Fort Worth area’s class of 2020 reflects on a senior year derailed by coronavirus
The novel coronavirus took prom, senior trips, traditional graduation ceremonies — and a slew of other senior moments — from the Class of 2020.
It also stripped them of the chance to say goodbye to teachers and longtime classmates along with traditions such as clap out, where seniors walk the halls of their elementary schools lined with younger students.
“I am truly disappointed with how the class of 2020 will end,” said Candy Sofia Villalba, a senior at O.D. Wyatt High School. “I never imagined that a pandemic like this (would) ever come.
“Of course everyone was hoping for a normal graduation, having normal senior activities, attending prom and just simply enjoying senior year like how the past seniors have.”
As Texas shut down businesses and schools and asked residents to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, students of all ages were caught in the middle.
But the Class of 2020 missed the most.
“How we get through this and handled it will go down in the history books,” said Mia Paladini, a senior at Arlington Lamar High School.
School officials and PTA volunteers tried to make up for some of the lost experiences for seniors by handing out yard signs to give special recognition to the students in their last days of high school.
The Fort Worth school district put up billboards, trying to shine more light on this year’s graduates. Messages on the billboards use the words accomplished, determined and resilient.
And Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made a video featuring sports and reality TV stars ranging from Jaylon Smith of the Dallas Cowboys to Kim Kardashian West for seniors.
“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many high school seniors across Texas will not be having the graduation ceremony they envisioned,” Patrick said. “This video is one way to let them know how proud I am of them for achieving this important accomplishment. It is a big deal to be the Class of 2020, and I know these students will aim high and go after their dreams.”
Administrators have been creative with alternative graduation plans — virtual or at Texas Motor Speedway, Globe Life Field or AT&T Stadium.
“It’s not the end they’ve envisioned since kindergarten, but I hope they focus on this incredible achievement they’ve accomplished against odds students have never faced,” said Nathan Wood, who teaches radio broadcasting at Ben Barber Innovation Academy in Mansfield.
“As teachers, we also feel a bit robbed because we missed out on two months of teaching students we’ve had in our programs for several years.”
Senior traditions
Thomas Jolin, a senior at Paschal High School, said he knows that he and his 2020 senior class have missed a lot.
They left school for spring break in March and never went back to their classrooms.
Jolin, a teacher’s assistant for a special education class who plans to attend Austin College in the fall, wasn’t able to give a true goodbye to students he worked with — or to fellow seniors.
“When I said goodbye to all of them for spring break, I didn’t know it would be for the last time,” he said. “A lot of things were taken away.
“But it’s not anyone’s fault. It’s how it worked out.”
Valerie G. Jaure, a senior at Southwest High School, said the end of the school year has been bittersweet.
On one hand, she got to spend more time with her family before she goes to college. On the other, she missed out on so many “lasts.”
“I didn’t get to have those last moments on the field and to have that last hug and that smile that you can play over in your head, but what I do have is love for everyone that didn’t give up on me and that means more than anything else. Missing prom, senior trips and award ceremonies is sad, but at least I can see everyone on June 25 at Clark Stadium,” she said, referring to the district’s celebration for seniors.
Jaure plans to attend TCC and then transfer to UT Arlington.
Villalba, who was elected as senior class president and plans to go to UTA, said the end of this school year has been like a roller coaster.
“I honestly would have wished this school year would have turned out differently,” she said. “It is a bummer that we weren’t able to experience senior activities, prom , and simply everything that senior year came with. ... I was really looking forward to attending prom because, (in) past years, people I knew (told) me how their experience was going to prom and getting all dressed up and going on a date.
“It was always something I looked forward to and sadly everything was ruined.”
Canceled proms
Prom was a key senior memory this year’s class missed.
Many schools canceled theirs. Others are still waiting on guidelines. Keller High School rescheduled prom to July 11 at AT&T Stadium.
When Jennifer Love knew that the event wasn’t going to happen in early May, she decided to take photos of her daughter, Riley, outside their home with Riley in her dress.
It gave Riley’s father, Todd, an opportunity to surprise her.
“As Riley was getting dressed I thought, ‘I could potentially never get to see her in her prom dress again,’” said Todd Love, who changed into his suit. “She deserved something and I wanted her to know that I will always be there no matter what.”
The extra time together, along with their youngest daughter Ramsey, was an unexpected bonus for the Loves, who normally spend most of their time at the softball fields.
“Riley has missed so many great memories and milestones we were looking forward to. It’s hard to comprehend,” Todd Love said. “The silver lining is the time we get to spend with her before she goes to college.”
Saginaw Boswell’s McKenna Leveling also missed out on prom along with baccalaureate, senior sunset and senior clap out.
“My senior year has been very chaotic, unique and definitely one to remember. I did not think my senior year would end the way it has, but God has a plan for everyone,” Leveling said. “I was really excited about prom.”
Leveling hadn’t picked out a prom dress, but was looking online for one when things started to go south.
Instead, she’s planning a date with her boyfriend that includes dancing in her backyard.
“The weekend we were supposed to go shopping, my mom thought this was getting out of control. We waited so at least I didn’t waste $800 on a dress,” Leveling said. “My boyfriend and I are going to Goodwill and buy some outfits and take some photos.”
Fort Worth South Hills canceled its prom, a senior field trip to Six Flags and a senior picnic in Dallas.
Last year, Johana Rodriguez’s older brother got to enjoy those memories.
She wasn’t as lucky.
“They tried to reschedule prom, but it didn’t work out. I had bought a prom dress already and was excited to wear it,” Rodriguez said. “None of us could have expected this. We can’t do much about it now, but to be optimistic and make the best of it.”
Missing out
All seniors missed out on traditions.
Ellie Bunn missed out on a little bit more.
She was among the 34 members of Paschal High School’s choir scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York in April. Their performance would have showcased “The Magnificat” by Kim Andre’ Arnesen.
Bunn, a senior, had been looking forward to visiting New York for the first time.
And while she was disappointed she wouldn’t get to see the city, she was most disappointed in not getting to perform “The Magnificat” at the legendary concert venue.
“I was mostly looking forward to hearing that piece, in that hall,” she said.
Graduations
Tiffany Peterson, whose son, Jaylen, is a senior at Northwest High School, is sad the coronavirus pandemic prevented traditional graduations, where parents and friends pack arenas to cheer graduates as they walk across a stage and receive their diplomas.
COVID-19 “completely stole a major chapter out of my book of dreams for my son,” she said. “Although I know there’s so much more in store for him, .... it’s extremely disappointing to not be able to celebrate the climax of his high school as visualized for so many years.”
Her son’s class graduated during an alternative ceremony May 26 at TMS.
Dawn Jordan Wells, whose son Jaden graduated from L.D. Bell High School, praised school officials for figuring out how to do online learning and graduation.
“I was disappointed that he couldn’t attend prom, but was ecstatic when the district figured out a way to have graduation on the same day as originally scheduled, but in a very unique and memorable way at the Texas Motor Speedway watching him accept his diploma from our cars.”
Leveling, of Boswell, said she has learned a lot from this.
“Let this be a lesson to not take things for granted,” she said. “Enjoy every moment. Go to that football game, talk to someone new. You don’t know when the last time is going to be.
“It’s a good time to be courageous and enjoy life.”
Paladini, who is the class president and president of the National Honor Society at Lamar, gave a commencement speech at AT&T Stadium on June 5.
“If you asked me two months ago that we’d have a graduation, I would’ve laughed and maybe cried. It’s a big milestone to me and my friends,” Paladini said. “Some students would be the first in their family to walk across that stage. Many would carry on the tradition.
“It’s one of the best days of our lives, and we never thought it would happen.”
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
