VIDOR, Texas — Seniors in Vidor went back to school Thursday but not for classes as they picked up things that mark the end of their high school careers.
The coronavirus ended the school year early but that hasn't stopped districts across Southeast Texas from finding ways to show appreciation and recognition for the class of 2020.
In Vidor, that includes digging up the past.
Cars lined up in the parking lot outside Vidor High School Thursday as the students arrived to pick up caps, gowns and a little piece of history.
During their eighth grade year their teacher, Tammy Taylor, had all of her students write a letter to themselves to be delivered when they graduated from high school.
On Thursday, four years later, she was there to personally deliver those letters.
"I was just trying to come up with something neat to do and keep up with them,” Taylor said.
“It's always a pleasure to come over and see my kiddos. Seeing the smiles and the laughs, that's the best part.”
Students reminisced and talked about how much they’d changed since the eighth grade.
"In eighth grade, we wrote letters about everything that we like. Boys we had crushes on, favorite colors. Reading it now it's kind of embarrassing,” Alden Revia said.
Taylor started the letter writing project with her 2011-2012 batch of eighth graders many of whom will be graduating from college this year or next.
"This has been a really tough year. We started off with the Imelda flood,” said Vidor High School Principal James McDowell
This much needed reunion is just another reminder of how difficult this school year has been.
“The fact that this is happening to them has broken my heart, but this is such a resilient group,” Taylor told 12News.
In a few weeks 250 students plan to graduate from Vidor High School at Pirate Stadium on May 29.
Thought the pandemic has put a damper on the final days of their high school careers many of the class is excited for what the future holds.
"I'm going to LSCO, I have the ambassador scholarship so I'm going to be an ambassador for them,” Jordyn Burks said.