Walking the stage for their graduation is something that most high school seniors look forward to. It serves as one of the final memories of their high school journey and gives their family and loved ones an opportunity to witness and celebrate this accomplishment with them. In a time when we’re seeing many events transferring to a virtual setting, the Arlington Independent School District has actually made plans to hold an in-person ceremony for its graduating seniors.

There is no doubt that many of us have had to sacrifice parts of our daily routines to abide with self-quarantine and stay-at-home orders. However, the gradual reopening of the state as well as local businesses like restaurants, hair salons, and shopping centers is offering people a small sense of a return to normalcy.

One significant update that affects many local high school seniors is the announcement that Arlington ISD is now planning on holding in-person graduation at AT&T Stadium, otherwise known as the home of the Dallas Cowboys! Arlington ISD posted a video update addressing the news to their YouTube channel which featured AISD’s Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Anita Foster, AISD’s Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, and Executive V.P./Chief Brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys Charlotte Jones. Dr. Cavazos goes on to state that safety is a primary concern for this event and that they are “partnering very closely with our Arlington Fire Department, who is going to help us implement these [safety] protocols with fidelity”.

Arlington ISD had prior plans to hold their graduation ceremonies at the University of Texas at Arlington’s College Park Center, but were told they could not hold a ceremony in an indoor environment. In an earlier video, Dr. Cavazos stated that they came to the original decision to hold in-person ceremonies after speaking directly with senior student-leaders and receiving feedback through student surveys where they realized that the student body “overwhelmingly wanted to delay graduation if [it meant that] we could have an in-person graduation”. We can certainly take a sigh of relief knowing that this wish can still be honored for Arlington’s graduating senior class.

Per the Arlington ISD video update, the following dates are the currently anticipated graduation schedules:

• June 5 Lamar High School 3:30 p.m.
• June 6 Arlington High School 10 a.m.
• June 6 Seguin High School 3 p.m.
• June 6 Martin High School 8 p.m.
• June 7 Arlington Collegiate High School 10 a.m.
• June 7 Bowie High School 3 p.m.
• June 7 Sam Houston High School 8 p.m.

Several school districts are also planning on having in-person graduations

Other school districts are making similar plans to hold in-person graduation. Irving ISD, Mesquite ISD, Mansfield ISD, and Forney ISD have all announced that they are planning to hold their graduation ceremonies at the new Globe Life Field here in Arlington. Never in our lifetime has a graduating class had to be so flexible with events that they’ve been looking forward to for years, so it at least brings comfort to know that they get to be some of the first attendees of Globe Life Field.

As the older brother to an Irving ISD graduating senior, I for one am ecstatic that I get to watch my younger sister walk the stage in-person. I had been eager for some time to see her walk while embellished in her Student Council, National Honor Society, and Summa Cum Laude cords. When I asked my sister, Euridice Vargas, about what this news meant to her she stated “To me, graduating is something that should definitely be celebrated. So, when I found out that I would get to walk the stage I couldn’t explain the level of joy I felt. My mom and brothers will still get to see me walk the stage, which to me is them physically seeing me walking into a new chapter of my life”.

This year’s graduating high schoolers have had to sacrifice their prom, senior awards, and other events that seniors traditionally look forward to experiencing. If these plans are to follow through, it would be much-deserved good news for the senior class of 2019-2020.