March 13, 2020. A date that will go down in history. It was a day that many didn’t know would be their last day of high school. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows High School seniors face this reality. They walked out of the building excited for the weekend, not knowing that they would never be returning to the famous 1111 Willow Drive building again as students. For some, it’s a relief, for others it’s a detrimental loss.
The class of 2020 has lost something that most every other graduating class has gotten. The four-year music seniors walked out of the doors ready for their amazing trip to Chanhassen the 15th. Only to have it ripped from them. Vocal and band students and directors were pumped about their upcoming contests, ready to rock the rooms of Fort Dodge Middle School and Algona High School. The weeks of preparation fell apart and didn’t matter anymore. This left the students crushed and the seniors broken, knowing they would never again get to perform with their peers.
Seniors were looking forward to running the blue oval just one last time as they compete for their state titles. Courtney Harle, a CGD track athlete stated, “This year, I had set the biggest goals I’ve ever had because the season was looking so promising from the start. I was hoping to qualify for the 100m dash, which would have made me the first person that Coach Harker has ever had that qualified for that event four years in a row. I still haven’t fully comprehended that I will never have another chance to put on my uniform, come off the blocks when the gun fires, hand off the baton, have a pre-relay prayer session, or add a medal to my collection for senior year.” It’s a toll on both the coaches and the athletes.
The FFA was looking forward to their banquet on March 19. Angela Charleson and her 2019-2020 officers were geared up to put on their annual banquet. Senior officers were ready to give their positions to an eager underclassman, who are filled with anticipation for the next year. Those seniors won’t get to hug their officer taking their position and wish them good luck in the upcoming year.
Teachers won’t get to send off the seniors with a smile on their face, hoping that these students they've watched grow over four years will do great things. Some might have been kindly shoving students out the door, others are heartbroken to not get to see that student sitting in their classroom anymore.
The surrealism hits seniors as they see the football field being lit up every night. They know that they’ll never cheer in a uniform on the sidelines, rush the 100 yards, or march to Queen songs again. The next time they come to that stadium for a Friday Night game, they’ll have to buy a ticket. The next time they see the CGD basketball teams play, they won’t be the ones in the red and black jerseys or jamming with Mr. Wesselink and Mr. Klaver on the stage.
Drama members won’t get to see the stage light up on the opening night of the play or hear Mrs. Yackle laughing hysterically at the goofballs up on stage. Hard work and a few tears later, drama seniors won’t get this experience again.
Parents' hearts ache knowing that their senior has worked a long, hard 12 years for that one day they walk across the stage to receive their diploma. Moms cry knowing their baby won’t have many or any graduation pictures or memories of that day. Parents struggle watching their child go through the hardship of not getting those “lasts” with their friends, coaches, teachers and teammates. It takes a toll on everyone involved.
The 2020 class will be one that goes down in history. Many have questions racing through their mind about what graduation will look like, what activities might they still get to do, and what happens if they don’t get any of this?
The community has been a huge support. The class of 2020 is strong. They were raised this way. They faced being born in the middle of the national crisis of 9/11 and are graduating during a pandemic. They have become adaptable to a changing learning environment and different ways of communication. It molded them to be better citizens, workers, daughters, sons, friends. Nonetheless, they do not fear…. yet question, where do we go from here?
