To the Fordham Class of 2020,

I cannot begin to describe my condolences to all of you hardworking students. You have worked diligently and passionately for the last four years, just for your last two months of school to be over before you expected. To all of you out there heartbroken and in despair, let me let you know that the entire Ramily is standing behind you.

Do not let these next few months define your college experience. It sucks. I cannot even imagine how much this must be hurting all of you, and I know that no matter what anyone says, it will not help what you are all feeling.

You are mourning the experiences that you are missing. You are mourning the rest of your Senior Nights, your Senior Week festivities, your final Spring Weekend. You are mourning the final months of good weather for dartying and going to Mugzs, Barnyard, and Howl. You are mourning the final moments with your friends that you did not know that you were going to lose a week ago. It is okay to mourn. It is okay to be angry and hurt and disappointed and scared. It is okay to want to curl up in a ball and wish that this wasn’t happening. IT IS OKAY TO FEEL; however, it is not okay to let these next few months define who you are or define your college experience. Your lives have been flipped upside-down, but do not forget the three years you had before this final semester:

You met new people. You made friends from all over the world. You may have studied abroad and learned and experienced new things you never would have guessed you would. You learned everything from how to question your own beliefs healthily, to how to practice the Jesuit values in constructive ways. You may have found a new political standpoint or a new belief system. You became adults and are being shoved into the adult world without your friends beside you for the final few months, so keep in touch with your friends. Make stupid TikToks that the rest of us “old” alumni do not understand. Create GroupMes and Facebook groups and do not let the camaraderie of your class die with the rest of the semester. 

You are all going to get your diplomas and become alumni. You are all going to see your name on that (albeit very expensive piece of paper) within a few months and realize that you succeeded in ways that no other alumni class can comprehend. You will become one of the strongest classes to ever graduate from Fordham because you are experiencing a devastation that none of us could have ever anticipated. Do not let the rest of this spring semester destroy your love and pride in Fordham. 

You went into college four years ago as scared and newly graduated high school students, and you will be entering the adult world just as scared, possibly even more so than the rest of us graduates. Your lives have been forever changed and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You will survive this unbelievable setback stronger than ever. I know you will. 

So go on. Continue changing the world in the ways that only Jesuit students can. Set the world on fire. The rest of the Ramily will be waiting for you on the other side with a pack of matches. 

Sincerely,

Your Forever Ramily