My Nickel’s Worth

Last spring, seniors across the country faced the challenges of no prom, in some cases, virtual graduations, not finishing out their sports and other competitions, no awards banquets, senior trips cancelled, and it was rough. The freshman classes across the country are also facing challenges that are different than any other class before them. Many will begin their first day of high school from home. Others will enter a building, have their temperature taken, and never see a facial expression all year because smiles and giggles and frowns will be hidden behind a mask.

Regardless of your opinion about masks, it is the law (just like seatbelt laws and laws about what you can carry into a professional baseball game), public schools must follow the rules, and in doing so, students will be wearing masks if they attend schools which require them. I am not sure what affect this will have on kids. I started high school as a freshman, coming up nine years ago this August, and faced challenges of my own, but nothing like this—starting high school can be scary even without everything going on, but I always knew that I was going to meet people and be able to play sports….that is all a world of unknown right now to these incoming freshman. Will they be afraid? Will the freshman class struggle to hear their teachers? Will it be more difficult to socialize and make friends? Perhaps. But one thing I do know is that dedicated educators will do their very best to make sure that students learn and have meaningful experiences.

I wish the freshman class all of the best! I hope by the time you graduate, the pandemic is a distant memory, and you dance at your senior prom. I hope there are handshakes and high fives at your graduation, and I hope your freshman year is the beginning of the end of this way of life. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Better days are ahead.