The Class of 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Valarie Austin, May 16th, 6:00 PM EDT
(Previously Published on LinkedIn)

As you prepare for your future, do not despair. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought disappointment and challenges for the class of 2020 but so does a life worth living. There have been seismic changes in the country due to shelter-in-place and virus precautions. When you departed for Spring Break, you thought that you would return to school, wait a few months and walk across the stage at your commencement. This pandemic froze the world in place but time has flown by since early March. While this crisis has taken over, you did not think that graduation day would ever come. Your academic journey was supposed to end in the big pay-off – this special day. Your dreams of graduation probably included your family, friends, classmates, teachers and other celebrants. The spread of the COVID-19 virus hit the Class of 2020 hard in that it forced all schools to resort to online classes, separated friends, resulted in loss of jobs/job offers, and so many disappointments. You may have experienced feelings of sadness, regret, confusion, anger, uncertainty and loss of control. It just seems so unfair. Your rite of passage seems to have slipped from your grasp. You are probably wondering, “Where do I go from here?”

Here is where you start - do not let COVID-19 circumstances control you. You do not know what tomorrow, next week, or even next year can bring. Right now, everyone’s crystal ball is cracked. As with every complex problem that you have faced or will face in the future, take the initiative to find practical solutions. Think what positive actions can I do today and make a plan. That is how you take back control. It may be daunting but write down those things that you need to do on a calendar for one month. Your major concerns may be finding a job, seeking higher education, moving across the country, going on vacation, reading a book, helping your child/sibling with homework, taking your car in for maintenance, or other things. Every single day, you ought to tackle that list. As the items dwindle from one moment to the next, you will feel good about what you have accomplished. This daily routine will shape your personal and business life. Ask yourself each day:

  1. What have I accomplished today?
  2. What have I done to take control of my future?
  3. Who I have I helped today?
  4. What is or will be my contribution to make this world a better place?


Setbacks will come and go throughout your life’s journey. Regardless of the COVID-19 crisis, a hurricane, tornado, or any other obstacles that may occur, you have to develop a plan to deal with whatever comes your way. You must have the mental fortitude and positive attitude to persevere, overcome and triumph over challenges. Is it going to be easy? The answer is “No.”

For the class of 2020, COVID-19 is one moment in time. Your future may have many accomplishments, happiness, sorrow, elation, confusion, etc. These emotions spring from the ebb and flow of life. From this perspective, you can only appreciate the highs of life when you triumph over the lows. You do not know what tomorrow will bring but you know what you can do today – live. If you do not know how to proceed, you are not alone in this journey. You should surround yourself with a “posse” or support group of mentors, friends, family, or others who you trust and care about you. Everyone will have advice; so, listen and make a decision. Do not be paralyzed that you have to make a perfect decision. In fact, you can test out a plan of action and recalibrate. In your young life, there are very few absolutes. There may be times you feel you have failed but you will learn from it and be able to overcome the next challenge. The highs and lows of life allow you to reach the top of one peak in order to look forward to the next pinnacle.

As a member of the Class of 2020, you are the steward of this great nation. Take your time, to learn, observe, experience and find the best fitting path. As you evolve and grow, you will assume the mantle of a chief executive officer, leader, manager, supervisor, etc. Do not forget to reach back and provide mentorship to those who follow you. This discussion may seem full of hyperbole. The truth is that only you can put limits on your goals and accomplishments. Let your imagination fly. Think about where you want to be. Write down your list and tackle each item day-by-day, month-by-month and year-by-year. Before you know it, COVID-19 will be in your rear view mirror. You will be living your life in the way that you planned. Go forth and take control of your destiny. Have a productive and safe summer! 

Valarie R. Austin is the author of The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons. She has a wealth of knowledge on the subjects of career and college preparation. She also conducts career and college readiness workshops for high school students and parents. Check out her author’s pages on https://www.linkedin/in/valarie-r-austin, https://www.goodreads.com/valarie_r_austin and https://www.amazon.com/author/valarie_r_austin. A Youtube.com review of her book can found at https://youtu.be/xy_GSHlJsa0. This article was edited by Raffie Johnson. Copyright 2020, Vauboix Publishing LLC.

The Student's Comprehensive Guide For College & Other Life Lessons
La Guía Comprensiva del Estudiante para la Universidad & Otras Lecciones de Vida