Celebrities Celebrate 2020 Graduates
Due to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), all large gatherings of any kind have been either postponed or canceled. This includes what many students consider to be one of the most significant coming-of-age events in their lives: graduation. For all graduates alike, not getting the chance to have their accomplishments acknowledged through this ceremony may be unfair. In response to this, many celebrities have come forward and planned virtual speeches or events where they congratulate these seniors virtually on a nationwide level.
“It is amazing to see who steps up to the plate during times of mass uncertainty,” senior Jack Haworth said. “Many of the celebrities who have gone above and beyond to showcase their support for the graduating class of 2020 are really special. It is important for everyone graduating, [including those] in our class from high school and all those at the collegiate level, to know how much everyone cares.”
One of the largest virtual graduations was LeBron James’s commencement event entitled “Graduate Together,” which took place on May 16. This was a one-hour video produced by the National Broadcasting Company that featured musical performances and speeches from public figures such as Pharrell Williams, Timothee Chalamet and former president Barack Obama. Along with being streamed on live television, the video was also posted to YouTube to increase accessibility for all students and has accumulated over 803,000 views on this platform alone.
“I watched clips of the “Graduate Together” event, and I appreciate how [the speakers] did such a good job of spreading positivity,” senior Mati Yang said. “Of course it can not make up for an actual graduation, but to see that celebrities and notable figures care means a lot.”
Oprah Winfrey, Cardi B, Miley Cyrus, Awkwafina and other celebrities also hosted a virtual graduation called “#Graduation2020” in partnership with social media platforms Instagram and Facebook on May 15. In this program, Winfrey hosted and gave a speech, Cyrus performed a song and Awkwafina, among other A-list celebrities, made appearances. Many students at Peninsula including senior Shivani Jain watched this program from home.
“It was so thoughtful for celebrities like Oprah and others to think about us during this time,” Jain said. “Especially because of the sheer number of virtual events that took place, it was an inspiring show of how empathetic people can be.”
Viewers also enjoyed the “Dear Class of 2020” event, streamed by YouTube on June 6. This international commencement ceremony has accumulated over 8 million views, and features acts and speeches by artists such as Taylor Swift and BTS, YouTube creators like the Try Guys and ASAP Science and various public figures including the Gates and Obama families. Seniors like Jain and Haworth enjoyed hearing from such well-known and respected figures, especially as they begin the next chapter of their lives. Although these virtual graduations cannot replace in-person ceremonies, they serve a significant addition to the June 11 drive-through graduation that is planned for the class of 2020 at Peninsula.
“I am honestly okay with graduation looking different, and it is especially exciting that we can hear from so many inspirational people,” Yang said. “[The possibility of not having a physical graduation] was hard to accept at first, and it felt unfair. However, after thinking about it, it makes sense to have it this way; [different] times call for different measures.”
