The CHIEF March\April 2020

Sacrifices of COVID-19 By Carson Gregory

We are living in unprecedented times. All people have made sacrifices and missed out on opportunity, but the class of 2020 is at the forefront of sacrifice at PTHS. Throughout four years, the seniors have put in countless hours of hard, grueling work. Now, right before spring sports, prom, and graduation, that work is being overshadowed by a dangerous virus. High school is one of the most transformational time periods in anyone’s life. Friends are made, relationships formed, passions discovered, and lessons learned. Many students look forward only to the climax of high school— graduation. Now, seniors are realizing many of the memories they have come to love may not come to pass. Due to COVID-19, many opportunities will be taken away from the seniors. In all likelihood, spring sports may be cancelled. Prom, and even graduation, may also be cancelled too. A return to school is even being doubted by many. For the rest of our lives, we will not have the memories of our final days in high school, but of being stuck at home in isolation and quarantine. However, the senior class is not mad, only disappointed. We understand the importance and significance of what is going on. We recognize we must potentially sacrifice the end of our high school career so that others may stay safe and healthy. We are not a selfish generation, but a selfless one. We are willingly sacrificing our once in a lifetime experiences to protect our fellow humans. In retrospect, there is one lesson to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. From a graduating senior to an underclassman, please appreciate every opportunity and memory you have or will make. Unfortunately, life has no guarantees. So, go out for that sport, join that club, and ask that girl or guy out. There is no redoing high school. Once you graduate, you cannot come back. Be grateful for every moment you have in these short four years. In the end, you will not regret the things you did, but the opportunities you didn’t take. Never take for granted the traditions and culture of PTHS and life in general. We never know when those closely held experiences will be taken away from us forever.