Montana OPI Video Details Seniors’ Reflections on Undertaking Final Year of High School During COVID-19

• Chris Averill
• July 08 2021

HELENA – The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) today released a video that highlights what life was like for graduating seniors during a global pandemic. Titled “In Their Own Words: Montana’s High School Seniors and Overcoming COVID-19 to Succeed,” the short video chronicles the reflections of nearly a dozen high school seniors from across Montana as they prepare to graduate. They discuss what kinds of unique challenges they faced during the 2020-2021 school year; the impact remote and hybrid schooling had as they attempted to learn and graduate; and their plans moving forward and succeeding in the future. Interviews were conducted at schools in Whitehall, Great Falls, Arlee, Rocky Boy, and Frenchtown.

“This was a difficult school year for families, students, and teachers alike, and we wanted to capture some thoughts from graduating seniors about what it was like to overcome the disruptions of a pandemic during their final year of high school,” said State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “This video, produced by the OPI Digital Communications Team, allows students to describe their feelings, concerns, and achievements in their own words, and offer advice to those coming after them. Their stories are a testament to our Montana resiliency.”

The video may be accessed on the OPI’s YouTube page here.  A follow-on video production regarding the experiences of schoolchildren from various grade levels on their challenges and opportunities learning during the pandemic is forthcoming.