In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, I'm sure everyone knows that most universities across the country have gone completely online and will not be returning to campus for the rest of the spring semester. While this news came as a shock and has been very upsetting for every college student, it has hit the class of 2020 extremely hard.
I am a senior at the University of Kentucky, and it still hasn't completely hit me that I will never step foot on campus as a student again. I will never sit in on another lecture, cram homework in the library, or walk to class with my friends again. I will not be able to say goodbye to some of my sorority sisters who weren't that close to me, but who were still my sisters. I will not be able to say goodbye to the class friends who I never saw outside of class, but who still had a very big impact on my college experience.
There are a lot of things that we will not be able to do ever again, but perhaps the thing that is hitting the hardest is that we will not be able to walk in a commencement ceremony alongside our classmates and celebrate all of the work we have done over the past four years.
When I woke up to the email stating that UK was going fully online and there would be no commencement ceremonies for the class of 2020 in the spring, my heart sank and I immediately started crying. I could handle never going to the Tin Roof for another parking lot party. I could handle never going to the hill or going into the horse races at Keeneland as a student again. I could handle not watching the Cats dominate their way through the March Madness bracket and potentially become champions. I could handle never storming state street and chanting "C-A-T-S CATS CATS CATS" again. All of that was heartbreaking, but I could handle it. This, though, this seemed like way too much.
Not being able to graduate hit me so hard because graduation is supposed to be a celebration of some of the most challenging years of your life in every way and everything you achieved in those years. I can safely say these past four years have been the best four years of my life, and I owe it all to The University of Kentucky.
It was at UK that I was able to join the same sorority as my big sister, bringing us closer than ever. It was at UK that that same sorority brought me the best friends I have ever had. It was at UK that I met my boyfriend and best friend in the world. It was at UK that I met all of his friends who have become like brothers to me. It was at UK that I have made the best memories, had the best laughs, and met the best people. UK has given me everything, and despite my time here ending early, I will be eternally grateful for the time I have spent in the Bluegrass state.
While the class of 2020's journey at UK ended abruptly and with a lot of uncertainty, one thing will always be certain. We are a part of the Big Blue Nation, and we can take that with us no matter where we go. And remember; we will sing once more for our old Kentucky home, for our old Kentucky home, far away.
To everyone in my Big Blue Nation family, thank you for the best four years of my life. Go cats.
