Seniors Party through Pandemic

For the class of 2021, high school has been unique. Classic high school opportunities like prom, senior classic, senior privilege, and so on have gone into quarantine. However, one of the most enjoyable moments of high school is still in question due to COVID-19- graduation parties.

“This is still our senior year,” senior Delaney Hennes said. Hennes, just one student of 2021’s graduating class, believes that seniors should be granted this one chance at normalcy. “Everyone wants to go back to some semblance of normal, and if having a little rebellion in a few months from all of the recent restrictions is how we can attempt that, I can’t say I don’t support it.”

With the number of changes and taking opportunities, the class of 2021 has gotten the short end of the stick. School held events that seniors have been waiting, wanting, and sometimes even paying for, have been canceled, stealing that high school dream away from reality. While the school privileges of being a senior have been none, graduation parties, one of the perks of the summer after school, is one way many seniors are breaking through.

Senior Jadyn Bierman is taking that chance wholeheartedly. She, like Hennes, believes that seniors should be allowed to host graduation parties as long as everyone stays safe. Through a limited number of invitees and other creatively created mandates, Bierman plans on hosting a party at her house while taking into account the health and safety of those invited.

“We will be following social distancing and wearing masks. Additionally, we are using a cup color-coding system to show how comfortable people are with close interactions,” Bierman said.

While many seniors are taking advantage of the summer freedom after high school, others are taking the backseat on these celebrations thinking more about the other responsibilities that come with the future rather than celebrating the past

“I am not too interested in graduation [parties] personally because I will be working this entire summer to help afford college,” senior Hayley Shultz said. She isn’t planning on hosting a party of her own, nor will she go to any stranger parties. However, she does agree that seniors should be able to celebrate.

“Seniors should attempt to make their last potential summer in their home town worthwhile while enforcing the necessary safety precautions. This year has been so abnormal and anomalous, I think that everyone should be allowed some kind of normality this summer,” Shultz said.

HUHS alumni from last year’s graduating class also split on the idea. Last year, the second semester and the senior’s ending plans quickly botched from the typical high school year. Taking their own experiences from 2020’s second semester, their year too was thrown off track, forcing them all to work through these new challenges.

Alumni, like Trinity Olson, did not host a party due to the uncertainty that was last year in July.

“The lack of a graduation party when I graduated was due to COVID because it was the time where everyone was iffy about how to feel about it. Whether it was they didn’t care about it, or they were doing everything they can to stay safe,” Olson said. “In the end everyone is proud of their accomplishment and is fine with or without one. Being handed their diploma was enough with feeling complete.”

Alumni like Abby Olson, also from the 2020 class, did throw a small party with the proper precautions. While this was during a time where COVID-19 was still hazy, Abby found the balance between safety and fun.

“I celebrated the day of graduation, July 25th, and precautions were made. We had hand sanitizer, people wore masks, everything was outside and very spread out,” Abby said.

This school year has been a rollercoaster of surprises and challenges, especially for the graduating seniors. Both Abby and Trinity think that seniors should host a party if they are still on the debate. Even if it’s only a thirty-minute meetup or a two hour-long party, it’s still a celebration of the past four years.