PHOENIX — Heading into May, high school seniors would typically be winding down their year and saying their final goodbyes. But, because of the Coronavirus, the transition to what traditionally follows high school is proving to be a challenge for many.
From what graduation could look like to wrapping up final classes, a lot is uncertain for high school seniors like Kaylee Laker.
“Since we don’t really know how long this is going to last and what our future is going to be like, it’s definitely a tentative day by day, week by week thing," Kaylee said.
And that unknown stretches into starting college in a few months.
"They have online web classes where you can get help and get guidance through this time even though nothing's really sure how dorms or housing is going to be," Kaylee said.
Gilbert High School counselor Christopher Mack says he’s worried about his students he has not been able to reach since the pandemic began.
“Maybe like 20% or a quarter of the class is responding and I’m thinking, where’s that other 75%? What are their needs?" Mack said. "What are they going to do?”
So he’s turning that concern into a daily mission.
“We reach out, we call parents, we call kids, I’m texting, I’m emailing and trying to stay in touch, but that’s been a challenge," Mack said.
During these tough times, Mack wants all students to know there is help.
“We have what’s called our thrive website and over this past year, we’ve pumped a ton of information," he said.
The site includes important post-high school details and links like university deadlines due to COVID-19 disruptions, testing updates for ACT, SAT and AP, financial aid resources and more.
He adds that there may even be opportunities for some students who, for example, were not doing so well their last semester of school.
“Universities aren’t going to be looking at this eighth semester as an indicator of performance because of this unprecedented time we’re in," Mack said.
There are dozens of questions for families and each student is affected differently.
For Kaylee, a drum major and National Honor Society president, she says the disappointments now won’t last forever.
“Even though it’s probably going to be really hard, I’m going to have to experience adversity and challenges," she said. "I’m super excited to go out and be my own person and face the world.”
The coronavirus effects are also trickling down to high school juniors, but counselors say the best thing to do is stay proactive with your college and scholarship applications making sure both parents and students are staying on top of it.
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