They all got their Championship Jackets, their school swag T-Shirts. Youngest got his fourth varsity pin and certificate, as well as his second year acknowledgement of his League All Star success. And the Captains Award. There are roughly 80 kids on the team, twenty seniors, and five captains. They give out maybe 6 plaque awards each year, and not all of them go to seniors. He got the Captain's Award. This is a BIG deal.
As he looked at the pile he finally cracked. It meant nothing without a banquet and being completely embarrassed in front of all his friends by the coaches kind words. My eyes welled up, as the sucker punch landed that neither of us saw coming. I reminded him that it did mean something, that four years of work and those accomplishments should be celebrated. He took a deep breath and said, everyone can say it means something, but it doesn't. Without a banquet to say it happened, it doesn't matter. All these things I'm getting gypped out of that I should have, it's not fair and I'm getting cheated from all of it. I can't even get excited about college because every time I get excited about anything good it's taken away. So what's the point?
And of course, he's right. There will be a virtual banquet at some point. The coaches are doing a video presentation and posting for everyone to see. But the time and date are yet to be announced. Much like the plans for graduation. The Thursday Night Lights that, had we been properly notified of, we would have attended. The proposed Senior Night at the school that again, has yet to be announced. How can these Seniors, many of whom work, plan to be there when they have no definite plans?
They have no definitive plans on when they can go and clean out their lockers or how to return books. No directive on how to check lunch accounts, or how to pay or request refunds of unused lunch monies. No notice of lost book fees which leaves families forced to pay the outrageous replacement prices. No notifications of scholarship recipients. No arrangements for captains pins, cords, or NHS sashes. There's no update of if the yearbooks are in, delayed, etc. or how they will be picked up. "Cap and Gowns will be worn on the sixth as scheduled" is the only communication we have received. And for those of us that work, and need to put in for days off months in advance, even a rain date would be helpful for an actual graduation. All we know is that in 23 days it will all be over for all of them.
But will it really? Without the end of High School will it even feel like it's over? Will it even matter if the diploma sits in a pile of stuff on the kitchen table? I try to refocus him to the positive. That while none of the traditional things are happening, that there are once in a lifetime, unique only to his class things that he can be part of. That college is happening, if not in September, then in January. That this whole mess could create opportunities that would never present themselves otherwise.
I plant the seeds and hope it's enough.
Because honestly, I don't know how many seeds I have left.
I think it is ridiculous, with all the time had to prep this stuff, it comes to this. All over our area, students are getting 'drive-by parades'that gives them at least something. Most area high schools here have tentative set up dates for summer graduation ceremonies. On the other hand, we have children's sports leagues who have collected entry fees and given NO word on refunds or anything else. It smacks of lazyness to me to let things get this out of hand. "Oh, well, we had to wait on the government to decide". BS. If you are in charge YOU make contingency plans MR or Mrs School district administrator. Don't pass your ineffectiveness on anyone else. I really do feel for youngest. It was a crap sandwich anyway, and sounds like uncaring officials made it worse. But yes, just because someone else didn't do their work doesn't diminish it. It damn well means something.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, the coaches didn't have to do anything, and some did not. His Coaches wanted to do a virtual banquet for them and it aired last night as a video that can be watched at any point by the wrestlers. I got the text alert for it as Youngest walked into the house. We watched it together. He was humbled by what Coach said. I held back the tears. No, he didn't have the crazy chaos of picking a captain for next year, or sneaking back into the food line for fourths, but it was a *end* to the season as best as it could be. They also did a 20 minute highlight film that he was well highlighted in. He really misses wrestling, fingers crossed he finds his way back to it in college.
DeleteThere are so many things going on here that it is no wonder nothing has been done. Trying to coordinate every activity, graduation, banquets, school lunch funds, book returns, etc. There is a mountain of stuff going on. I think a lot of schools were hoping the restrictions would be lifted in time for a real graduation or at least a publication of guidelines for how a live graduation could be held. It is like we are all holding our breath waiting for the air to clear.
ReplyDeleteEven in the fall, many of these seniors will be taking on-line college courses. Not to mention the athletic scholarships that are for sports that won't be played this fall. What happens to them. The whole thing collectively sucks for us all.
Honestly i have no words. I just can't imagine how to cope with it especially since Youngest was going to get that award and had worked hard in wrestling etc. There won't be closure and that will be a tough issue to deal with. It just sucks. And I have no words because it just sucks.
ReplyDeleteBetty
My eyes filled with tears at his disappointment. His accomplishments DO mean something and it is all so unfair. My heart goes out to all the seniors - this will be a year to remember for sure, but not remembered the way it should have been remembered.
ReplyDeleteThings like this are disappointing but also something they will in time recover from in time
ReplyDelete