At the start of the year, nobody would have guessed that commencement would be held over video streaming. Even so, that doesn’t mean that graduation lacked a sense of unity. Due to the worldwide pandemic, this year’s college graduates will always remember this moment in history. But COVID-19 also created plenty of obstacles for recent graduates. We all have been doing our best to stay in good spirits. Here are some steps I took to keep my spirits high.
Embracing empathy
I’m not gonna lie, not being able to graduate with your family and friends in attendance is sad. Sure, it sometimes feels like we didn’t receive proper closure. But remember that everyone around you feels the same way; we are all in the same position.
Since we are all in the same position, I was able to feel a sense of empathy with those feeling the same turbulent emotions around me. COVID-19 isn’t a situation we can control, and we couldn’t control the situations that threw the brakes on our final year of college life.
But as I began to find resources — names of companies currently hiring recent grads and online enrichment courses — I was able to accept the uncontrollable situation around us. No matter how bleak the future seems, there is still hope that we won’t remain unemployed graduates for too long.
Enjoying online farewell week
Participating in an online farewell week helped me cherish three years of college life memories. Our class nominated students for various fun titles; for example, Mr. Drama Queen and other goofy nomenclature. It was the closest we could get to the usual award ceremony.
We posted photographs and reminisced memories of our clubs and social groups. Many of these photographs were featured in the annual college magazine — a lasting reminder of our college days. Whether it was eating street food during lunch or gossiping in the food court, these memories have a permanent special place in my mind.
Utilizing mental health initiatives
At my school, a group of students launched mental health initiatives, specifically for support during the pandemic. Recent graduates came together to support each other through digital platforms like Zoom or Google Hangouts.
We’ve been asked to follow social distancing, but the term “physical distancing” would’ve been better. Why? Because humans are social beings, and we need to find the support to break negative thinking patterns and encourage optimism. Cutting ourselves off from other people makes us prone to anxiety and depression, and mental health initiatives like those started by students at my school offer the ever needed human touch.
Most recent graduates are experiencing these same feelings. We will make it. We will overcome it. Don’t lose courage. We will survive this together.
