An Open Letter To Recent College Graduates (Class of 2020)

Dear Graduate,

There, I said it, I’m sorry. Not me personally, I played no part in what is happening. However, I’m sorry for what you’re going through, I emphasize with your pain even though I cannot relate. Graduation is something you spend your whole college career dreaming about. It’s the day you finally get to walk across that stage, take your diploma, and kiss all those sleepless nights goodbye. Your friends and family come together to celebrate you and your major achievements. Even if you’re not interested in that, Graduation signifies new beginnings. It is the crossroads to becoming a “real” adult or being that person who spends all their time at their Alma Mater. Putting on that Cap and Gown, running into everyone with their families, it’s the day that it all hits you ” This is it, this is the end.” Plus, there is no better experience than hearing your name being said as you take that diploma. I am sorry that you were robbed of that experience.

The pandemic took a lot from people, but I cannot begin to understand the loss you guys have dealt with. I agree that you were handed the short end of the stick. Having to take finals from your kitchen island while friends and families are dying as if senior year wasn’t stressful enough. Losing internships, job opportunities, and graduating into a recession where that expensive degree won’t go to use for God knows how long. I know, you didn’t expect to graduate and for a pandemic to slap you right in the face, but that’s life. It’s filled with a ton of unexpected curbs. If becoming an adult wasn’t hard enough, you’re learning in the middle of a pandemic. Go easy on yourself, post-graduate depression and imposter syndrome are real issues. They’re probably going to hit you harder because you’re anxious: anxious about a job, moving out, the pending economy, etc. While these are common post-grad thoughts, during a pandemic it’s a little harder, we’re all anxious about what we’re going through. Take it one day at a time, confide in friends, and try harder to not blame yourself. Did you release Corona Virus? Are you preventing a cure? Focusing on the future will only make you more anxious. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow, so why are you stressing it?. Take this time to focus on the present. Look at what you have, where you are, and be proud of the person you have become.

While it is sad that you didn’t get the graduation ceremony that you wanted, don’t let it diminish the fact that you made it. 4+ years of hard work, sweat, tears, and the serious consideration of dropping out to be a stripper lead you to that tiny piece of paper that will be mailed to you. So what? You don’t get to go to your ceremony drunk as a skunk. Yeah, it sucks, your graduation party will have to be on Zoom, and that you paid an outrageous amount of money for the cap and gown you won’t even wear. But you know what the most important thing is? It’s that you were phenomenal enough to persevere: you had to move back home, your dining room became the lecture hall, you worked around the noisy pet, the restless siblings, and the stir-crazy parents. DESPITE THE ODDS YOU DID IT. Sure, there were doubts, and yes, maybe you did Pass/ Fail some classes, but name the last person who had to complete their degree while the world was in turmoil right outside their doors.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, and don’t hold on to any regrets. While you may not walk across that stage today, Class of 2020 will get their graduation when this is over. Don’t let the missed opportunity of one day dull all of the hard work you spent years on. You probably started the year thinking “2020 will be my year!” and it still will be, dont let this get you down. Life after college is just a bunch of years of aimlessly figuring it out.

Congratulations Class of 2020,

Bri.