A global pandemic during our final semester is something that we could have never predicted when we took our first steps on campus years ago and something that the world will never forget. As college seniors we already had to handle the stresses of post-graduation life, but we then had to deal with the emotions that came out of the pandemic. We saw sadness as our time on campus quickly came to an end, frustration as we dealt with the change from in-person to online classes along with the always changing situation surrounding COVID-19 and apprehension in what the future had in store.

But at a time where we saw a lot of negativity and chaos, we persevered and completed our final milestone: Graduation. We showed the world--but most importantly, ourselves--our resilience and strength. We also demonstrated how quickly we can adapt in situations of this magnitude, how well we work under pressure and, of course, our ability to maintain focus in achieving our goals.

My hope is that we continue to use this knowledge to better the world in unimaginable ways. Taking the next steps into our lives is daunting, but by using the strength and resilience that we showed in the spring of 2020, we will be limitless.

Delis Mattei-Lopez, AS20, earned her degree in biological sciences and minor in chemistry.