We need you, Class of 2012!
Congratulations, Class of 2012.
Over the past week, and into this weekend, students from across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana have been taking the last ceremonial step from childhood to adulthood as they accept their diplomas and march into the unknown.
Unfortunately, a diploma is not a map, so there is no clear path ahead for many of those graduating seniors. Navigating the future is never easy, of course, but in today’s unsettled landscape, it seems more treacherous than in other recent generations. The economy, morality, politics — everything seems to be a-tumble, and where it will land nobody knows.
So for our brave graduates, our best advice is: Brace yourselves.
There is no reason why each and every one of you cannot accomplish your dreams, reach your goals and dazzle the world with your unique capabilities and talents.
But we suspect that for few of you will it come easy. For most of you, it will be a matter of grit and determination and more hard work than even you knew you were capable of.
Obstacles? Absolutely. Personal ones and general ones.
There is no even playing field in life, and the sooner you all learn that, the better. High unemployment will hit harder at younger workers; you may face higher interest rates for your student loans than earlier generations; social upheaval in Europe or elsewhere could ravage the world economy; our national debt is piled as high as the logs stacked up for a bonfire, and just as flammable.
But one thing that every generation has proven in small or large ways: Desperate times always produce heroic successes. If these times seem more desperate than usual, then we all need you to succeed even more than usual as well. This state, this nation, this world all need heroes.
Don’t squander any opportunities that may come your way. Don’t plan to live on next fall’s harvest if you don’t plant your seeds today, and then work every day to nurture the dreams you planted.
Seize the day, and make the most of it. We are all counting on you.