Senior Year is monumental! It’s everything to you at this moment in time. 

I want to tell you about a girl who watched her Senior Year shatter like broken glass before it even started. The first day of School was perfect and felt like the start of something truly great. Walking into that brick building on August 4th, 2003, life finally felt like it could make sense. Chasing the possibility of more was the priority…

How quickly things change…

By September 26th, 2003 everything had changed. Nothing was certain, her heart was numb, she had no strength to move forward and her plans were on hold, indefinitely. 

That girl was me. 

Senior Year is the Year that you finally see the reward from all of your hard work. Personally, I didn’t start appreciating School & learning until my Junior Year. Some would say that it was too late but I didn’t think so. I loved taking notes, studying, reading and I truly enjoyed interacting with my teachers. I was determined to do well and forge a path that would get me to College. So, I purposed in my heart to succeed and make something out of myself no matter what!

That was the plan…

My plan was interrupted by things beyond my control, just like yours has been. I lost my brother to an accidental overdose of crystal meth. He was everything to me. I only felt like I could conquer the world because he made me believe it. I spent my Senior Year feeling lost and alone.

Do you feel lost and alone right now? I know how that feels and I’m sorry that you’re going through this.

It feels like life has literally snatched the rug out from under your feet. You wonder, will you ever get to experience the luxuries that all under-classman dream of. You’ve planned, probably dealt with stress and sleep deprivation and now you wonder, was it all for nothing? Everything you thought was important and a “right of passage” into the adult world has changed in an instant.

Do you feel frustrated? Sad? Confused? It’s ok to feel this way!

Circumstances beyond our control can cloud our vision. It can cause us to be irrational and react out of the fear we are feeling. The uncertainty of the future consumes our thoughts and negativity dictates all that we hold dear. I really do understand where you are and I feel my heart aching for you as you learn to navigate and accept your new normal.

I understand where your mind is, more than you know. My entire Senior Year changed in one night. I barely graduated and much to my discontent, I allowed that night to prevent me from going to college or following my dreams. At least at the time, I am now living fully in my dreams and furthering my education daily.

Here’s what I know….

Senior Year is monumental, it’s everything to you at this moment in time. However, Senior Year is not everything forever. Your future is secure! Your hard work was not in vain! Though you are missing out on memories you, your friends & your parents have prepared for since you were born… It’s still going to be ok. You are still achieving greatness through it all!

I know the fear you are facing.

I know the sadness filling your heart.

I know the doubt you are feeling.

Hold on Senior, though you can’t quite see the outcome of your current situation and though you don’t understand why your plans have been altered, trust God. He will see you through and He will work it all for your good.

My Senior Year was the beginning of my journey down a broken road that led me to where I am today. We can choose how situations mold our life and we can choose how we react to the trials that life throws in our way. You can grow from this unfortunate circumstance. You can learn how to overcome the curve balls that hit you in the chest at 100mph. Get up and fight back! Find your destiny through your devastation, it’s there and God is with you.

The pain I felt during my Senior Year made every attempt to disintegrate the girl inside but I chose my path to victory and so can you.

You are loved, cared for and celebrated. You have a choice how this season of life shapes you and I pray you choose wisely!

You can look through the filter of COVID-19 and see only the darkness that is taking over your life. This outlook breeds an entitled attitude of self only behavior.

OR…

You can look through the filter of faith and see the possibility of where you are going and the potential of who you can become.

See the big picture, past the Year 2020 to the man/woman you want to be! You will be able to look back and say: “Rona tried but she failed!” 

You are meant for more. You are meant to shine!

Keep marching to the beat of a different drum and be a leader among your generation. Show the class of 2020 how to overcome, fight and conquer odds! You will look back and say, “We did it guys! We made it through uncharted territory and we learned just how strong we were!”

I believe in you!

You are so dear to my heart and my prayers are ever with this special class of 2020. You are going where few before you have gone and if you keep Jesus Christ at the center of it all, you will see your reward clearly. Never forget who you are and if you don’t already know, you are a child of God and He is looking out for you. It took me a long time but eventually, I found my smile. I had a graduation party and though it didn’t happen the way I planned, I was able to celebrate my achievement and forget my grief for a little while. You are capable of wonderful things, you are much stronger than you think.

This moment in time will change you, it will mold you, it will shape you but how it does is completely up to you. Communicate your concerns with your parents, pastors, youth leaders, teacher and friends. Talk about your dreams because those are still a big deal!

Parents, speak life to your children. Make sure you are careful not to fuel their fear with your disappointment. Encourage them and empower them to lead their peers in faith and positivity. Love them through this uncertain time and teach them strength in Christ. Create an atmosphere of hope and joy inside your home. Don’t save all of your celebration and proud boasting for the graduation party, they need it now. Hug them tight and let them cry in your lap the way you did when they were toddlers.

Seniors, your lives are being altered through this period of quarantine and separation and as you stay connected and communicate faith over fear, you will emerge through this dark valley into the man/woman you were created to be.

Go do life BIG and never let the fear control you! Do scary things and never back down from the challenges you are certain to face.

I Love you BIG!