‘Bring a light into the world.’ Bayshore High’s Class of 2020 graduates amid pandemic

The Bayshore High School graduating class had a solid understanding that their Class of 2020 graduation on Saturday at LECOM Field was different as face masks and social distancing requirements were made necessary during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are the unique ones here,” said graduating senior Yairi Garcia. “I guess you could say it’s a different experience and as the Class of 2020, we are going to be known for a different experience.”

The sun grew bright and hot Saturday morning and it took its toll on the robe-garbed seniors who sweated out the first hour waiting for the ceremony to start. At least one student needed to be treated for getting overheated.

It was more suited for a typical summer day at this ball field watching the Bradenton Marauders than a high school graduation, but the seniors were grateful for the opportunity.

“Honestly, I’m just appreciative we get to have a graduation because there are a lot of people who didn’t get to have a graduation,” said Gina Kirby, who would take a spot near the pitcher’s mound a few moments later as one of three student commencement speakers.

The Class of 2020 will certainly be unique and as Kirby would go on to say, be the first class that graduated, “during a worldwide pandemic.”

Time will tell if the Class of 2020 will be alone, however, as incoming seniors prepare for the unknowns with the Class of 2021 just weeks away from beginning in an environment of uncertainty. But at least the incoming seniors have examples to follow.

“My advice to them is you’re probably going to feel kind of down about it because your senior year is supposed to be the best year of your life, but honestly, just make the most of it and do everything you can to have fun with school and in in your life in your last year,” Kirby said. “It will be worth it.”

The pandemic has had a profound effect on many of the graduating seniors who are making life choices based on their new normal. Walter Barnes is one of those students whose life’s direction has been steered by COVID-19.

“I’m going to college and going to be a respiratory therapist,” Barnes said. “I see what’s going on, so it helped me to want to become a respiratory therapist. Hopefully we all can bring some positive to this country and hopefully we can do something and bring a light into the world.”

For many of the students, Saturday was the first day in months they have seen friends they have grown up with in high school.

“It’s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster,” said graduating senior Jannie Cuadros. “It feels good. We used to see each other everyday walking through school in the hallways and say hi. Now it’s different. Now you see them and you want to hug them and everything, but you can’t. We need to have a positive attitude and remember that in the end, everything is going to be OK.”

The older some get, the easier it becomes to forget the adversity that comes with the formidable high school years. The life changes that occur from the time you enter high school hallways as a freshman until you graduate as a senior are monumental in such a short time.

But each life is born with a purpose and as each student transgresses those difficult four years, a dream is formed.

“I hope we can all be successful and follow our childhood dreams,” Kirby said. “I hope whatever all of us intend to do with our lives, I hope we accomplish it.”