One of the most significant rites of passage for any U.S. high school senior is graduation and all of the events surrounding it. I fondly remember my senior breakfast and being handed my diploma up on stage. I remember standing next to my parents and having our photo taken with my honor cords draped around my neck, feeling proud and hopeful of the future.
Serena Kuhn, 2020 Valedictorian of Ilwaco High School, won’t have the same experience as graduates of previous years. Yet, she somehow manages to stay positive, proud, and hopeful. As I interviewed this intelligent young woman, I couldn’t help but be reminded of how important it is to focus on the positive, even in times like this. The Coronavirus has changed nearly everything, but her optimism shines through the darkness. Enjoy this interview and remember that perspective can turn even the darkest moments bright, just like the future will undoubtedly be bright for Serena Kuhn.
Me: How did you feel when you found out your school was closing, and when did it sink in that there was not going to be a traditional graduation ceremony?
Serena: I am in full-time college through the running start program, so when high schools first closed for what was supposed to be about a month, I was still going to school because the college had not closed yet. During my spring break, the college finally decided to close down. At the college, when we were studying the virus, I realized that it was not going to get better anytime soon. At that point, I assumed that we would be out of school for the rest of the year to try and stop the spread of this nasty virus. This also meant that I most likely wouldn’t have a graduation, so before it was even discussed whether or not we would have a graduation, I came to terms with not having one.
Me: How have you adapted to doing your schoolwork at home and online versus in class?
Serena: I have always been a fan of online work, plus it saves me a drive to Astoria every day to be able to do work at home. I have found that I’m able to manage time for schoolwork better when it is online rather than stressing to make it to each class.
Me: What do you miss most about being at your school?
Serena: Mostly, I miss not being able to have conversations with my teachers. I’ve always liked being able to be kind and have fun talks with my teachers because I feel it creates a better schooling environment.
Me: Will there be any kind of virtual graduation ceremony?
Serena: At this moment in time, we are unsure. I know that that the high school is thinking about doing a virtual ceremony and then maybe later in the summer doing a regular ceremony if things start to get better. As for the college, I am not sure. There hasn’t really been talk of rescheduling the commencement ceremony, so they might not be doing anything.
Me: Was prom canceled? Had you planned on attending?
Serena: Prom has been canceled, and at this point in time, I don’t think they will be rescheduling it. I was planning on attending because it was my senior prom, but I did have a pretty great time at dances the past three years of my high school career, so I’m not super upset.
Me: What other school events are you missing?
Serena: The biggest thing for me was my last choir concert and my last musical. I love to sing and act, and I’ve been looking forward to senior night for both choir and drama since I was a freshman. Still, I know that I will have many more chances in the future to be in choirs and theater productions.
Me: What are your plans for next year, and has the Coronavirus changed your intentions at all?
Serena: Coronavirus hasn’t changed any of my plans because nothing ever gets in the way of me reaching my goals. I plan to attend Montana State University in the fall to major in Biology.
Me: What have you learned from all this?
Serena: I have learned to think of my future and my goals and to focus on what will get me there. Even though it’s sad that the class of 2020, including me, will not finish our senior year the way we expected, or like the classes before us, it is important to keep moving on. I am excited to start a new chapter of my life and say goodbye to Ilwaco, even if this goodbye came sooner than expected.
I met Serena Kuhn through the “Project IHS 2020 Seniors” Facebook group. Members of the group can adopt a senior to help them celebrate or just post their congratulations. It’s a way to show support to the Ilwaco High School Seniors that have worked so diligently to graduate but won’t get the privilege of walking down the aisle in front of their loved ones and classmates. Next time you sit through that extended version of “Pomp and Circumstance” and fidget impatiently during a graduation ceremony, remember that many of the things that we often take for granted, like graduation, can vanish in a heartbeat. That’s why we should remain grateful for every situation and opportunity. Life is a gift, that’s why it’s called “the present.”