By Megan Brown, Student Reporter
COVID-19 has caused a lot of changes for NWOSU and its students. The class of May 2020 is now looking at alternative graduation services instead of receiving the traditional ceremony and will miss out on walking across the stage.
While this is affecting all seniors, those who were going to be the first generation within their family to graduate, are facing a different range of emotions.
Tiffany Willson is an Early Childhood Education major at NWOSU who will be receiving her degree in May.
“I was looking forward to walking across that stage with my friends as we all make the step into our first classroom experiences,” Willson said. “I am upset that it may not happen as the spectacular day I had envisioned with the pinning ceremony, graduation and reception.”
Being an education student during this time has created many new challenges. The students were faced with alternative assignments and their time within the classroom had to be cut short. Willson said she is still teaching her spring lessons for her student teaching through video. The pandemic has also caused testing centers to close, therefore Willson, and others, are having to wait to take their certification tests.
“I understand the importance of keeping everyone safe, and I appreciate NWOSU’s early attempts to make this happen,” Willson said.
While Willson is sad about the sudden changes in her plans, she said she knows that she has worked hard throughout her time at NWOSU and this situation has taught her perseverance.
“The Education faculty have been nothing but supportive during this time, and the ending of our Northwestern career does not subtract from the work it took to get here,” Willson said.
A large amount of Willson’s motivation has stemmed from her parents. She said they have pushed her to do her best throughout her career at NWOSU.
After graduation Willson plans to obtain a teaching position within Oklahoma. The restrictions put in place as protective measures have made it more difficult for those job hunting. Willson has been apart of a few alternative interviews.
“I have missed out on many experiences that I was looking forward to in the classroom,” Willson said. “I will not get to educate my students the way I had envisioned while working on my two-week plan. I will not get to see their faces as their bean seeds sprout or as they participate in their end-of-year water day. I will not get to have a proper good-bye with these students who I have spent a semester building a relationship with.”