It feels like we’re not getting closure on a big chapter of our lives.”

For Meghan Hendricks, the disappointments are hard to get over.

“I keep thinking of all the things we should have been doing right now — the dodgeball tournament, TigerThon, Prom, Senior Banquet, commencement,” the senior said. “I started watching High School Musical 3 the other night, and it made me cry when they started talking about how they wished things would just slow down. We all thought we wanted senior year to be over, but not like this.”

While seniors are feeling low-spirited over the few remaining prospects of the school year, many understand the reasoning behind the district’s decision and admit that the possible additional cancellations may be necessary to ensure student safety.

“I get that cancelling these activities or altering the way they occur is necessary, and we all have to do our part to be responsible citizens, even if it’s disappointing at the time,” Amanda Slusser said.

Regardless, it is still an emotional time for the Class of 2020, as they try to cope with the feelings of missing out on such classic high school events that may never be rescheduled.

“I have been going to NA for 13 years and I am the first person in my family to graduate from an American high school,” Anum Bajwa said, “so it really would be nice to have an in-person commencement to honor the hard work my parents, teachers, and I put in throughout the years.”

Bajwa added, “It feels like we never got to say goodbye to our building, our teachers, our friends and staff. It feels like we got cut short and never got the chance for a proper goodbye, so it’s kind of like we are ending on an unfinished note.”

But at this time all hope is not lost.

“As far as the rest of the year goes, I just hope we can get some kind of closure,” Hendricks said. “Push Prom back to July, push graduation to early August — I don’t care, but I want something. I don’t want this to be the end of our story at NA.”

There in fact may be a way to salvage graduation, which many seniors see as the most important event of high school.  The district is currently considering various options for a commencement ceremony and expects to announce its plans by early May.

“I still have high hopes that graduation at least will be postponed into the summer and we will be able to have an in-person ceremony, because the last thing I want is an online commencement and graduation ceremony,” Bajwa said. “An online ceremony kind of just feels like ‘Here’s your emailed diploma, have a nice life!'”

Hendricks agreed, saying, “All the jokes about the class of 2020 getting their diplomas via pdf were funny at first but as they get closer and closer to becoming a reality, it just hurts.”

Sanjana Sinha is decidedly optimistic, despite the circumstances. 

“I hate that our senior year has been cut short and we don’t get to have our Prom and graduation,” she said, “but hopefully freshman year of college will make up for it.”

Slusser, too, is intent on finding some happiness amid the many letdowns.

“I’m disappointed to say the least, but I’m trying to find some positives from the experience,” she said. “I’ve found that some parts are nice, such as getting to sleep in and seeing my family more now that I’m not as busy.”

As the school cancellation wears on, the abruptness with which it ended appears to be the hardest part to get over.

“Personally, I can’t get over the fact that I wore sweatpants for my last day of high school and my last day at North Allegheny,” Bajwa joked before turning serious. “Leaving that building that Friday (it was Friday the 13th, too!), I just did not know it would be my last day in that building.”

But like so many other seniors at this time, Bajwa is refusing to give up.

“It really feels like everything is working against us,” she said, “but all we can do is stay inside, hope, and pray this gets better soon.”