NWHS Student Body PRESIDENT
NWHS president ‘enjoyed the time we had together’ Ashley Cox said the pandemic taught her to plan for the unexpected and cherish the limited opportunities students were able to get together by CHRIS BURRITT NW GUILFORD – As president of the student body, Ashley Cox had looked forward to speaking at Northwest Guilford High School’s graduation ceremony.
But like so many traditions derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony at the Greensboro Coliseum’s Special Events Center required that limitations be placed on the number of people on stage. Cox wasn’t one of them. “I was a little disappointed,” the 17-year-old from Stokesdale said. Nonetheless, if the past year taught her anything, it was to cherish the times she and her classmates could get together as a group. The picnic for seniors and graduation ceremony June 7 was the last time.
“Even though the circumstances were hard, we enjoyed the time we had together – even if it was just online,” Cox said in a recent interview. Students attended classes remotely from home until late in the school year, and the homecoming dance last fall and the prom this spring were cancelled. As a result, Cox said she and other student leaders “came up with creative ideas” for ways students could connect. Football season was delayed until the spring semester and students participated in Spirit Week activities online. As an example, students submitted photos of themselves dressed in their favorite college attire. Posted on Instagram, the photos were entered for a chance to win gift cards, Cox said. NWHS leaders organized two work days, one in the fall and one in the spring, which gave students a chance to get together to paint and spruce up the campus.
“It was hard, but we were still able to get things done,” Cox said.
Over the past year, Cox said she’s relied on Zoom for school meetings and Facetime for playing games with classmates. In recent months, the eased restrictions have allowed students to gather more for social activities, partly making up for the cancelation of the prom, she said. Cox ran on NWHS’ cross-country team, giving her another opportunity to socialize with classmates. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the number of runners allowed to complete in meets was limited, but all
Courtesy photo
Ashley Cox proudly poses with her diploma and a certificate of appreciation for her service as student body ... continued on p. 29 president after finishing a challenging senior year.
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