CELEBRATIONS POSTPONED

University convocations are among the many events that have fallen victim to COVID-19. Ceremonies at the University of Saskatchewan initially planned for the spring have been rescheduled for the fall. For students who had to finish their university term at home removed from classmates and professors, the loss of the convocation ceremonies has been a blow.

“I started crying because basically everything was falling apart around me at the same time and I felt like, for a second, it was the last nail in the coffin because it was the last thing I was looking forward to for a long time.”

— TIANA KIRSTEIN, graduating with a bachelor of arts from the U of S this spring.

“I’ve always dreamed of the day that I would walk across the stage so I will most likely be there (in the fall), but I think I’m going to see a lot fewer classmates there.”

— KAITLYN KITZAN, graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the U of S.

“It doesn’t feel very fulfilling. I was expecting this cathartic experience, but when you end up pressing ‘submit online’ and then you’re just by yourself in a room, it doesn’t feel like it should.”

— RICHARD PROCTOR, graduating from the U of S College of Nursing.

“As someone who is the first person in my family to complete university, I felt like walking across the stage on convocation day was just as much about celebrating my family and my friends — who helped me get here after all these years in school — as much as it is for me.”

— MARISSA FRADETTE, graduating from the U of S College of Pharmacy.