Courtni Sutton stands in her cap, gown and honor chords as she gives her salutatorian speech.
“I am humbled and honored to serve as salutatorian of the Forest Hill class of 2020,” said Sutton who is giving her speech to an empty stadium because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During those wonderful years, we’ve experienced good and bad times. Like now, we are facing a huge obstacle — the inability to convene in fellowship in the traditional sense.”
Jackson Public School District seniors were still able to give speeches and get their diplomas onstage.
But the pandemic forced graduation to happen at empty Veterans Memorial Stadium.
No loved ones were allowed in the audience, but because the event was recorded, loved ones were able to watch the ceremony online or on television.
Although Sutton’s family could view the pomp and circumstance later, she said they were sad they weren't able to physically be there.
“They were a little upset because I am their last child to graduate high school,” said Sutton. “They really wanted to be a part of it. It was heartbreaking to them.”
Families and students across the state faced a new normal schools shut down in March.
For Sutton, that meant courses moved online, choir practices over ZOOM and traditional senior milestones put on hold.
“On grad night, I was supposed to sing the national anthem. I was supposed to have a spring concert with choir, and I'm also the choir student director. I never got the chance to actually direct the song because of the pandemic. We didn't have a senior picnic. We didn't have prom.”
Most graduations in Mississippi were turned into virtual or drive-thru celebrations.
But students from Water Valley High School are hoping to walk across the stage in an outdoors ceremony later this month when they graduate.
Coulter Clement is the school's valedictorian who is starting on his speech.
“Right now we're planning to have an in person graduation so I would just plan to give it there,” said Clement. “If something changes, and we have to do like a few at a time or whatever, we would just record something and get it out there. So that's how I can start working on a good speech.”
Students can only have a few guests at the graduation.
But even with an in-person celebration, Clement said he is sad he missed out on certain parts of his senior year.
“It won’t be the same as it would be if everything was back to normal,” said Clement. "And I really do appreciate that, but it still doesn’t necessarily make it all better. You still hate that you’re missing out on things. This senior year in general is just something you look forward to your entire life. That’s been tough, knowing that it’s not going to be how we envision or how we planned.”
But he is looking back at some of the good memories he’s had. Clement's graduation class was close to his graduating class, and also the editor in chief of his school's paper. He is also looking forward to making new memories at Mississippi College, where he will be attending in the fall as an honors student.
Courtni Sutton will be attending Jackson State University and majoring in elementary education, but for those still in high school, she has some advice.
“I say, while you have the chance to do it, please do it,” Sutton said. “Because I know last year, some of the juniors were like, ‘Oh, I'm not going to prom. I’m going to wait for my senior year.’ But it's senior year and we weren't able to have a prom."
As a hard school year ends, Sutton concludes her speech by encouraging her fellow classmates to remain optimistic.
“Step up when times are tough. If you want to change the world, you must do your very best in the darkest moments,” Sutton said in her graduation speech.
And students like Sutton and Clement are doing just that.
“And remember,” Sutton said as she closed her speech. “We’re the best, we’re better than the rest. We are the mighty, mighty Patriots.”
