Graduating During a Pandemic: A Student Perspective

This year, time has felt more unreal than usual. With a full course load, a 15-hour weekly internship, babysitting and writing for the amazing Friends of Communication Alumni Association, I have been fairly busy. These opportunities, especially all at once, have offered me an insight to my work ethic and provided me with a better understanding of myself.

At the end of every year, there comes a time where we should step back and reflect on things. All of our prospects, missteps and accomplishments have gotten us to where we are now. On top of whatever classes and jobs we have taken on this year, we all also have our own personal lives. It has been difficult to feel connected this year, and that can take its toll on mental health. It is important to remember that caring for yourself goes beyond just the physical aspects.

While this year has brought many unexpected turns, I urge you to avoid comparison of classmates and peers. Instead, take the time to congratulate yourself on your successes. Just because your journey is different than others does not mean it’s wrong. As someone who spends too much time dwelling on what could have been, try to focus on where you are and where you want to go from there. The future holds so many opportunities and we should allow ourselves to seize them.

As this semester comes to a close, the upcoming graduates of 2020 are preparing for life after graduation. UC’s graduation ceremony may not look like it has in the past, but it is here to celebrate with us.

We are invited to join the university’s commencement office for their Virtual Walk Down Memory Lane on Wednesday, Dec. 9 via their Twitter account. The Virtual Undergraduate Ceremony takes place on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 12:30 p.m. and all details pertaining to those events can be found on their website.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020! We did it!