PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Several universities will be holding their graduation ceremonies this weekend.

Providence College will give out 932 undergraduate degrees Sunday, and for many of these students, it will be the first opportunity to walk across the stage after the pandemic shut everything down during their high school graduations.

“I feel ready,” said Chloe Katz, who studied elementary and special education.

The Class of 2024 is feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as they get ready to graduate, especially since their last graduation was anything but normal.

“They like put the diploma on the table and you just went and grabbed it, but no shaking hands,” said Nicole Phaneuf, who also studied elementary and special education. “It was just us. You couldn’t even take your mask off.”

“I graduated in my mom’s car,” added Hailey Downey, who studied health policy and management. “I [stood up through the sunroof] and drove around my hometown. There were people cheering and clapping, but I didn’t get to be with my classmates. It was just my family in the car, so I didn’t get to say my goodbyes. It felt like I was stuck in high school for a bit.”

The pandemic also impacted their first years of college.

“It was us in our rooms by ourselves,” Downey said.

However, the soon-to-be graduates said distance makes the heart grow fonder. So when things started to get back to normal, many students took advantage.

“We had an open door policy in my room, which I don’t think we would have done if we had a normal freshman year,” Katz said.

Katz encourages future freshmen students to sign up for everything.

“You never know what you love until you try it for the first time. That goes for life too,” she explained.

As these students get ready to take their next step in life, they’re making sure to not take it for granted. They’re looking forward to walking across the stage, shaking hands and finally being handed a diploma.

“I’m excited to see how this feels a little different and to get a true ceremony,” Downey said.

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