Milford senior heartbroken after losing final moments of high school career due to COVID-19

Naudia Larsen had big plans for the rest of her senior year, but now she doesn't get the chance to compete or perform because of COVID-19.

MILFORD – From track to volleyball to student body president to show choir to homecoming queen.

Nadie Larson did everything at Milford High School.

“I honestly didn’t have trouble staying busy,” Larsen said.

So when she found out that the coronavirus would take away the final moments of her senior year, the emotion poured out.

“It kind of hit me that, wow, that Wednesday was my last day,” Larsen said. “I didn’t pay attention to anybody. I didn’t interact. I didn’t enjoy the things I should have. That was really heartbreaking, knowing that I didn’t enjoy the moments when I should have.”

And that pain is only magnified since she missed her junior track season and senior year of volleyball after tearing her ACL during practice last spring.

“I went over that last hurdle and my body just kind of swung underneath me,” Larsen said. “I didn’t really catch myself, but when I caught it my knee and my leg kind of, went different directions. I was very heartbroken because realizing I had torn it at the time I did, made me realize I’d miss half of my senior year.”

But the most difficult part for Larsen, being unable to participate in the school musical, Matilda, which she was poised to play the role of the main character. Larsen has had major roles in three of her other musicals as well.

“Spring semester, that’s all I look forward too,” Larsen said.

Still, Larsen remembers the positive moment. Like the medals in track, the boogies with the dance team, and the cheering on her team in volleyball while she sat on the sidelines this past season.

“This year, my role was to make sure that everyone felt loved on the team,” Larsen said. “And every player knew that they had to keep working hard no matter what. Just kind of letting people know that, what’s happening in my life and how I handled it is just kind of how I’ll share to other people that it’s going to be OK.”

Larsen plans on attending Wayne State College later this year, majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry.