This story is part of Amy Bell’s Parental Guidance column, which airs on CBC Radio One’s The Early Edition.

I still remember all of the excitement my grad year contained. It was a year of celebrations with friends and family, and it felt like we were finally in control of our lives and our futures. But the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the present so much for this year’s graduates, they’ve struggled to find that hope and excitement. 

While last year’s graduating class