By Emma Byard, Staff Writer
Since coronavirus arrived, there has been a standing question for many members of the Class of 2020: Should high school seniors be granted the same privileges some college students are receiving? Should high school seniors be able to opt out of graduation and get a redo of senior year?
To further explain, college athletes attained a “red-shirt” corona year from the NCAA. This means they gained an extra season of sports eligibility after losing the 2020 spring season due to the pandemic. Normally, red-shirt seasons are granted when athletes suffer an injury, giving them four full years to compete during a five-year college career. Could this work in a similar way for high school students so they have the chance to make up their last semester athletically, socially and possibly academically?
First Flight counselor Lisa Wheless explained what the reality of a redo would mean for high school seniors.
“In my opinion, you should never redo a year at all. You should be striving to do the four years and then get on with your life,” Wheless said.
Although a lot of seniors are feeling despair for themselves, Wheless also said that this situation may be worse for the parents.
“The graduation ceremony is not so much for the student as it is for the parent. And the prom, the parents like to take pictures of their kids and reminisce,” Wheless said. “Not getting to go shopping with your daughter or your son for that special boutonniere, I think that would be pretty sad and would upset me as a parent.”
Missing milestone events such as senior prom and graduation is unimaginable, but some have accepted their losses, including senior Sophia Cooper.
“While I would love to be able to experience all the second-semester senior experiences I missed out on, I am excited for college and to move forward with the next part of my life,” Cooper said. “I am sad about missing out on a lot, but I have come to terms with our senior year being this way and the fact that I have no control over it.”
Senior Kyle Keller shared his stance on getting a restart for both high school and college students.
“So many people have their life so planned out, and all that’s going on has messed up so much of it up already,” Keller said. “So I definitely believe next year, plans will hinder some seniors from getting a redo if they wanted it.”
Many college seniors still have to take into account the feasibility of doing another season of sports when it may be time to move on to their next chapter. The same would go for high school seniors who are wondering about a redo. Is it time to move on?
All the more reason to consider not moving on is that seniors are given a “pass” or “withdraw” grade rather than a number grade. The material for the last quarter is no longer required for seniors to complete if they were passing as of March 13.
Some, such as Wheless, think that this is best for the time being.
“It is one of those things where we have to look at the students and people in general who have no control over what happened,” Wheless said. “We humans do our best when we are under pressure and I feel like we need to be flexible during this time. I feel as though it is taking the student’s health, physically, emotionally, socially, and all of that into consideration, and I think it’s the right thing to do.”
The biggest barrier to a redo is plans for the future, which therefore makes starting from scratch unfeasible – even if it was a possibility being offered.
“Seniors have spent the entire academic year applying to colleges and scholarships and getting excited for the next big step in their lives,” Cooper said. “While most are devastated that our senior year has come to an end, they are not willing to sacrifice their first year of college to redo it.”
Senior Emma Byard can be reached at byardem0329@daretolearn.org.
