Quarantine Graduation
“I felt like a rebel going against the rules, but you know, we all need it sometimes.”
As coronavirus cases are continuously increasing, schools have had to make a decision on how to handle graduation in the midst of quarantine. Schools are opting for online graduation and some, for more of a meaningful interaction, are trying to make drive-by graduation possible. To say the least, it is disappointing for graduates to be unable to experience the real graduation tradition: wearing their graduation gown and cap, walking on the stage, taking pictures and making final last memories with friends and teachers. Ultimately, graduation marks the start and end in one’s timeline and to celebrate virtually may be underwhelming. As a family with a middle school graduate, our family decided to make graduation as meaningful as possible by reliving parts of a “real” graduation ceremony.
It was the Saturday after my sister’s school had held their virtual graduation. It didn’t feel surreal for all of us that she had actually graduated and that, in a couple of months, she was going into high school. In the morning, we surprised her with gifts and balloons, which varied from red hearts to yellow smiley faces. Our whole family dressed up and not seeing them in sweats and baggy shirts took a long time to get used to. But it was nice to feel the excitement that we couldn’t feel while we were at home.
We put our masks on and applied hand sanitizer before we headed out. We arrived at the school with our phones and Polaroid camera and took a massive load of pictures. The whole school was our photo booth and at that moment, we weren’t faced with any restrictions. We felt a kind of freedom we couldn’t experience while being in quarantine and it was nice to breathe in some fresh air. After the pictures came a celebratory meal. Although it may have been dangerous, we wanted to eat at a restaurant if that was even possible. The closest we were able to get was to get the food as takeout and eat the food outside, in a designated area. Surprisingly, we weren’t the only ones eating, so we tried best to minimize any interaction with other people. As we rode the car back home with stomachs full and smiles up to our cheeks, I couldn’t remember a day eventful as this. I felt like a rebel, going against the rules, but you know, we all need it sometimes.
If it wasn’t for quarantine, all of what we did would be things we would be able to do in our everyday lives. However, as quarantine is changing every part of our life, these small events are becoming so meaningful and precious. Although we were far from organizing a grand celebration, considering all the circumstances, we were satisfied with all we had accomplished. There is no certainty of when we can go back or to say the worst possible, we may have to live like this forever. But putting all the negativity aside, what this time is teaching us is to make the most out of every moment.