From being born in the era of global terrorism to graduating the year of a global pandemic, San Luis Obispo High School’s class of 2020 somehow seems to have the worst luck in the history of modern education.
Growing up in America, the romanticism surrounding senior year is unavoidable. We all grow up with the stigma of senior year being the tail end of our childhood and our last chance to experience a carefree lifestyle, as well as wrap up the twelve long years of primary education we’ve all endured.
For seniors, this timing couldn’t have been worse. The last few months of senior year are supposed to be the most memorable; all our college applications are done and we’re supposed to enjoy being a teenager for a little bit longer.
But just like everything else, COVID-19 ruined that. For all of us this is the last time we’ll get to spend quality time with our closest friends.
“I’m pretty bummed about it. I don’t get to see any of my friends before we leave for college. I really wanted to be able to have a normal senior year that all ends with the graduation I’ve admired in past years. I am sad that I won’t be able to have a normal senior year but, I’m happy my family and friends are safe,” said senior Lauren Ramirez.
While graduation is still a possibility, everything else has been cancelled leaving seniors with virtually nothing to look forward to for the rest of their final school year.
On top of everything else, news just broke that the University of California schools will not be taking SAT scores and will be more lenient for this year’s grades when taking applications next year. The UC system as well as many other schools have wanted to eliminate standardized testing for years, so there are multiple rumors going around suggesting this is the push they needed to get rid of that requirement once and for all. This most likely means the class of 2020 would be the final class burdened with the emotional and financial stress of standardized testing.
“I think that our class and the classes before us lost a ton of money because of the SAT, so I’m glad that future classes won’t need to worry about paying for the SAT and SAT tutors. While I don’t believe that the test actually measures how successful you’ll be in college, like it says it does, I think that colleges need another factor in determining admission,” said senior Brooke Jacobs.
Aside from COVID-19 related changes, the class of 2020 has experienced some of the most intense educational and cultural changes.
From being one of the first classes to implement Common Core learning methods, to the youngest voting group to experience serious division of the left and the right (as well as experiencing high school during the chaotic aftermath that the 2016 election caused), implementation of school shooting drills, intense romanticization of mental illness in media, full national reformation from the 9/11 terrorist attack, the most impacted college application season in history, and so many more huge cultural shifts and educational burdens.
More specifically, the class of 2020 was the second class to experience the full consequences of attending San Luis Obispo High School during Measure D. Because we won’t get to experience the benefits promised to us, it was really nothing but an inconvenience.
In short the class of 2020 has had a lot thrown at them throughout their educational careers, and a lot of them are hurting.
“I wouldn’t say we were necessarily ‘yoinked,’ but it’s a shame that every problem possible decided to throw themselves on us at the same time. It’s merely the price we had to pay for a cool graduation year,” said senior Jahan Ramezani in regards to the COVID-19 cancellations this school year.
Overall, the class of 2020 was born during an unfortunate time in history and will experience one of the most defining years in their life during an even more unfortunate event. Essentially, if you have a senior in your life, please send them a virtual hug; chances are they probably could use one right now.