OMAHA. NEB. (KMTV) — As many local schools are closed for the foreseeable future, many students are left in limbo with not only their education but their end-of-the-year school activities as well.
"I don't really know how to react to it. It's just very strange," Burke High School senior Luke Haave said.
Graduating seniors are left coping with more than just the virus itself. They're also dealing with possibly not having end of the year school favorites like graduation and prom.
"I have my prom dress. I was so excited to wear it," Papillion-La Vista South High School senior Olivia Baker said. "Hopefully they postpone it or something but I have the shoes, we traveled to different cities and states," she said.
High school seniors have been looking forward to things like graduation for a while.
"It's heartbreaking because I see all the seniors around me get to do this and I've been waiting and waiting and so excited. It was basically taken from me," Baker said.
Many students don't know how to exactly deal with their emotions.
"If that [graduation] didn't happen, I wouldn't even know how to live with that," Haave said.
Psychologist Dr. Mike Vance with Children's Hospital and Medical Center says these emotions are normal, and recommends that parents and teenagers have open conversations about the virus and find activities they have control over.
"The big key is let's not panic about what we're missing out, but let's figure out ways to talk about it, get clear idea on what the kids are concerned about and then let's try to find a solution," Dr. Vance said.
Things like working on at-home projects, spending time with family and relaxing can help ease some of those nerves.
Many schools are still working on plans on how to continue education for the rest of the school year.
