The Cancellation of Senior Activities Due to School Closure

Due to the stay-at-home orders issued in California and the shutdown of schools statewide in response to the coronavirus, extracurricular programs at Peninsula have had to postpone, modify or cancel their activities. This is especially disappointing for senior students, some of whom have been members of these groups since their freshman year. 

 Among the groups affected by the cancellation of school is the drama program that had been preparing for months to perform its rendition of “Freaky Friday.” Senior Sarah Snow, who serves on the Drama Club board and as a cast member, is disappointed by the cancellation of the play.

“I just cannot believe that [the show was canceled],” Snow said. “For the past four years, I have been a part of this program, and I am so sad to see all of it come to such an abrupt end. I will miss the cast, crew and the memories I made in the drama program very much.”

Like the drama program, spring sports and dance teams are now unable to hold events for the remaining months of this school year. The dance teams at Peninsula have canceled or modified their end-of-year showcases, performances, banquets and tryouts. The baseball, softball, boys’ golf, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, swim, boys’ tennis, boys’ volleyball and track teams all played approximately a quarter of their scheduled games or meets before school shut down and cut the remaining time in their seasons.

“I was devastated when I heard about our [boys’ volleyball] season being canceled because I was not aware my last game was my last game, and I did not play the way I wanted to,” senior Aidan Hay said. “I had so much left in me and never got to experience high school volleyball to the fullest. I will miss my team the most.”

Seniors on the speech and debate team are particularly devastated because their state championship has been canceled. Many members like senior Amanda Kalaydjian, who has been competing in speech and debate for four years, are disappointed that they will not get the chance to compete at state competition, especially after surpassing the qualifying rounds. 

“Honestly, not being able to go to state this year broke my heart a little bit because this was the last time I would have been able to go,” Kalaydjian said. “We work all year preparing for the state competition, revising our speeches until they are as perfect as can be. I remember driving in my car when I received a text that State was canceled and just thinking to myself, ‘Wow, it is really over.’” 

The abrupt endings to many programs in Peninsula has resulted in seniors reflecting back on the years they spent dedicated to their extracurriculars and thinking about how each group affected them. Although Snow, Hay, Kalaydjian and other seniors in extracurriculars all had different experiences in a variety of programs, they all expressed their gratitude to their respective activities and how much they will miss them. 

“Debate has helped me grow as a person, both intellectually and emotionally,” Kalaydjian said. “Speech and debate has given me people who can make me laugh until tears roll down my cheeks, who I can have endless fun with, who I trust and confide in and who I know will always be there for me. I think a lot of seniors at Peninsula have had the same experience in different programs, and like me, they are eternally grateful.”