And of course, I couldn'tbe prouder of all of you and be graduating class of 2020, as well as theteachers and the coaches and most of all, the parents and families who guidedyou all the way. Now, graduating is a big achievement under any circumstances.Some of you had to overcome serious obstacles along the way, whether it was anillness or a parent losing a job, we're living in a neighborhood where peopletoo often count you out. Along with the usual challenges of growing up, all ofyou have had to deal with the added pressures of social media, reports ofschool shootings, and the specter of climate change. And then, just as you'reabout to celebrate having made it through, just as you've been looking forwardto proms and senior nights, graduation ceremonies, and let's face it, a wholebunch of parties, the world was turned upside down by global pandemic. And asmuch as I'm sure you love your parents, I'll bet the big stuck at home with himplaying board games or watching Tiger King on TV is not exactly how youenvisioned the last few months of your senior year.
Now, I'll behonest with you, the disappointments of missing, a live graduation, those will passpretty quick. I don't remember much of my own high school graduation. I knowthat not having to sit there and listen to a commencement speaker isn't allthat bad. Mine usually go on way too long. Also, not that many people lookgreat in those caps, especially if you have big ears like me. You'll haveplenty of time to catch up with your friends once the immediate public healthcrisis is over. But what remains true is that your graduation marks yourpassage into adulthood. The time when you begin to take charge of your ownlife. It's when you get to decide what's important to you, the kind of careeryou want to pursue, who you want to build a family with, the values you want tolive by. And given the current state of the world, that may be kind of scary.
If you plannedon going away for college, getting dropped off at campus in the fall, that's nolonger a given. If you were planning to work while going to school, findingthat first job is going to be tough. Even families that are relatively welloff, they're dealing with massive uncertainty. Those who were strugglingbefore, they're hanging on by a thread. All of which means that you're going tohave to grow up faster than some generations. This pandemic has shaken up thestatus quo, laid bare a lot of our country's, deep-seated problems, frommassive economic inequality, to ongoing racial disparities, to a lack of basichealthcare for people who need it. It's woken a lot of young people up to thefact that the old ways of doing things just don't work. That it doesn't matterhow much money you make if everyone around you is hungry and sick, and that oursociety are not democracy only work when we think not just about ourselves butabout each other. It's also pull the curtain back on another hard truth, somethingthat we all have to eventually accept once our childhood comes to an end. Youknow all those adults that used to think [they were] in charge or knew whatthey were doing? Turns out they don't have all the answers. A lot of themaren't even asking the right questions. So if the world's going to get better,it's going to be up to you.
Thatrealization may be kind of intimidating, but I hope it's also inspiring. Withall the challenges this country faces right now, nobody can tell you, "Noyou're too young to understand," or "This is how it's always beendone." Because with so much uncertainty, with everything suddenly up forgrabs, this is your generation's world to shape. Since I'm one of the old guys,I won't tell you what to do with this power that rests in your hands, but I'llleave you with three quick pieces of advice. First, don't be afraid. America'sgone through tough times before. Slavery, civil war, famine, disease, the GreatDepression, and 9/11, and each time we came out strong. Usually because a newgeneration, young people like you, learned from past mistakes and figured outhow to make things better.
Second, do whatyou think is right. Doing what feels good, what's convenient, what's easy,that's [how kids] think. Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grownups, includingsome with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way, which is whythings are so screwed up. I hope that instead you decide to ground yourself invalues that last like honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity,respect for others. You won't get it right every time. You'll make mistakeslike we all do. But if you listen to the truth that's inside yourself, evenwhen it's hard, even when it's inconvenient, people will notice. They'llgravitate towards you and you'll be part of the solution instead of part of theproblem.
And finally,build a community. No one does big things by themselves. Right now, when peopleare scared, it's easy to be cynical and say, "Let me just look out formyself or my family or people who look or think or pray like me." But ifwe're going to get through these difficult times, if we're going to create aworld where everybody has opportunity to find a job and afford college, andwe're going to save the environment and defeat future pandemics, then we'regoing to have to do it together. So be alive to one another's struggles. Standup for one another's rights. Leave behind all the old ways of thinking, thebias, sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed, and set the world on a differentpath.
When you needhelp, Michelle and I have made it the mission of our foundation to give youngpeople like you the skills and support to lead in your own communities and toconnect you with other young leaders around the country, and around the globe.But, the truth is, you don't need us to tell you what to do because there's somany ways you've already started to lead. Congratulations, class of 2020. Keepmaking us proud.
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