We have reached the end of a typical, ordinary, and frankly unremarkable
senior year at New Trier… just kidding. Obviously, COVID-19 has given us a final semester unlike any other.
Honestly, it’s disappointing. We all had expectations for what our last quarter of high school would look like. None of us quite anticipated a college commitment day via Instagram, or having our final classroom discussions through Zoom. Prom went online, and graduation was a very peppy drive-through and virtual commencement. Though our teachers went above and beyond to ensure we continued to feel connected, this was not the ideal end to our high school years.
We have all had widely different experiences the last four years. We are talented student athletes, speech/debaters, engineers, dancers, artists, actors, student council members, do-gooders, fashion designers, entrepreneurs, coders, musicians, mathletes, tutors, photographers, inventors, and out-of-the-box thinkers. While we may not always feel we have much in common, we now share this bizarre common experience.
We have come of age along with the Trump Administration, which has been a roller coaster. We have seen some of the largest protests since the late 1960s. We saw the #MeToo Movement, progress for the LGBTQIA+ community, the March for Our Lives, an impeachment trial, an international refugee crisis, and a trade war. Rainforests caught on fire, there were climate strikes, Twitter storms, and fears of World War III.
Now COVID-19, coupled with a national outcry that black lives matter following the gruesome death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and more.
Our country has reached a breaking point. As thousands in every state take to the streets in spite of the continuing global pandemic, it is clear that change is needed now. After years of division, uncertainty, and animosity, we must demand that this shared experience paves the way for a time of empathy, reconciliation, and reform.
This past fall, our student body and staff at the Winnetka campus had a different shared experience when there was an accidental lockdown. Though it was only a false alarm and not the fault of the school, many were dramatically affected by the 15 minutes we huddled in classrooms, hiding from a potential shooter.
There was a lot to take away from that day. One thing that stuck out was an Instagram post later that afternoon. The ever diligent @newtrier203 had posted an update explaining what had happened. Underneath the post, an older (and surely well-meaning) gentleman had posted a comment saying that the school shouldn’t focus as much on safety, because school shootings are so statistically unlikely.
Within hours, his comment had over a hundred replies saying: “Ok Boomer.”
Honestly, it was pretty funny. Mocking insensitivity can feel good. One of our writers decided to write an op-ed about this infamous comment. She described why his response was misguided while working to understand his perspective. One thing that became clear is that there are more commonalities than differences between our generations. Just as Gen Z has experienced the laundry list of societal and economic transitions we rattled off earlier, Boomers had a similarly tumultuous coming of age.
It read, “When Baby Boomers were our age, they had to hide under desks during H-bomb drills. Today we similarly practice hiding from active shooters… Boomers marched on Washington D.C. to protest the Vietnam War, demanded Liberation for women, and fought for the Civil Rights Movement to expand equality. Today, Gen Z marches on Washington to demand gun reform, fights for the LGBTQIA+ community, and advocates for the preservation of our planet.”
Feuding generations can find similarities, and what we can learn from Boomers is that protest is effective. We can not let the fire fueling the fight for reform die out. We are hopeful that out of this pandemic, there will be an increased understanding that despite all of our differences, there is always common ground. Generational differences aren’t the only divisions we need to bridge for a functioning, free world.
This is essential, because the virus has oftentimes served as a way to “otherize” those who are different from us. Dangerous scapegoating rhetoric surround China through the presidential election, and even now there has been racism towards Asian Americans. People have protested stay at home orders, garnering praise, disbelief, frustration, and every emotion in between. The narrative about current protests for racial equity has at times been shifted to emphasize looting rather than the disgusting racism and violence black people face every day in our country. The virus has cast a spotlight on the gross economic, and healthcare disparities this country is facing.
Empathy, cooperation, and innovation are the tools we will need to rebuild the world once this crisis is over. It is going to come down to our generation to fix this enormous mess. This is a moment that will forever shape the collective conscious of our generation. We will make mistakes, but we will only be successful if we work together and invite those whom we do not agree with to be part of the conversation.
There are people in this world that are simply never going to agree, but we cannot take the easy path of simply dismissing or demonizing those who are different from us. We at the NT News have struggled to understand the mindset of those who would endanger their lives and of others in order to protest quarantine orders and bring AR-15’s inside the state capital building while simultaneously condemning current protests for black lives. But we must try to understand, because the truth is that no one is planning on leaving this country anytime soon. In the US, we are stuck with a diverse, wonderful, crazy, divided, varied and stubborn population.
Regardless of what side of the political aisle you are on, there has never been a greater need for communication, transparency, and at the very least civility. It is also critical to remember that racism is not a political issue.
We are hopeful that this year’s graduating class will help to lead this charge of bridging the divides and healing the wounds of our nation. We have no doubt that our peers are up to the task because we have seen it in action.
As editors at the NT News, we have watched our peers track down stories after the shut-down of local papers because of the pandemic. A senior created a “May Day” on Instagram, and others compiled videos to honor our high school experience. Symphonies have been composed via Zoom, dances choreographed in bedrooms, and messages of gratitude for our teachers have been shared online. Trevians raised money and supported community members through this crisis. Applied Arts teachers 3D printed PPE for hospitals, and our Special Education staff had car parades to ensure their students didn’t feel so alone. Barrier Battles teamed up with the NT Habitat for Humanity Board to continue its mission to provide affordable housing for a family. We have shared petitions, educated ourselves and others, raised money, emailed our representatives, and taken to the streets.
We have the potential to be the visionaries, rebuilders, and leaders of a more empathetic world. It is up to us to make the decision not only to listen, but also to take action. To the class of 2020 – we have no doubt you will do incredible things. Go into this world with a mindset of kindness, action, and a healthy dose of skepticism.
Congratulations, and we will miss you.