AllSportsTucson.com has reached out for high school seniors to write the class of 2020 a letter during this unique time of their schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s letter was written by Marana volleyball standout Grace Ehler, who will attend Gonzaga and play for the Bulldogs.
Dear class of 2020,
First of all, I would like to congratulate all of you on finishing your high school careers. High school is hard enough as it is, but having to experience your final quarter of senior year from your bedroom because of a global pandemic is not something I would wish upon anyone.
When my friends and I found out school was canceled for two weeks back in March, we were ecstatic. After enjoying our extended spring break, we’d be back in class preparing to graduate, right? Little did any of us know that we would never step foot on campus again for the rest of the year. The virus took away senior nights, prom, senior sunrise, grad night, performances, yearbook signings, pep rallies, and graduation all at once with no warning or opportunity for closure.
So much has been taken away from us. However, I believe that there are lessons to be learned and blessings to be appreciated in any situation. Personally, I am grateful that my loved ones and I are healthy. I am grateful that this pandemic has unified us as a class. I am grateful that we’ve been shown what it means to take something for granted. I am grateful for my education. I am grateful to be playing the sport I love in college. I am grateful for the friends I’ve made over the past four years and for the memories I’ll keep in my heart forever. I encourage you to seek out all of the positives in light of a disappointing situation. Hold on to them.
With that being said, I hope you are all proud of yourselves. Since being deemed the annoying freshman on our first day of high school, we have blossomed into incredible athletes, students, artists, and people. Our success may not be celebrated in a traditional ceremony but our efforts certainly won’t go unrecognized. When I think of the class of 2020, I think resilient, brilliant, determined, creative, and so much more. I’m sure many others think the same.
We are not done leaving our mark on the world; we’ve barely even started. The future is bright and I can’t wait to see the great things we will accomplish. Again, congratulations seniors on all your hard work and for thriving despite living through a pandemic that our kids will probably write DBQ’s about one day.
Your fellow senior,
Grace Ehler
Marana High School
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