The Lee County Partnership for Children and Families drove by the homes of Lee County High School seniors on Friday to offer support and congratulations on their upcoming graduation (which will, unfortunately, likely not include a commencement ceremony).
More photos below
The school also celebrated its Decision Day Friday, posting several photos of seniors touting their college of choice (pictured above is Lexis Goldberg, Barton College). The Lee County High School Athletic Booster Club also announced a Class of 2020 Parade scheduled for May 28 (reserve a spot in the parade at the link).
Lee County, Southern Lee and high schools across the nation have planned “socially distant” events to celebrate their seniors, many of whom have missed out on proms, spring sports, academic competitions, art events and (eventually) commencement ceremonies.
For LCHS senior Hailey Page, who had been part of the school’s drama department all four years of high school, the abrupt end of the school year meant the cancellation of “Matilda,” the stage show she had a big part in (Ms. Trunchbull). It also meant no duet with her younger sister, Leah, in show choir.
“I’ve worked hard these last few years to have these moments,” Page said. “I’ve seen other people have their [moments], and now I don’t get to have mine.”
She called her last few months of high school “stressful, but there have been silver linings in learning from home.
“I don’t do as well with online classes, so that change was hard to adapt to,” said Page, who will attend Gardner-Webb University to study criminal justice and psychology in the fall. “The best thing about being home all the time is soaking up family time before I leave for college.
“But, I’m bored out of my mind.”
Her classmates Billy Caddick and Jayden Chalmers said they were most disappointed in not being able to walk the stage for graduation — a moment Caddick’s looked forward to since he was a freshman.
“The past two months have been boring,” said Caddick, who’ll attend East Carolina University in the fall. “I like being able to work from home, but I miss seeing my friends.”
“The past two months have been crazy,” added Chalmers. “With the online work and trying to wake up on time for virtual classes … I’ve missed school.”
Like with Page, there’s been benefits for both young men. For Chalmers, extra time to prepare for joining the football program at UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall. For Caddick, more time to earn money before college.
“I work at Lowes Foods, and since this has started, I have gotten a lot more hours,” he said.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Hailey Page’s role in LCHS’ production of “Matilda”
Hailey was not producing “Matilda”, she was set to play Ms. Trunchbull. Thank you for including her in this article!
No one came by to celebrate my senior from LCHS. Or was this just random seniors?