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Jacksonville High School senior Xavier Posey works on his laptop next to his sister, Mikaya, a Jacksonville Middle School student. Mikaya said she was inspired to write words of encouragement to seniors like her brother who will not experience a traditional graduation.
lessJacksonville High School senior Xavier Posey works on his laptop next to his sister, Mikaya, a Jacksonville Middle School student. Mikaya said she was inspired to write words of encouragement to seniors like
... more
Jacksonville High School senior Xavier Posey works on his laptop next to his sister, Mikaya, a Jacksonville Middle School student. Mikaya said she was inspired to write words of encouragement to seniors like her brother who will not experience a traditional graduation.
lessJacksonville High School senior Xavier Posey works on his laptop next to his sister, Mikaya, a Jacksonville Middle School student. Mikaya said she was inspired to write words of encouragement to seniors like
... moreIn the midst of fighting a pandemic, the stolen moments of friendship and the formative experiences being forever lost for young people can be overlooked.
That’s why Jacksonville Middle School student Mikaya Posey penned a letter in which she put herself in the shoes of the high school seniors in her life — including her brother — facing a non-traditional end to their high school careers.
The 13-year-old tried to convey to others how upsetting a random turn of events could be.
During her time away from school, Mikaya found the passion to write. One night, she felt especially unsettled by how high school seniors would not have a normal graduation this year.
Schools statewide moved to at-home learning after Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a stay-home order in March to cut down the potential spread of COVID-19 in the state. That order has been extended through the end of the school year.
But a prohibition against large groups gathering already had prompted schools to cancel graduation ceremonies this year.
“I feel bad that the 2020 seniors don’t get to graduate, but [seniors from] any other year do, so I wanted to give back to the seniors,” she said.
Mikaya’s 18-year-old brother, Xavier, has joined the National Guard and leaves in July to serve as a combat engineer after he graduates from Jacksonville High School. While he said he might not always be the biggest fan of going to school, missing out on the opportunity to celebrate his four years of hard work and being unable to see his friends has been difficult.
“I’ve always been one to feel 50-50 on school,” Xavier said, “but not being able to see my friends and finish my school year upsets me.”
Both Mikaya and Xavier said they hope adults whose school days are behind them consider how difficult this time can be for all students, especially seniors.
“They should be considerate and understand that it could be any member of their family who’s not graduating,” Xavier said.
Mikaya is also passing the time by taking care of her family’s chickens and other pets. To keep in touch with friends, she texts them and talks to them on FaceTime — including times when she asks her friends for help with homework.
Xavier said he stays in contact with friends through texts and calls ,as well as through video games. He has also gotten food with his friends but they stay in separate cars to keep an appropriate distance.
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Here are Mikaya’s words to high school seniors:
To all the high school seniors that were supposed to graduate this year but COVID-19 took it from you.
Relax and take steps to become stronger. It’s OK to be upset, because it’s your last year of high school and you don’t get to finish it — we understand. By we, I mean your family, the community around you and everyone else in your life.
To all the seniors, it’s sad to see that you don’t get to finish your last year of high school, you don’t get to wear your cap and gown and walk across the stage and get your diploma.
Reflect and look back on all the memories. To the first day of freshman year to the first day of senior year, look back and see how much you’ve grown, and how much you changed as a person.
Looking back on all the good memories, high school parties, prom, homecoming, senior ditch day and many other activities that made you smile and have a good time.
Look back and see all the new people you met and even the people you lost. You may look back on mistakes you made, but people only grow stronger from mistakes they make. Look back at getting your license and getting to drive and carpool with friends and just making memories, to even being late to class because you slept in or got stopped behind a red light. Just take in the things that mean the most to you.
Wow, you made it the four years — congrats. But most importantly, look at the family you grew because of the sports you played, the endless celebrations because of a win you got and the grins on your face if you lost. The most important thing is turning that frown upside down and learning to work harder and compete for that win your next game.
A lot of people look forward to their senior night, to have a night dedicated to them, to see that they are important, to be able to see that they put their heart into the game and gave it their all to be the best they could be.
Seniors are more than just a group of people in a grade. Being a senior is kinda like being a leader, you’re the group leader, you pretty much run the pack.
Learning to accept the bad news that school is not going to be back in session has been hard on a lot of people, but there’s nothing we can do about it. COVID-19 made a lot of people’s lives a mess, but we have to accept it.
To all the seniors, don’t stress: you made it through high school — well three years and eight months — but doesn’t mean you didn’t make it. You have taken all these tests and read all these different books and learned many different subjects (even if you may not use all them, you still made it through).
Anyway, you made it. Congrats. Be proud of yourself. You made it so far, don’t give up, even if you don’t get to walk across that stage to show you graduated, that doesn’t mean you didn’t make it. Trust me, you made it.
So many people are proud of you. Much love to all the seniors having to go through this.
Remember not to take things for granted, because some things don’t always end up being the best thing ever, so enjoy how far you made it and how many people are proud of you.
Anyway, I hope the best for you in the future and I hope the future gives you exciting things.
Mikaya
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April 26, 2020 at 08:21PM
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Teen shares encouraging words with ‘non-traditional’ Class of 2020 - Jacksonville Journal Courier
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