The change from winter to spring is a moment that many of us value and treasure. For students at the Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts, that sentiment isn’t any different. The beginning of March typically marks the start of their spring performance season, which involves their annual musical, dance performances, poetry readings, instrumental and vocal concerts, a fashion show, and a visual arts exhibit.

Unfortunately for these young performers, their shows will not be becoming a reality this school year due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, they haven’t allowed this disruption to ruin their spirits. For if there is one thing that sets Charter Arts students apart from others, it’s their outstanding work ethic and determination. They’ve learned from their instructors that to be a successful student and performer, one must be able to adapt to unique situations. After chatting with a few students, it seems as though they’ve been keeping this lesson in mind during these uncertain times.

Sophie Marsh, a senior visual artist, spoke about her experience, stating: “It has been upsetting to see things getting canceled. A lot of my visual arts classmates, including myself, are worried that our senior showcase is going to get called off, which is a project all of us have been working extremely hard on.”

For most students at Charter Arts, their stories are similar to Sophie’s. The ambiguity of this invisible virus has left many of them uncertain about what their future holds. Although none of them have allowed these tough times to pull them away from the two things they love most, their art, and their Charter Arts family.

For Sophie, that meant thinking of ways in which her senior visual arts class could still put on their senior showcase.

“The first thing that popped into my mind was a virtual showcase, where we can show our work through the school’s website,” she said. “I’ve started discussing this idea with my visual arts teachers, and if it comes down to it, I hope this idea can become a reality.”

On the other hand, Makii Smith, a senior literary artist, has had a harder time staying positive during these last few weeks.

“It has been challenging to cope with not being able to see my friends,” he said. “I’ve been trying to distract myself from the situation, but it’s hard. I’m concerned about losing time with the people I care about most. Senior year was supposed to be the most fulfilling, but now seniors are met with the possibility of no prom, spring break, and, most importantly, graduation. There isn’t much to be happy about right now. Nevertheless, I have been trying to discover new things such as music to cope during this tough time in my life, and to stay positive.”

The memories that students make throughout their high school careers can impact them for the rest of their lives. For seniors, those memories become a catalyst for forging long-lasting friendships and establishing life-long connections with mentors. To know that their senior year may be cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak hasn’t been easy on the students, yet, the majority of them have continued to maintain a positive attitude.

From the Charter Arts family to you, the reader, we hope that you continue to stay healthy and safe!