Yamaris Serrano would have been excitedly preparing for her graduation in June. She was to walk across the stage and receive her diploma to the cheers of family on June 4.<\/p>\n\n\n
But, now she can only imagine what that moment would have felt like. She joins countless Class of 2020 seniors whose graduation ceremonies were canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic that hit the country.<\/p>\n\n\n
Her last physical day at Great Path Academy in Manchester was March 13 \u2014 the day before spring break was scheduled to start.<\/p>\n\n\n
Like her fellow seniors, she never dreamed she would not set foot on campus again as a high school student..<\/p>\n\n\n
\u201cOur school is really open and we were talking about things and how things might change, and that spring break might be extended, but no one ever expected not to go back,\u201d said the 18-year-old Serrano. \u201cWe didn\u2019t think it was going to last this long. Our senior year ended (on March 13), but we didn\u2019t know it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
May would have been packed with senior moments \u2014 prom, senior ditch day, senior trip, and decision day when seniors announce where they will be going to college.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u201cThis year was going to be my first and last prom. I bought my prom dress two weeks before all this happened. I was so excited at the start of the year, to have these memories,\u201d Serrano said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After being told their graduation ceremony was canceled, Serrano and her best friend made a video asking school officials to reconsider having a traditional ceremony for her senior class of 72 graduates. They suggested moving the ceremony from the auditorium to the open field area in front of Manchester Community College, where their magnate school is located, which would allow for social distancing. They also suggested having the ceremony in a few months or in winter.<\/p>\n\n\n