Grant Oh navigated through the University of Southern California (USC) campus amidst police blockades, as authorities arrested demonstrators protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict. This chaotic scene reflected Oh's college experience, which began during the pandemic and has been marked by ongoing disruptions, denying him typical milestones like prom and a traditional high school graduation. Now, with USC canceling its main commencement ceremony due to security concerns, Oh faces another missed opportunity in his educational journey.

Oh, a 20-year-old studying health promotion and disease prevention, expressed that while losing a significant moment is disappointing, the global crises overshadow such personal losses. He emphasized the gravity of current world events, acknowledging that people are losing their lives amid widespread turmoil.

College campuses, historically hubs of activism, now face added tensions due to pandemic-induced isolation and social media's amplification of societal challenges. Generation Z, impacted by higher rates of anxiety and depression, grapples with this amplified negativity. Psychologist Jean Twenge attributes much of this to the rapid spread of negativity on social platforms, which has made Gen Z more pessimistic compared to previous generations.

Protests and encampments have sprung up at numerous universities nationwide, from Harvard to Stanford, highlighting the current climate of unrest. USC itself faced upheaval after canceling a commencement speech by valedictorian Asna Tabassum due to security concerns amidst protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict. This decision sparked further discontent among students like Oh.

Maurielle McGarvey, also at USC, described the cancellations as "heartbreaking" and criticized the university's handling of the situation. McGarvey, majoring in screenwriting and gender studies, lamented the loss of typical graduation rituals, which were already altered by pandemic restrictions.

Similar sentiments echoed among students elsewhere, like Abbie Barkan from the University of Texas and Sarah Dawley from the University of Minnesota. Barkan expressed frustration over the disruptions affecting her graduation, while Dawley, despite feeling a mix of emotions, sees hope in her generation's commitment to meaningful change after enduring the pandemic together.

The overall sentiment among affected students is one of disappointment and frustration at missing out on traditional milestones, compounded by broader societal unrest and institutional decisions impacting their college experiences.