On March 11, 2020, we all experienced our last day on the beautiful and unique RE campus. It was our last day of high school, and we had no idea. We had no idea that we would never again sit on the brown benches on the deck. We had no idea we would never again join the herd of classmates chatting during AAA. We had no idea we would never get a chance to say goodbye.

If we had known I’m sure we would have done it differently. No one would have left campus that day. We would have all walked down to the field for our last chance to be together. We would have sat in the cool Pagoda breathing in its history. But instead we treated it like any other day. A day where we stared at the clock eager to go home. We had no idea that in the days to come we’d all be longing to return.

Even though we were each handed our diplomas, we still haven’t been REunited. We have each probably only seen a handful of seniors to this day. Personally, a part of me will always have an open wound when it comes to my last three months of high school. COVID-19 ended the undefeated season of the girls’ water polo team early. We were still basking in our 2019 state championship, and on the path to our next one. The idea of winning states my senior year felt too good to be true, and I guess it’s fair to say it was. Fellow Student Government Association leaders and I, the student body president, were working on a lot of ideas. For example, a poster campaign to teach students why it’s not okay to say a lot of words that fall out of teenagers’ mouths. We also longed for the classic end-of-year traditions every student wants. We watched our friends and siblings graduate and dreamed of the day we would walk across the stage and receive a Ransom Everglades diploma. However, there’s no point in dwelling on something every senior in the country missed out on.

While I know it’s hard to see this final semester being anything but a glass half empty; it’s impossible not to appreciate Ransom Everglades for giving us a ridiculously overflowing glass since middle school. We would rather be grateful for the six-and-a-half years than focus on one semester. Our entire class’ bond began in 2013, and continued to grow as every year passed. Spirit weeks were always ginormous collaborations for our grade. We had everyone involved, and endless sign-ups for each activity. Our senior year, we went undefeated in all sporting events. Each victory would have been impossible without the applause of the entire Class of 2020 decked out in their black attire. St. Alban’s Day, prom and Circle F all helped bond our grade. 

We talked about our dreams for the future, and moments like T-shirt day constantly filled the conversations on the senior deck. We were all itching with anticipation to finally jump in the pool, and say goodbye in style. But, unfortunately, our final RE quarter was not destined to end walking across a stage, our last sports seasons weren’t meant to be played, the universe didn’t want us to dance at our senior prom, and it wasn’t quite our time to put bricks in the ground. But we were destined for so much more than the things we didn’t get. Our grade is destined to be friends for a lifetime.

We appreciate Ransom Everglades like no other class has or will. 

When we first found out our senior year was cancelled, we saw no silver lining. But now I realize it’s made us all more grateful for the six-and-a-half years we did get. I don’t think there’s anything that makes me happier than how grateful we all are for the time we did have together.

Preston Edmunds ’20
2019-20 Student Government Association President