By: Amari Collins
STARKVILLE, Miss. (Take 30 News)— The coronavirus outbreak has caused a lot of changes to be made for college students this semester. One of the biggest changes Mississippi State had to make was postponing the Spring 2020 graduation ceremonies.
For senior students like Alana Branch who were looking forward to their graduation day this news was hard to accept.
"I feel heartbroken because I just feel like my work for four years was, I guess going to pay off on April 30th," said Alana.
In the midst of all of the changes one thing that must go on, and that’s school. Although it is going a little different than Alana expected.
"I had an internship and I am no longer allowed to go to the internship. All of my hours for the internship turned into assignments online and all of my schoolwork is online," Alana said.
Alana’s mom, Chantay Branch, who has also been looking forward to her daughter’s graduation day has been impacted by the changes as well.
"Very disappointed, because I think we were all looking forward to her graduation he ceremony all the celebrations the parties,” Branch said.
Due to the fact that students do not have to be physically present for classes because of COVID-19, Alana and her parents have made the decision to move her out of her apartment early.
"We had to abruptly move and pack all of her belongings from the apartment. We're still in the process of doing that trying to move things home so it's been chaotic,” Branch said.
Mississippi State reassured students through their social media pages that they would be celebrated for their hard work. MSU has now made the decision on April 9th that they will host the Spring 2020 commencement ceremony online.