By Shailee Desai ’21

Two years ago, in celebration of the 175th anniversary of Wyoming Seminary, The Opinator interviewed Mrs. Gail Smallwood, Sem’s Associate Director of Communications. “The overall resiliency of the Wyoming Seminary community is demonstrated over and over again,” said Mrs. Smallwood in reference to Sem’s strength after the financial booms and panics of the 1800’s, the Fire of 1853, the Civil War, World War I and II, and Hurricane Agnes. “The mission of the school continues to energize us and keep us going.”

At the time, neither Mrs. Smallwood nor the Sem community was aware that in just two years, our school would face another test of resiliency: a global pandemic. After erupting in the spring of 2020, COVID-19 has spread to almost every corner of the world, infecting over 23 million people and killing over 800,000. Schools and colleges have been shut down for months, while their students remain at home resuming their classes through virtual methods. Countries have declared national emergencies, and cities have declared lockdowns after shutting down their stores, businesses, and restaurants. Friends and families in quarantine have been separated from their loved ones for months, and the future of the virus still remains uncertain.

Through this, however, the resiliency of the Sem community has yet again shone through; after being separated and quarantined for over five months, Sem students will begin their return to campus on September 8, which will mark the commencement of an untraditional and unprecedented school year.

To both mark the historical importance of this pandemic and to celebrate Sem’s spirit and strength despite the challenges the virus has brought, The Opinator has compiled the first ever summer edition of the newspaper in school history. Containing five articles (including this introduction), the edition will cover sports and the pandemic, Sem’s newest class deans, and misinformation revolving around the virus. We hope you enjoy and remain safe and healthy before we reconvene in just a few weeks.

-The Opinator Staff