For all seniors, spring semester senior year is a time for all to discuss their futures, aspirations, and goals among themselves. It’s a time to rejoice in the successes and reflect on everyone’s hard work throughout their high school careers. 

   Whether they plan on entering the work field, attending community college, admitting to a four-year school, and much more, Seniors usually have the ability to relax finally. In essence, the hardest part of high school is over.

   However, for seniors this year, their Spring semester is filled with uncertainty if anyone will ever see their fellow senior classmates again. The Coronavirus has taken away senior’s normality, causing much confusion in its wake. 

   Nevertheless, for senior Maria Abraham, her plans still remain an exciting step towards her future. 

   “My plan after graduation is to go to a four-year direct entry nursing program,” Abraham said. “I do not know exactly where I am going for college yet though; I am still choosing between two colleges.”

   Abraham’s situation is not unique, as many seniors still find themselves deciding on which path they want to take. Everyone’s approach is unique whether they choose to go directly into a four-year university, or elsewhere. 

   “After high school is over, I plan on attending Arizona State University and studying business. I only applied to ASU because that’s the only place I wanted to go,” Senior Ean Mayhew said. 

   Some have even committed to the schools they plan on attending, making the burden of the college admission process a little bit easier. 

   A common trend this year has become apparent. The ever-changing admission process was increasingly brutal this year, with what some have described as the highest amount of waitlisting they’ve ever seen. According to Forbes.com, a visible trend has occurred post-college admission scandal circa 2019: “vigilance and transparency.” 

   Higher education institutions have made it their primary goal to narrow down what is considered ethical and fair in the admissions process, leaving a wake of highly qualified, yet rejected high school seniors. 

   “It (admission) was definitely harder this year because there were so many qualified candidates,” senior Ipsha Pandey said. “That said, I think our class is very competitive, so I think we (as a class) performed well.” 

   As if the brutal college admissions weren’t enough, the Coronavirus has begun to cause graduating seniors even more stress about their future plans. 

   “My personal fear is that I’ve worked so hard to get into my dream school (University of California Berkeley) and there’s a possibility that I won’t be able to go there because of quarantine and shelter,” Pandey said. 

   Pandey is not the only one that feels so. Seniors have found that their achievements feel overshadowed by the Coronavirus. 

   “I definitely think that the admissions reveal isn’t as big a deal as it was last year because due to the Coronavirus school was closed just around the time that usually colleges send out admission decisions,” Abraham said. 

   For the graduating class of  2020, their senior year has already been affected enough; they now wish for some normalcy to occur and for some of their expectations to be met. 

   “It would honestly be nice to hear where everyone is going and to see if I would know people where I end up going,” senior Julia Morris said. 

   For Pandey, “that would help us connect with each other and help people with similar goals and aspirations stay in touch.” 

   Fortunately for GBHS seniors, the College and Career Center has released a virtual map as a way for students to find out where their peers plan to go after high school. An Instagram account has also been set up (@gbfutureplans). Although it may not exactly be ideal, seniors are still able to connect and share some excitement with each other.