With the school year changed as much as it has been, we are not able to keep in touch with certain people. That has been hard for me and likely many of you as I no longer talk to all of the people I used to see every day. As a final goodbye, this is a message from me, a senior, to all of you, whether I know you or not. 

To the Freshmen: Let’s face it; this isn’t how you thought your first year of high school was going to go. By the time you’re almost going to be halfway done with high school, you’ll just be experiencing high school finals. Some of you haven’t gotten the chance to participate in the sports or activities you have been waiting for. Honestly, it isn’t fair. Never has the freshmen class been through something like this, but I can graduate knowing that you will, in many ways, be better because of it. Three years from now, when you are all looking forward to your last days as seniors, you may look back and see that you will be the only class left who was in high school then. I wish I could have gotten to know more of you, but the ones I did get to meet were awesome people. Now, as you sit in quarantine, keep pushing through. Give next year’s freshmen a name to look up to. I believe in you. 

To the Sophomores: Congratulations, you’re practically upperclassmen! I know this probably didn’t turn out like you thought it would. You were supposed to have a few more months in the school building, seeing your friends in the halls and enjoying being an underclassman. Whether it’s a good thing or not, you are leaders in the school now. The next time you start classes at the high school, you will be juniors. Crazy, right? College searches, SATs, AP classes, NHS, and leadership opportunities are poking around the corner. You’ve probably heard the stories about how stressful junior year is, but just know that, as cheesy as it sounds, it will be what you make it. You’ll be deciding on what you want to do with your life after high school, but I encourage you to enjoy these next two years while you still can. I heard it said that the four years will fly by and that you will miss it, and I didn’t believe it at first. It’s true, though. As you face decisions that will affect your adulthood, remember that you are not an adult now. You can still take the time to enjoy the company of those around you and have fun. Good luck, upperclassmen. 

To the Juniors: You’re probably the ones who have interacted with us seniors the most, and I hope we have given you something to hold onto. We’ve watched you grow over the last three years, and we couldn’t be prouder. We, the Class of 2020, are rooting for you. We’re rooting for you to have a longer senior year than we did, to take the field during senior night, to walk at graduation, to pull your senior pranks, and to leave the school on your last day knowing it’s your last day. We believe you will do great things and make Hampton proud, but most of all, you will make us proud, and to be honest, you already have in so many ways. We wish you luck as you step up to be the leaders of your sports teams, activities, clubs, and even of the school. It’s finally your turn to move to the top and leave behind your own legacy. The year you have likely been dreaming of for years is about to come, and I encourage you not to let it go too easily. It slips by faster than you can catch it. Grab hold of it. Milk every last moment out. Make memories with your friends that will last a lifetime. You have one more year to show Hampton what you’re all about. And don’t forget that no matter where we are, we’re always a text away. 

To the Seniors: Well, it’s been great, guys. A few months ago, I thought the most exciting thing to happen in the spring would be our last day of school. Now, we are facing a new future, one that is different than we planned. It has been months since we have been together as a class let alone as a school. With all that is going on, it’s easy to remember what we lost. We didn’t get to have our senior night, take our last bow, play our last song, break our next record, and turn our tassels and throw our caps together on June 4th. It’s okay to be sad or angry. It’s okay to grieve. It hasn’t been easy, and the next few months are unpredictable. Our college, work, or military plans could be affected. I hear people saying that the class of 2020 will be stronger now, but it doesn’t feel like it. It feels like normal, but a whole new normal. It feels like everything is changing. As dramatic as it seems, it feels like nothing is going the way we planned. This may sound cheesy, but I want to say in my last message to you all that we do have things to look forward to and that we will get through this. It’s true that I may never see some of you again. It’s true that we are stuck inside with ruined plans. As we look to the future, remember the past. We made memories and continue to make memories now. Friendships that survive quarantine grow stronger. Seniors who work hard stuck inside can work hard at college or in the workforce. Even though it feels like we are just another class, we have stories we’ll be telling years in the future. At least we’ll remember our senior year forever. Good luck to all of you wherever you go. 

To the Teachers: Thank you for four great years. Thank you for watching us mature into adults. Thank you for supporting our plans, big or small. Thank you for cheering for us with our good news and sympathizing with us during our bad news. Thank you for everything. I can’t say it enough. We will never forget the time and energy you have put into making us better as students and people. If there ever was a time when we recognized your support the most, it is now. Thank you for making the transition from in person to online simple and easier. Thank you for going out of your way to make the Class of 2020 feel special and appreciated. Even though we are no longer in the same building, we feel less alone. Thank you for everything.