For high school seniors, this has been an especially unusual year.
With the global pandemic taking hold in the United States in March, many students did not return after spring break. Others returned only briefly before schools closed, sending students home to begin remote learning.
For many, that meant missing what some would consider quintessential high school experiences, like prom. While not every school canceled, Helias Catholic High School and Calvary Lutheran High School opted to cancel proms, as the events were not feasible with social distancing guidelines.
The Jefferson City School District has postponed prom until July 10, with a back up date of July 31. Lighthouse Preparatory Academy will host a senior celebration June 19, and the Blair Oaks R-2 School District held prom this weekend.
But not having an official school prom hasn't stopped local seniors from finding ways to celebrate.
"While I can't speak for all my friends, I have tried to make the best out of the situation," said Sydney Duenckel, a graduating senior from Calvary Lutheran. "I know that this does not only affect me, it is worldwide."
Duenckel said she helped throw a makeshift prom for herself and friends, where everyone could get dressed up in what they had planned to wear for prom. While it had to be a smaller event to comply with guidelines from the Cole County Health Department, she said they were ultimately able to invite almost everyone who had have gone to the official event anyway.
"After my school said they had no plans of rescheduling our prom, a group of moms and myself got to work to throw the best prom we could imagine," Duenckel said. "We invited the whole senior class and a few juniors. I asked one of my friends to DJ, we got food catered, took some fun pictures, and then danced the night away."
John Christianson, a graduating senior at Helias, said he and his friends were planning their own "mini prom" as well. Like Duenckel, he said they wanted the opportunity to get dressed up and enjoy each others' company while they can. With the last weeks of high school switched to remote learning, these types of gatherings are the best way for students to still see each other and have fun before many leave the area for college. Christianson will be heading to South Dakota State University in the fall, where he will be studying mechanical engineering.
"It's an adventure," Christianson said of his senior year. "It's been kind of weird."
The key, Christianson said, has been making sure they all still have fun in their final high school year and this summer. He noted his friends met up a few times in parking lots, where everyone stayed in their vehicle to adhere to social distancing while still allowing them to socialize in person.
Even with the weirdness and cancellations, this has definitely been a year to remember for many. And these seniors are not letting a pandemic get in the way of celebrating the end of high school.
"I had one of the best nights of my life," Duenckel said of her makeshift prom. "I loved getting together with my classmates for one last time before we all went our different ways. I don't feel like I missed out on anything because we still got that chance to be together."