Chapel Hill High School’s graduating class of 2021 will march to Pomp and Circumstance on June 12 after a year of adapting to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Graduation will be split into two ceremonies, one at 9:00 a.m. for those with last names beginning A-L, and the second at 12:30 p.m. for last names beginning M-Z. The processions will take place on the school’s football field, where up to six guests per graduate will be accommodated.
A recent executive order by Governor Cooper has allowed for relaxed restrictions on both social distancing and mask wearing. While still recommended by the district, neither will be required in the outdoor setting.
Math teacher Blake Norris commended the senior class for its resilience throughout high school.
“Seniors have been challenged with constant change and movement,” Norris said. “They were steadfast throughout the construction of the new campus, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting move to virtual school.”
Navigating senior year amidst a pandemic wasnt easy, said Amalie McCracken, who will attend Appalachian State University next year, as motivation was sparse and many felt isolated by virtual learning.
“Being in an online setting makes it easy to disregard work, but, if you stay on top of it, it makes your life so much easier,” McCracken said. “The first part of the year was a little tough, but it’s worth it in the end.”
Senior Frederick Huang says that one can only be so prepared for life after high school.
“I’d like to say I’m somewhat prepared, but, with life, you’d almost always miss a thing or two even after planning everything out,” Huang said.
English teacher Joanne McClelland wanted seniors to remember that the 2020-2021 school year was unprecedented and is not representative of how the real world operates.
“Average is not enough!” she advised.
Wendy Eldred took from her senior year an appreciation for the things she took for granted, specifically her ability to see and interact with people in person before the pandemic.
“One of the hardest things is not getting to see my friends and classmates at school every day, especially since we’re all graduating,” Eldred said. “It’s really weird not to have a last day where we’re all saying goodbye.”
Andreyah Bellamy-Alston, who will be majoring in business administration at North Carolina A&T, praised her classmates’ resilience for weathering the pandemic and remote learning.
“It was an experience for all of us really, but at least we get to tell that story for history,” she said.
Alexander Whang, who will be studying at Duke University in the fall, said that his most memorable experience from the year was his senior tennis season, in which the men’s team captured the state title.
“Throughout the pandemic, I found an outlet playing tennis because it allowed me to work toward a goal,” he said.
In an approximately 60-minute ceremony, seniors will get to celebrate with their peers the triumph of finishing high school.
Norris left seniors with the following closing advice: “As you move forward, take with you the positives from each of these difficult experiences in high school and recognize how they will benefit you in the next several years of life.”
