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A tribute to the Class of 2020
Dimitri Livadaris & Liv Louis
Year 12 Captains
Dearest 2020 Graduates,
Since beginning at Carey, many of us have looked up to the Year 12s, anticipating the time when we would be able to experience the many traditions our final year of high school has to offer. However, once finally reaching our last year, we were exposed to an incredibly different and unprecedented version of what we had been expecting, reducing many of the experiences that we had awaited to nothing more than a memory of what should have been.
The year commenced much like any other, and the novelty of Year 12 was hinted at by our participation in the infamous noodle race at the swimming carnival. But two weeks out from our formal we were hit with the tough news that it would be postponed due to COVID-19. At this stage, few of us had fully understood the impact of the virus and how it would continue to affect us in the coming months. Additionally, we were informed that the School would now move to an external and online format. For many of us, this was the hardest news to hear, as we use the physical and social interaction at school as a means to break up our studies and motivate us. We felt as though we had all of the rites of passage stripped from us and all that remained were the many study hours and homework required to receive an ATAR.
Although online school was far from an ideal situation, slowly the year level adjusted to living with the new method of education. Later sleep-ins and constant access to the pantry were some of the benefits seen during this unprecedented period. However, there was an ongoing feeling of emptiness that lingered among the students; a feeling that could not be rectified by the faces of classmates during class video conferences. Furthermore, in conversations with the cohort on social media, it became evident that the year ahead would be even harder than initially anticipated and that many of us were feeling incredibly disconnected from the Carey community.
During this period, it became necessary for the Year 12s to constantly shift our perspectives. The continuous announcements of disappointments forced us to readjust our views in order to avoid loss of motivation and effort in our studies. One element of our lives I believe we did not properly appreciate until returning to school in Term 2 was the significance of our friends and the support that they can provide for us.
To return to school and be reunited with our classmates was one of the most uplifting moments of the year and provided the much needed drive to continue to work hard at our studies.
Yet, this brief period of normality and optimism was quickly shattered by the reality of the worsening situation of COVID-19 in Victoria. The announcement of a second lockdown meant that any hope of a formal quickly disintegrated as well as the dreams of many athletes to pursue victory for Carey in the APS. The second lockdown was more difficult for most and this was reflected in the shared feelings of hopelessness and invalidation experienced by the students. Despite these feelings of resignation and defeat, the cohort retained an element of togetherness and in many ways bonded over the many losses we had felt.
Returning to school for the final two to three weeks was one of the most surreal experiences. As we had barely been at school the entire year it felt as though we were merely starting when, in actuality, we were approaching the conclusion of our 13-year long journey of school. For many of us, it began to become evident that the faces we see in the halls every day would soon be a distant memory and that many of the trivialities we take for granted would be lost to the past.
Our final day was filled with conflicting emotions of happiness from the celebrations and feelings of deep sadness from the acknowledgement that such a large component of our lives was coming to an end. This day epitomised the confusion that we have felt over the year and the many contradictions that have been raised by the bizarre circumstances. Although we may have missed out on many traditions and experiences deemed vital in having a complete Year 12, we experienced circumstances that occur once in a lifetime which have not only developed us as people, but created many new traditions for Year 12s of the future.
As a group, one of the most striking features of the year is our acknowledgement and understanding of our need for close and connected relationships. We have relied on each other and shared our experiences, which has created what we hope will be a lifelong bond. To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, ‘Life is a journey, not a destination’ – and it’s the journey that matters.
We are all the graduates of 2020, a cohort with a new-found resilience and the ability to conquer any challenges in our unfolding lives. We have the strength and perseverance which has been acquired through the difficulties of this year – perhaps a blessing in disguise. As your Year 12 Captains, we wish you all the best with your exam results, and all the luck and success for your futures. It was an absolute honour to have been elected by you, our peers, as your Year 12 Captains of 2020, and we will continue to support and encourage you from afar. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve our fellow cohort throughout 2020. Even though we may have been unsuccessful in hosting the key calendar events, we have not been unsuccessful in building a community of supportive and loyal friends that will stand by each other for years to come.
So, to the Class of 2020…
Remember this year not as a year of hardship and struggle, but rather, as a year that has exposed you to new life lessons, propelled your growth, and tested your resilience.
We have acquired the lessons and skills that were intended for us this year, and much more. Congratulations friends, you have exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Thank you for everything and all the best for the future.
Sincerely,
Your Year 12 Captains,
Liv Louis and Dimitri Livadaras
Originally published in the 2020 edition of the Carey Chronicle.
