Sayonara Seniors!

It is no doubt that the global pandemic of the Coronavirus has been negatively impacting students’ academic and social lives. It is especially unfortunate for the seniors as their last semester of high school was spent separate from one another. Seniors had to spend their last days at AISG scattered around the globe, some even being quarantined for weeks the entire second semester.

A few weeks ago, on April 27, school re-opened for the eighth-grade students and seniors only, following permission from the education bureau of Guangzhou. Students, faculty, and staff members had to follow strict policies and conditions set by the education bureau to ensure the safety and prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Not only was the second semester spent away from our friends and teachers, many significant events for the seniors were also canceled. Events such as the annual prom hosted by Pulse and Kiss the Seniors Goodbye hosted by NHS. These events are ways to celebrate and mark the end of their high school career. These events also signify the beginning of the next chapter of their lives and allow seniors to create memories.

Even with all the unfortunate events, there are seniors who maintain a positive mindset. Bonny C. commented that she is “obviously sad, but during quarantine, [she] learned a lot about life.” Especially as Bonny C. will be moving to the U.S. for university, she was “able to spend more time with [her] family, which is really important.” However, Bonny C. did find online learning hard, especially in subjects that she normally struggled in.

On the other hand, Arete S. commented that “it is definitely a pity that this pandemic happened when we are in the last semester of our high school career” and wishes that she had the last “six months for [them] to experience a proper senior year with the feelings of sadness, grief, and accomplishment. There is a part of me that feels relieved that I won’t have to take the exams but also a part of me that feels frustrated about the ’empty’ culmination of my high school career.”

Seniors have also found different ways to connect with their peers and to entertain themselves during the self-isolation times. Bonny C. stayed connected with her friends during quarantine by calling her friends every night. Additionally, she recently hosted a mini prom with her friends, where they dressed up and enjoyed a night together at her own house. Moreover, senior Sam J. was able to come “in terms with [his] debilitating addiction with League of Legends and accepting it as a personality trait.” As for Arete S., although the COVID-19 situation in Guangzhou was exacerbating, she managed to cope with feeling lonely by “video calling [her] friends and studying together.”

Although 2020 was not off to an ideal start, especially not for the seniors who were supposed to spend their last few months of high school at AISG with their peers, the class of 2020 was still able to make the most out of the unfortunate situation by calling their friends and spending time with their family.