COVID–19; Class of 2020 Weathers a Climate of Lost Dreams by Learning to Cope

www.westfordcatnews.org

WestfordCAT asked freelance writer Carolyn Crimmins to find half a dozen or so graduating Westford Academy seniors and interview them on camera and in print. We asked how they’re coping with COVID-19 regulations that delayed their graduation ceremony from June 5 to Aug. 7, forced them to cancel their prom, ended spring sports, and required them to stay home instead of heading to Disney World like all of the WA graduating seniors before them.

ELLE WHITEHEAD, WA Class of 2020

“Im going to miss the people on my job a lot and my two bosses who own the bakery I work at. They are super, super nice,” — Elle Whitehead

Where are you working?

So I’m working at an office supplies company and I get orders ready for customers and I also work at a bakery Muffins on Main.

Do work in person or online? 

Mostly in person.

With the infections what have you been doing to keep active?

So I’ve been going on walks or runs and I also try yoga every day or every other day.

What is the one thing you’re going to miss about WA? 

That’s a good question I think I’m going to miss my teachers the most because I had a lot of really great teachers that I love and I’m really going to miss not seeing them around the hallways everyday.

What are you most excited about college?

Definitely excited to meet some new people and meet new friends and have a roommate and kind of get to know more people from different towns.

Where are you going to college? What’s your major and minor?

I am  going to UMass Amherst. Right now I’m going in as a psychology major and I might minor in English or education but we will see, definitely psych. For now

 Nice.  What what part of psychology do you want do you want to be a therapist.

So I kind of want to work in a school so maybe a guidance counselor or school psychologist or some type of therapist who works with kids.

Why did you decide to go to this college? Why UMass Amherst?

So I had a lot of colleges I was deciding between and it was a really hard choice but UMASS was the one. Everyone I know that went or goes there has had a really good experience. I’ve heard there’s a lot a lot of fun and there’s a lot to do on campus and it’s also really affordable and the food is really good and it’s just seemed like a good choice for me.

What extracurricular activities are you interested in?

Good question. I really liked volunteering in high school and being a peer counselor so maybe something like that. I might also try and get a job while I’m there (at UMass), too.

Were you able to take a physical tour?

So I wasn’t able to tour or go to an accepted students day, but I did stay over way back in November with my friend Sarah so I got to kind of see part of the campus. But I didn’t get to tour.

Then my last question is what are you going to miss the most? 

That’s a really good question. Honestly, I would say I’m going to miss the people on my job a lot and my two bosses who own the bakery I work at. They are super, super nice and I’m just going to miss seeing them around every weekend.