#Graduate Together: Lebron James and Former President Obama Honors the Class of 2020
Virtual Commencement Honoring the High School Class of 2020.
By Tania Dooley
Graduations all over the world have been halted due to the Coronavirus, leaving many students feeling a void at not having this important milestone they were so fervently look forward to. Students dream of this day often more than they do other ceremonies.
In light of COVID-19, Lebron James hosted the first virtual commencement ever directed to all high school graduates at once. To see it broadcast virtually through television is a sign of two things. One, the ability of Americans to come together for a common purpose which in this case is to give our students a small but significant substitute for what they should have been given, a traditional graduation. And two, it shows that Americans are still one of the most resilient, and creative people in the world. We do not sit around too long grieving for what we have lost but instead we pick up and keep going, finding new ways to adjust to our changing environment. We move forward.
In this "Graduate Together: America Honors the Class of 2020" former President Obama advises graduates to not be afraid, to do what is right, and to build a community. He went on to say that America has been through tough times before, has gotten through it becoming even stronger, mainly because of that next generation. Through his message President Obama invokes the hope that young people need at this time. Who better to give this message than someone whose life has evoked hope? Raised by a single mother, a young Obama was accepted into Columbia University and then Harvard Law School. After working as a lawyer in Chicago, he ran for a seat on the Senate and won. Soon after, he ran as the Democratic candidate for President and made history by becoming the first African American President of the United States.
What an extraordinary time to be living in, where we at once face a universal pandemic and at the same time demonstrate the strength of the human race. In this moment in time, millions of students gracefully moved from traditional classrooms to virtual ones. You have succeeded and have earned this day, you are part of the great and remarkable Class of 2020.
Note: If you missed the broadcasting of this you can watch it from this YouTube link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrulgnbMHc
References
NBC News. "Graduate together: America honors the class of 2020." May 16, 2020 Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrulgnbMHc
Souza, Pete, photographer. 2012. Official portrait of President Barack Obama in the Oval office/Official White House photo. [photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/item/2017645540/
By Tania Dooley
 |
| Image Credit: Tai's Captures via UnSplash |
Graduations all over the world have been halted due to the Coronavirus, leaving many students feeling a void at not having this important milestone they were so fervently look forward to. Students dream of this day often more than they do other ceremonies.
In light of COVID-19, Lebron James hosted the first virtual commencement ever directed to all high school graduates at once. To see it broadcast virtually through television is a sign of two things. One, the ability of Americans to come together for a common purpose which in this case is to give our students a small but significant substitute for what they should have been given, a traditional graduation. And two, it shows that Americans are still one of the most resilient, and creative people in the world. We do not sit around too long grieving for what we have lost but instead we pick up and keep going, finding new ways to adjust to our changing environment. We move forward.
 |
| Former President Barack Obama in the Oval office. Image Credit: Library of Congress, Pete Souza |
What an extraordinary time to be living in, where we at once face a universal pandemic and at the same time demonstrate the strength of the human race. In this moment in time, millions of students gracefully moved from traditional classrooms to virtual ones. You have succeeded and have earned this day, you are part of the great and remarkable Class of 2020.
 |
| Graduation cake picture by Farooq Sharif via Pixabay. |
Note: If you missed the broadcasting of this you can watch it from this YouTube link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrulgnbMHc
References
NBC News. "Graduate together: America honors the class of 2020." May 16, 2020 Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrulgnbMHc
Souza, Pete, photographer. 2012. Official portrait of President Barack Obama in the Oval office/Official White House photo. [photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/item/2017645540/
