When we hear “Friday Night Lights,” we think football. Maybe we think TV show about a football family.

Not tonight. Tonight, our lights are on to celebrate and honor our seniors. Tonight, our seniors know for sure that they won’t be back in the classroom as high school students.

Sure, we’ve known this was coming. What started as a two-week shutdown turned into a six-week shutdown. Today, with the governor’s announcement, it turned into a rest-of-the-school-year shutdown.

Schools are doing all they can to reschedule spring activities. We hope and pray that our rescheduling works for the spring musical. Assuming people are allowed to gather in large groups, prom will happen. We will have some type of awards day and graduation, but they won’t be what we’ve done in the past. Some things, though, just can’t be rescheduled. We can’t replace a senior year sports season or do a virtual senior walk on their last day of attendance. Some things are just lost. The sun set on our school year today, and we were not ready.

Today, what we’d thought might happen, then thought would probably happen, happened. Somehow, though, the actual finality hurts so much more than the anticipated finality.

Maybe it’s the complete lack of closure. Fourth quarter–the quarter that should be the most fun for all ages–turned into a slop bucket of cancellations and tears, disappointment and anger, sadness and disbelief.

We are all trying to navigate our way through a surreal situation. We wander the streets of a ghost town. We all have every right to be disappointed. Our tears are legitimate. We can feel our sadness; I can feel your broken hearts.

So, students, you don’t have to hide your sadness or fight your emotions; there’s no doubt you’ve been dealt an exceptionally shitty hand. But if it helps, remember tonight. Remember the football lights and the porch lights, the victory bell and the honking horns. Remember that you are loved and that we share your sadness. It will get better; the world will eventually right itself. Right now, though, be how you need to be. We’ve got you.

• Uncategorized