Happy Graduation (with apologies)
For those of you receiving diplomas from one of our fine high schools, let me first offer a hardy congratulation. Good job. You’ve earned it, I’m sure. The schools here are not easy places to coast through and undoubtedly you have learned a thing or two in the classrooms of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, East Chapel Hill and the Phoenix Academy.
You’ve grown up a good bit as well – at least that’s the theory. It’ll be up to you to prove that as you make that rather awkward transition from top of the heap in your hometown to lowly first-year student in some institution of higher learning.
Some of you will jump straight into the workforce, some will travel and most will be preparing to depart this community come fall.
We all hope that, if circumstances permit, you’ll take a little time off to enjoy another idyllic Piedmont summer. I’d like to suggest you not waste it; because as you are probably well aware, the rest of us are going to need your help, plenty of it and plenty quick.
Ordinarily in an editorial before graduation, I would point out the various troubles and maladies you face as a result of the faults and follies of previous generations. Some less willing to take the blame like to call these your “challenges.â€
However, since your particular age set is entering its ascendency in a world featuring monumental catastrophes, the longest war in this country’s history, economic collapse and as fractured a collection of humans as this planet has ever managed to host, I’ll spare you the laundry list. Long story short, your predecessors have screwed up in a major way. History calls. Sorry about that. Turns out we’re going to need your smarts, your drive and your spirit – every last bit – after all.
We’re pulling for you. We’re hoping you were inspired in Mr. Wartski’s biology class, that Ms. Manning helped you find a sense of purpose, that Mr. Irwin showed you how to tap your creativity, that there will be more environmental scientists because of Mr. Greenberg and a new wave of journalists thanks to Ms. Colletti, and that you are stronger because you always knew that people like Ms. Eriksen cared.
You’ll need all that and more. Most importantly, you’ll need to have a greater engagement in civic life. The system we have now, if left unchecked, is not your friend, and if left unchanged could one day steal your future. Nowadays, less than a third of your age group votes. Speak up. They can’t hear you.
Class of 2010, you’re the hope of the world – bleak, smoldering, oil-soaked and shell-shocked as it is. Every now and again, a generation is called upon to step up. I’m afraid yours just won the lottery.
Have a good summer. Be sure to get some rest.
Correction
In last week’s story on WCOM we misspelled Jon Paul McClellan’s first name.