‘Hold our hands. Let us grieve. Of course we know it could be worse.’: Woman says ‘it’s okay for college graduates to be sad’

“Hold our hands.

Let us grieve.

Of course we know it could be worse.

We know that some of you missed your graduation because you were being shipped off to Vietnam.

We know it because you continue to tell us.

And we thank you for your sacrifice, but it’s not a contest.

And if it is, you win.

But the thing is, we are kids, even though we don’t always want to admit it.

Some of us have led sheltered lives, and this is our first hard-knock-life lesson.

Some of us have led miserably hard lives and this is just another disappointment.

Regardless, we are upset.

We have spent four years listening to our families and friends tell us how wonderful this year would be.

We watched our siblings go to prom and walk across the stage at graduation as we all cheered.

We wanted the same.

We won’t get it.

It’s okay for us to be sad.

Don’t scoff at us.

Hold our hands.

Let us grieve.

Show us the way.

It’s about simple kindness.

Everyone is missing that.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by LaMon Photograhpy. Submit your own story here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories.

Read about amazing acts of kindness during the coronavirus pandemic:

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