We began our lives surrounded by chaos, brought into a country in shambles. We were born into a society recovering from the disaster of 9/11. It seems like a cruel trick that we exit our youth in the same kind of chaos, this time brought on by a pandemic.

We may not get the ending many of us were hoping for. We may never have prom pictures to show our kids or cross the CPA stage wearing our graduation gowns. We may never walk down the Glenbrook North hallways again. 

It’s become a trend on social media to make fun of our disappointment (I’ve even poked fun on my own TikTok account). There are a lot of people who say we aren’t really losing anything, and that other people have it worse. And I agree. Some people do have it worse, but it doesn’t make our feelings any less valid. So to the freshmen in college telling us that our ending getting taken away can’t compare to what they lost, or to the seniors in college who can’t walk at graduation telling us our memories don’t really matter, I ask this:

Why is our suffering a competition? 

We shouldn’t feel guilty for being sad about things we were looking forward to. Some may say it’s very “first world” to complain about this stuff, and though it may be, that’s the world we live in. We’ve grown up knowing that the last few months as a senior are supposed to be unforgettable along with the milestones that almost seem like rites of passage. We are allowed to be sad. Anybody who lost something during this pandemic is allowed to be sad about it. Don’t let the sadness consume you, but don’t hide what you’re feeling because you think you must.

So to my sad seniors, my indifferent seniors or even the happy ones, let’s rewrite our ending. We may not have gotten a typical end to our high school career, but the thing about our class is that we are innovative. We can make our own ending.

Share your favorite senior memories on social media. Send a text message to someone you wish you got to know better in high school. Email the teachers you wish you had the chance to say goodbye to. If you have other ideas, do those too. 

Non-seniors, if you’re still reading this, let the seniors in your life know that you support them. Share a memory, send a text, make a TikTok or a meme or simply let them know you are there. For spring athletes, maybe organize a virtual senior night. I know lacrosse always has the best senior nights, and I’m sad I might not have that. 

Adults, please stop posting pictures of you at your prom if it is your intention to make us feel better about possibly not having one. Though we appreciate the gesture, I feel as if it’s reminding us more of what we might not have versus making us feel better about it.  

It may not be the ending we wanted, but it’s the ending we got. We may be sad, Spartans, but let’s make the rest of whatever this is count.