The class who graduated high school at the peak of COVID-19—many of whom lost out on high school festivities such as prom or commencement ceremonies—is turning over their tassel and entering the workforce. Yet it’s been anything but a “normal” graduation season.
Protests at university campuses around the world over the unfolding conflict in Gaza have disrupted campuses as thousands of students approached final exams. Some schools, like Columbia University and University of Southern California, canceled their main commencement ceremonies over “safety precautions.” At Harvard, Yale and Duke Universities, as well as Morehouse College, students turned their backs to speakers or walked out in the middle of graduation speeches.