When Sarah Young graduated from Texas State University in May 2020, she celebrated informally with her School of Nursing classmates. But with society on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she missed the chance to participate in the traditional graduation jump into the San Marcos River.
Four years later, Young will get her chance for a river jump during TXST’s Fall 2024 Commencement. She’s one of 286 alums who’ve accepted TXST’s invitation to attend commencement this December as a makeup for the curtailed ceremonies during the pandemic.
“The number one reason I’m going back is I wanted to go jump in the river with my cap and gown with my friends,” says Young, who now lives and works in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “I was so looking forward to it, and I was bummed about missing it. It’s such an integral part of being a Texas State student. Not being able to do that was just heartbreaking.”
TXST invited 2020 graduates to participate in this fall’s commencement to make up for the disruption of commencement ceremonies during the pandemic. Of the 9,082 Bobcats who graduated in 2020, only about a third participated in commencement. In the spring and summer of 2020, ceremonies were held online; in the fall, a socially distanced ceremony was held at UFCU Stadium.
“The university recognized the desire by some previous graduates to return to participate in a traditional ceremony,” said Kristin McDaniel, commencement coordinator in the Office of Curriculum Services. “Some may have been unable to attend due to concerns surrounding the pandemic.”
The pandemic affected more than commencement for 2020 grads. As seniors, the students had to adapt to online classes during their final year of college.
“We were used to working with all of our friends, and we had study groups every single day,” Young said. “And then, all of a sudden, you’re just sitting at home alone working on your computer. It was very lonely.”
Upon graduation, the fresh degree-holders navigated job hunts and new careers amid the pandemic. In Young’s case, she quickly found a job with a pediatric emergency room in Temple, Texas, but pandemic-related delays in training kept her from starting work until September.
“It was a really hard time, because I wasn’t making any money,” she recalled. “I had to file for unemployment because I still had to pay rent, but as a brand-new college graduate, I had no funding. I had no savings or anything.”
Young persisted and has continued to develop her career in nursing. She now works in a catheterization laboratory. And she’s seizing the chance to return to San Marcos for the commencement ceremony she couldn’t experience during the pandemic.
“There’s actually a group of us going,” Young said. “We’re really excited.”
Fall 2024 commencement schedule
About 3,200 candidates for bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees are expected to cross the stage during commencement ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14. Here’s the schedule:
- 10 a.m. Friday: College of Education
- 2 p.m. Friday: McCoy College of Business
- 6 p.m. Friday: College of Science and Engineering
- 10 a.m. Saturday: College of Fine Arts and Communication, College of Health Professions
- 2 p.m. Saturday: College of Applied Arts
- 6 p.m. Saturday: College of Liberal Arts
All commencement ceremonies will be held in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center. Ticketing, transportation, and parking information is available at www.txstate.edu/commencement. A livestream of the graduation ceremonies will be available at the same link.