The year 2020 will surely be thought of as a difficult year for the world. Graduates of the Class of 2020 have had to either postpone, cancel or virtually hold many end-of-the-year events seniors take part in with family, friends and fellow students.

Probably the most special event for seniors is graduation. Northampton Area School District administration has planned a 7:30 p.m. July 24 ceremony at Al Erdosy Stadium on the NASD campus. In case of inclement weather, backup dates for the stadium ceremony are 9 a.m. July 25 and 7:30 p.m. July 26. The original date and location was June 6 at Lehigh University’s Stabler Arena in Bethlehem.

School administration, family members and the community have encouraged this year’s class to keep the faith, feel proud of themselves and enjoy and appreciate the simple things in life they may not have before the COVID-19 pandemic. Although you will not find a Northampton Area High School graduation article and photos in the June 11 edition of Northampton Press, as it is tradition to print in the edition after the usual June ceremony, three graduating students, Miranda Heffelfinger, Isaiah Tyler and Dario Walnock, participated in a question-and-answer feature, providing thoughts on their senior year, dealing with the coronavirus and their future plans. The Press congratulates NAHS’ Class of 2020 and wishes them a prosperous future in their endeavors.

What do you miss most about being in school?

M.H. - The thing I miss most about being in school is having a more active lifestyle. During school, I had classes, clubs and sports, so I was always on the go. It’s so different now, and I miss being busy.

I.T. - The thing I miss most about being in school has to be interacting with my friends and my teachers. At certain times, I hoped for a snow day or graduation, but now all I want to do is go back to school. Specifically, I miss my Latin class with Frau Wenck and the rest of my friends.

What have you learned about yourself and your classmates in light of the pandemic?

I.T. - I learned we are strong, and we can endure anything. The pandemic put a huge dent into our senior year. Fortunately, our class didn’t miss a step. We just kept on moving forward and doing everything we could to make the best of our situation. I think that really speaks value to our character.

D.W. - In light of the pandemic, I learned two important lessons. The first is to not take for granted the value of social interaction in person. It is a natural piece of our lives, and we do not realize it until we do not have it. The second lesson is perseverance. The student body is strong and creative. We found ways to make the most despite the worst.

What advice would you give to the underclassmen?

M.H. - If I had one piece of advice for the underclassmen, it would be to enjoy your time at Northampton (Area High School). Sometimes it can seem long and difficult, but in reality, it’s where I created some of my best memories.

D.W. - I would tell the underclassmen to cherish every moment of their high school experience. The four years fly by faster than imaginable, and if you do not seize the moment, you will be left with regret. No one knows what could happen tomorrow, so make memories today and enjoy every second.

What advice were you given by your guidance counselor, teachers and/or administration staff upon graduating?

M.H. - Something my teachers told me upon graduating was to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we will be able to adapt to new things we try.

D.W. - The advice given to me by [NAHS] staff was to hold my head high. Although this year did not end as planned, there is much to be proud (of) and grateful about. We have accomplished much as Northampton students, and we all have brighter days ahead of us.

What are you looking forward to as a graduate?

I.T. - I look forward to beginning the next chapter of my life at college. I think [NAHS] has prepared me well, so I’m really looking forward to the new challenge and offerings.

D.W. - Hopefully, attending college at Carnegie Mellon in the fall. I am excited to be able to continue playing football, pursue my passion in finance and form strong bonds with other students. Simply, I cannot wait for all of my future opportunities.

What was the most challenging part of distance learning?

M.H. - The most difficult part of online learning was not being able to have the personalized learning among our teachers and peers. Moving online was different; however, our teachers did a good job adapting our learning environment and working with us to complete assignments.

I.T. - I think the most challenging part of distance learning was the communication because we’re so used to the classroom setting where you have a question and your teacher is right there to answer it right away. With distance learning, email exchange was the means for answering questions, which sometimes causes difficulty with response time. However, all of my teachers were very quick about responding to students and answering all their questions. They made the transition from classroom learning to distance learning very smooth.

How did you still make connections with friends and classmates while learning at home?

I.T. - I made connections with friends by making sure to keep in touch through text mostly. We also had a group Zoom call one time, so we could all see each other, talk and catch up.

D.W. - I stay in touch with many friends and classmates through text messages, social media, FaceTime and PlayStation. Although it is not as enjoyable as hanging out with friends, online communication is an easy alternative to make connections.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

M.H. - In 10 years, I hope to have completed my Bachelor of Science in criminology and growing within my field. My goal is to become a member of the FBI specializing in criminal psychology.

I.T. - In 10 years, I see myself in the work field most likely doing something along the lines of finance, hopefully working at a firm as a financial planner.

D.W. - In 10 years, I hope to pursue a career in finance, be enjoying my life and making a difference in society.

If you could, would you do anything differently in your senior year?

M.H. - If I could go back to the beginning of my senior year, I would have done much more than I could have. I would have pushed myself harder in sports, put together more school functions in Student Council and been a part of more activities. We could have done everything sooner, but we just didn’t know everything would end so soon.

I.T. - If I could do something differently, I think I would have tried to get more involved in some of the dances and other activities because I didn’t attend and have always heard great things about them.

D.W. - I gave it my all during my senior year, and I enjoyed it. I do not have any regrets, and there is nothing I would change - except beating Easton (Area High School) in the district playoffs.