Dear Class of 2020,
What if you knew which day was going to be your last?
Would you do anything differently?
Maybe, you would eat your favorite foods, and stay up with your friends all night.
Maybe, you would laugh with your family, and watch an iconic Branford sunset.
Maybe. Would you think about all the little things that make up your life?
I know the world is a scary place right now, and it seems like all our lives are on pause.
As high school seniors we expect closure, and final memories with each other –
All the athletes that never got a chance to play that last game, and wear Branford on their chest for the last time.
Prom pictures at the Owenego as the water twinkles behind everyone’s glowing smiles and carefully chosen dresses and suits.
Graduation on the town green for everyone to see, and that relief knowing you made it!
Despite, the adversity that has struck our world, I hope we can come out of this together, with a common goal –
To make this world a better place.
We have lost touch with what’s truly important, our human experience.
Our lives are more valuable than an Instagram picture, and the instantaneous satisfaction of material objects.
It’s time to take back our lives, and our humanity.
Help your neighbor, take care of your body, and fill your soul with sunshine.
Trust me, I know how much it hurts that these valuable experiences are no longer available to us in the way we once intended.
But, our lives can’t be planned, and that’s what makes it a beautiful mess.
I admire each and everyone of you, and I view our class as a collage of amazing people.
Each one of you possess a talent, personality, energy, and immense potential to achieve everything you want out of this life.
I know high school is different for everyone, but I hope we can all agree these circumstances bond us together forever.
Throughout our time at BHS, our teachers have grown with us, and they have imprinted us with knowledge useful both inside and outside the classroom.
Our community has come together to support us and make our days a little better.
Be grateful for your health, our community, and the memories we have been lucky enough to share.
I know we are just entering the world, and there are a lot of unknowns,
But, it’s our turn to create the world we want to live in, and I’m so excited for what everyone is going to achieve.
You never know when it’s going to be your last day, so you might as well live a life you are proud to call your own.
Go make this world a better place.
– Brooke O’Leary, ’20
Editor’s note: Brooke O’Leary has been editor of The Branford Buzz for the last year. Like the other members of the Branford High School class of 2020, she was looking forward to the end of her senior year and enjoying a large graduation ceremony on the green in June.
Do you have any final words for the students in the class of 2020? Post them in the comments or respond on Twitter @branfordbuzz
