INSTAGRAM INITIATIVE
@saratogacollegecommits created for soon-to-be Spa City graduates
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » As Saratoga Springs High School’s soon-to-be graduates spend the final days of their senior year apart from their classmates, the students have started a social media initiative to celebrate the Class of 2020.
A new @saratogacollegecommits Instagram was recently created to share photos and future plans of Saratoga Springs High School seniors, who will not have a traditional graduation ceremony due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“I believe there’s a similar feeling we have about the current situation and that would be that we’ve been robbed of the three best months of high school,” said senior Demi Hartz, who primarily runs the Instagram account, on behalf of her graduating class.
“In many ways we are understanding of the circumstances and it was ultimately for our safety to close school for the remainder of the year, but it’s quite bittersweet,” she continued.
The senior called the class’ current situation an eye opening way for the young adults to enter a new chapter of their lives.
“I believe graduating during this time will hopefully give us seniors a new perspective on life and how it can change rapidly,” said Hartz, who plans to study communications and marketing at Siena College this fall.
As the Class of 2020’s student council public relations officer, Hartz said she feels grateful for the opportunity to share the successes of her peers.
“Along with some of my fellow student council members, the idea of making a Instagram dedicated to seniors and their endeavors next year seemed necessary since we wouldn’t be able to have the normal May 1st decision day,” she said, noting that they saw similar efforts from other local high schools like Shenehehowa and South Glens Falls.
The Instagram account is one creative way the student council representatives have worked to find alternatives to improve their senior year experience during these tough and unusual times, Hartz said.
“Since the end of our senior year wasn’t what we expected in any way, it seemed fitting to make the Instagram and have an outlet for kids to showcase their hard work and what their plans are after high school.”
Since it launched in midApril @saratogacollegecommits has caught the attention of many within the community, including Saratoga Springs City School District superintendent Dr. Michael Patton, whose office decided to embed the account’s content on the Saratoga Springs High School website.
“I think it’s wonderful that Demi created a way to celebrate her peers in the Class of 2020,” Saratoga Springs High School principal Michelle Tsao said. “We love to see studentdriven initiatives, especially ones that build community. During these difficult times, Demi deserves all accolades for creating a venue for her classmates to share their accomplishments and plans.
“It’s great to see how many students have used her platform to share the excitement of their futures!” So far, the Instagram account has published more than 100 posts featuring members of the Class of 2020, which has a total of 538 students.
To be featured on the @saratogacollegecommits Instagram, Saratoga Springs High School seniors can direct message the account with a photo and information about their plans after high school, along with any other information they’d like to include.
In addition to the Instagram initiative, Hartz and many of her classmates appreciate other efforts being made to support the Class of 2020.
“The school and the teachers have been doing an incredible job at trying to come up with ways to make us seniors feel better about the end of our senior year,” she said, mentioning the lawn signs recently placed at the homes of all seniors and the school’s ongoing effort to present some type of safe graduation ceremony, “which just showcases how extremely lucky we are at Saratoga to have such amazing and driven teachers and principals who are dedicated to giving us some normal end of senior year activities.”
Posts from @saratogacollegecommits can be viewed on Instagram or at https://www.saratogaschools.org/news.cfm?story=107186&school=1382&f bclid=IwAR1MiwHO CVQsqolvwCPw9vtROnGwNNtYTB7BSDQEkaB8fg LGDzbPdx-ecp4.