Five years ago, on February 27, the Class of 2020 had their last day of school at the International School of the Sacred Heart. Three months later, on May 29, they graduated remotely.
Having done their last year of high school remotely from February to May due to COVID-19, the graduates spent most of their time in isolation, away from their classmates and the rest of the world. With the foreign concept of “e-learning,” they found themselves navigating confusion and uncertainty—especially since their AP exams were administered around the same time all across the world at EST. Many prominent high school events were postponed, motivation became a struggle, and maintaining connections within the community was especially difficult.
After graduation—everything changed. Thrust into a whirlwind of decisions and choices to make, the Class of 2020 had to navigate an unknown future disrupted by the pandemic.
Despite this challenging conclusion to high school, the Class of 2020 has since forged diverse paths worldwide. Many began their university life online before transitioning to in-person learning. Some chose to adapt their university plans entirely, changing countries and fields of study. Others learned to build connections virtually and through it all, developed adaptability, self-motivation, and resilience. Their experiences during this unique period have significantly shaped their approaches to education, career choices, and personal growth.
“I remember school ended on February 27th. That was the last day of classes.”
When ISSH first went online, students expected it to last only a month. However, as the pandemic continued, the calendar emptied of its highlights: the vibrant bustle of Family Festival, the intellectual discourse of Kanto MUN, and the glamour of Senior Prom. Cultural events like the Film Festival, the Vocal Ensemble’s Washington DC tour, Math Field Day, and several spring sports were canceled. Even the smaller moments—yearbook signings, senior class parties, and the traditional Senior Walk Through—vanished from the spring schedule, leaving the Class of 2020 to find new ways to mark these milestones and stay connected across the growing distance.
The Class of 2020’s final semester transformed dramatically. Students couldn’t say their final goodbyes to friends, teachers, and their second home of many years. Traditional senior experiences like prom and in-person graduation were replaced with virtual ceremonies and USB-delivered graduation videos. As Ayuka K., former SPARX leader, recalls, “It felt like my final year turned upside down.” She especially felt the loss of these traditional senior experiences, noting how COVID-19 had “taken away the last half of senior year.”
The pandemic affected each student differently. Harshita C., the previous HOSH editor and Executive Student Council Vice President, remained home for weeks due to COVID fears, though she eventually celebrated with family through special gatherings and scattered events with classmates. Kim H., a SPARX leader and Yearbook editor, found some academic benefits in online learning, particularly in time management for subjects like Calculus, but struggled with challenges like 3 AM AP exams. Myung H., who was active in Vocal Ensemble and MS/HS Orchestra, had more time for schoolwork, but found it difficult to focus without structure and deeply missed the human connections with classmates.
The Class of 2020 also developed various coping strategies. Hana N., who led the Nerd Club and GSA Club, found unexpected benefits in not having to commute 45 minutes by train—enjoying better sleep schedules. Prachi G., a former Boosters Representative in India when schools went online, quickly adapted to self-disciplined learning despite the abrupt changes. Despite maintaining contact through social media and Zoom calls, many felt a profound disconnect. As Kim H. expressed, “We never really felt we graduated from high school. It’s like, okay, you just finished school, and all of a sudden, you went to college.”
The Class of 2020 soon faced difficult decisions about their university plans, each choosing different paths through the uncertainty.
For Ayuka K., choosing between staying in Japan or moving abroad was challenging. Choosing to stay in Japan, her first two years at the University of the Sacred Heart were marked by virtual meetups and isolation. However, she had found strength in her ISSH friendships: “The relationships that I made through my time at ISSH were a big supporting factor in making sure I didn’t crumble,” she reflects.
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Pushing to view her choices from a broader perspective, Harshita C. prioritized certainty in her college decision. She chose to stay in Japan and study in Waseda University’s Mathematics Program rather than to pursue studies in the US. Similarly, Prachi G. shifted from her initial plan to study law in the UK, instead pursuing business studies at ESSEC Business School in Singapore, which felt “closer to home,” beginning online in 2020 before transitioning to in-person classes in 2021.
The transition to university brought unique challenges for each graduate. Myung H. faced a significant language barrier in South Korea, having learned everything in English as a child. The sudden switch to Korean-language classes created a gap between her and classmates who primarily socialized in Korean, leading to feelings of isolation: “I’m not really approaching [my classmates] or anything. So I think socially, it was really hard for me. And for a full year, I was completely isolated from all my classmates.”
Hana N. encountered visa complications entering the US, completing her entire first year of college remotely in Japan. By the time she arrived on campus, her classmates had already formed connections, leaving her to navigate campus life alone during her second year: “By the time I got on campus to do my second year, people had already made friends there because [they] were locals, who could start their in-person classes from year one.”
Kim H.’s experience stood somewhat apart from her classmates. Having always planned to stay in Japan, she didn’t face the frustration of changing international study plans. However, she found her university life less eventful than anticipated, with the first two years primarily focused on attending classes and earning credits.
These graduates shared the challenge of transitioning to university life during an unprecedented time. The graduates faced similar experiences of isolation as social distancing measures limited traditional campus life and in-person connections. Many had to adjust their expectations, watching long-anticipated university experiences transform into virtual meetings and online classes. Yet through this period of adaptation, they discovered new ways to pursue their goals and build community, even if their dreams of college life had taken an unexpected form.
Five years have passed since that defining day in late February. Now scattered across continents, those once-eager graduates have grown into professionals charting their own courses. One remained in Japan, while five ventured overseas, each carrying pieces of their shared foundation to distant shores.
The business world claimed several of these ambitious minds, each in distinctly different corners of the globe. Amongst Singapore’s towering financial districts, Prachi G. transforms her Berkeley-ESSEC business education into fintech innovation, her dual degree opening doors to venture capital opportunities. In view of the Mediterranean, Harshita C. applies her mathematical precision to Barcelona’s business landscape at Esade.
Only Kim H. remained within Tokyo’s lively cityscape. Through her Liberal Studies at Waseda, she discovered that sometimes staying put requires as much courage as leaving. “Sometimes you just don’t get everything you want,” she reflects, finding wisdom in remaining while others departed. She is currently contemplating future graduate studies while navigating Tokyo’s business world, proving that staying rooted can be its own form of adventure.
Two of the graduates went on to pursue careers in medicine. In Wellesley College’s research laboratories, Hana N. majored in biological sciences with a minor in computer science. She is currently taking a gap year while preparing for her Ph.D. At the same time, Myung H. charts a different course in veterinary medicine at Seoul National University and will finish her doctoral degree in three years.
Meanwhile, Ayuka K. shapes young minds through the University of Michigan’s education program. Currently focusing on elementary education, Ayuka is considering international teaching—whether in Japan or elsewhere. Inspired by her international experience at ISSH, she wants to give back and teach international school students.
While their geographical coordinates differ vastly, their shared foundation at Sacred Heart connects their stories. Through pandemic challenges, visa hurdles, and cultural adjustments, each found their own way to use their education to make a meaningful impact. As Prachi G. wisely advises future graduates, “Go make the most of what you can. Use all your resources around you.”
Their diverse journeys prove that success follows no single path, only the courage to pursue opportunities wherever they may lead.
