Senior parents grieve lost high school milestones

Isabela Diaz | Staff Writer

While all eyes are on the seniors themselves, no one really notices the tears falling down the parents’ and guardians’ eyes.

Most parents and guardians want to see their child finish their high school years and see all their child’s hard work come to fruition. With the global COVID-19 pandemic, parents and guardians will not witness the full growth of their students.

Senior parent, Laura Justice, who is also a teacher at Lexington Elementary, not only witnessed firsthand what students miss out on but knows the struggle of other senior parents and guardians.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for me because it’s been a joy watching her grow from preschool to her senior year,” Justice said.

Many parents feel this struggle and know how hard it is to not get full closure for their child. Senior parent Malina Jeffries feels her daughter’s emotions of not finishing her high school years.

“I have seen her work so hard to accomplish her goals of keeping her 4.0 all 12 years and not to get the final ending accomplishment feeling is the hardest,” Jeffries said.

As many parents and guardians feel the loss alongside their students, others try to remain positive.

“I have to say I don’t think I will have a hard time getting closure for Deklan. He has been able to start the job he has wanted to do all along a little early. He seems to be handling it just fine,” said Danili Bramble, mother of Deklan Bramble.

As Bramble talked about how she was happy her son got an early start to what he wanted to do all along, she mentioned graduation. With many big events having to be canceled, changed, or moved due to the coronavirus, graduation changed from its familiar public gathering of 3,000 students, teachers, staff, friends, family, and other well-wishers.

“Graduation is what I think will be the hardest part of all of this. Graduation is a time to celebrate your child’s accomplishments with family and friends. Since we can’t really do that it feels like a let down following a great year,” Bramble said.

Walking across the stage remains on many seniors’ and parents’ minds as the months approach closer to the June graduation date. After all, graduation is the final step in one’s high school career.

“As a parent, I feel like we look forward to the end...seeing our child walk across the stage. I pray the events of traditional graduation will be moved or changed but not canceled. Every graduate deserves some sort of recognition,” Jeffries said.

Along with graduation, the parents and guardians said the students missed out on the last few months of final goodbyes, prom, after prom, recognizing people who made an impact in their lives, spring sports season, award banquets, graduation practice, and just plain fun the comes with enjoying their last few months of schooling.

“He will be missing all the fun social parts of the end of the senior year. It seems like the students work so hard all year, and when they were finally going to get cut loose the last few months they had to social distance and miss out,” Bramble said.

“The class of 2020 deserves these memories,” Justice said.

Despite the challenges and loss, seniors continue to keep their heads held high with their parents and guardians right beside them.

“I’m so proud of these kids. They’ve been a fun group, and I’m proud of the positive attitudes they’ve kept intact through all of this,” Justice said.