A Senior's Perspective on a "Canceled Senior Year"
For a senior, this is a season of disappointment, but it doesn’t have to be. Events that we have been looking forward to all of high school, including senior retreat, battle of the classes, Capstone implementation week, senior trip, and Jr/Sr Banquet are being cancelled. The first of these to be canceled was retreat. Retreat is a time every year to connect, or for some, reconnect with God in a spiritual trip away from the routine normal. I thought, out of everything to be canceled, why was this the first? Why would God take away something that could revive the student body and bring the students back to Him? It was followed by so many more cancellations that were supposed to be senior celebrations for making it so far in high school. The frustration and confusion arose in me as fast as the cancellations were made. I don’t know why all of this was happening, and I may never know why, but I know God does.
This unprecedented season of the coronavirus outbreak has put a new, profound meaning to trusting in the Lord, trusting that He has a plan in the cancelling of our retreat and other events. The world around us is so volatile it seems like these days, there is no reason or grounds to believe in anything, and in this uncertain time, it can be difficult to see or feel God’s sovereign hand in our lives.
Through my frustration and confusion of my senior year being cancelled, I am reminded God will never leave nor forsake me, and in fact, He promises to work all things together for the good of those who love him, even coronavirus (Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:28). Although I am sad about the cancellation of senior year so far, I have been tremendously blessed with this time to stop everything and lean into Him, take upon His yoke, and allow myself to bask in His healing presence (Matthew 11:29-30). I am learning that I do not have to be sad at the loss of my senior year because it was never the source of my joy, Jesus is. Take away all that I do and enjoy in life and Jesus and His joy still remains, and nothing can take that away from me. He has turned my sadness into joy despite the uncertainty around me (Psalm 30:11). I will continue to praise Him because He is good and worthy of my praise, and I encourage anyone who is reading this to do the same.
A note to my Class of 2020 classmates: let’s not be the class remembered for sulking in our disappointment and frustration, but the class that inspires others and perseveres through trying and uncertain times. Let’s be the class that is remembered for thanking God for all that He has blessed us with and finding His goodness in everything.
-Annie Gaines, SMCA Senior
