Goodbye class of 2020

Dear COVID-19,

Can you go away please? A few weeks ago, you started spreading across the Unites States, and the news blew up my notifications on my phone with all the different cases you created. People are sick and even dying.

2020 was my year. It was supposed to be the year I graduated and got my degree from the University of Idaho. I was going to be the first Trombly to obtain a college degree. It was supposed to be the year I walked across the stage and shook President Scott Green’s hand with my parents and friends in the audience. My McConnell Hall residents were even planning on coming to support me. I was ready for this celebration; it was everything I was waiting for.

But, now it’s gone. I have the option to walk this winter or next spring, but what’s the point? I want to graduate with the class of 2020. I want to graduate with my best friend beside me.

It seemed like during spring break it was one thing after the other, not just graduation. All of my classes are online. How could you do this COVID-19? I enjoy walking to my classes every day and learning with my friends. Now I’m learning through my laptop screen, which frankly, isn’t enjoyable at all.

And because classes are online, everything entered a domino effect. You took away my last printed issue experience of Blot Magazine as Editor-in-Chief. I only get four to make, and this year you decided to take some of that experience away.

Sure, we still get to make the publication, but it won’t get printed until possibly this summer. I don’t get a final in person celebration with my staff to applaud them for all the hard work they’ve done all year. I don’t get to sit with my fellow editors for a weekend of editing and putting together the publication I love. Now, everything is digital.

Not only that, most of my residents have moved out of McConnell Hall or are planning to. I didn’t even get to have a formal goodbye and thank them for being my residents and having such a big impact on my senior year. My lounge in McConnell is locked up, and we can’t have Mario Kart sessions in the lounge or even sit together and talk. We also can’t eat together in The Hub anymore.

Before I left to go home for spring break, I didn’t expect some of my firsts and lasts to go away so quickly. I didn’t realize I experienced my last time eating at The Hub with my residents, sitting in the lounge with them, working with the press in Spokane to print Blot, and I especially didn’t expect my first and last time walking across the stage to get my diploma taken away.

So COVID-19, can you just stop making the world panic? Can you stop spreading the pandemic and let everything go back to normal? I know that’s a lot to ask for, but I would be eternally grateful if you did.

One thing is for sure, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.

This is my experience dealing with the effects of COVID-19. There are many other seniors who got their graduation taken away and many experiences they were wishing to finish out before they left. Everything is cancelled. Their senior spring semester got cancelled.

That’s not okay.

I believe we shouldn’t live in fear of this virus. We need to live life to fullest because you never know when it will be taken away from you.

I returned to Moscow to try and salvage what I can of my senior year. And COVID-19, taking away everything people care about is all your fault.

So to the class of 2020, I’m so sorry this has happened. But one thing is for sure, you are all strong. Remember, we are still making a huge accomplishment in our lives by obtaining that degree.

Lindsay Trombly can be reached at [email protected]