My message to Class of 2022: Don’t be worried
The Class of 2022 is a few short weeks from beginning their lives after high school. These grads were sophomores when stay-at-home orders were initiated and they experienced a wide range of challenges to overcome.
The sophomore year is a critical time for high school students as they engage in high level curriculum that will form the foundation for their final two years, and continuing education. The educational disruption may lead some to worry about the preparation of the Class of ’22 for life after high school. For those who tell me they are worried, I say don’t be.
These soon-to-be graduates are problem solvers. Students were introduced to remote learning without warning and limited preparation. Despite the disruption, students adapted quickly to online learning. In addition to figuring out when, where and how they would get connected to their classes online, they also developed their own learning routines for engaging with the work and overcame challenges without working with teachers in person during the week.
In a world where technology evolves at a rapid pace, the Class of 2022 is ready to keep pace. Their experiences working with many software platforms, creating exceptional work products through experimenting with technology, and then mastering communication technologies will serve them well. They are able to adapt quickly.
The Class of ’22 has faced significant adversity and come back strong. In addition to a more difficult learning model, students endured separation from the school social environments and the loss of many school activities that they anticipated for many years.
Our newest graduates are resilient. They made the best of difficult situations by finding alternative ways to continue some school activities and embraced the opportunities to participate fully when restrictions were eased without complaining about lost time.
One of the most critical skills in today’s society is the ability for people to teach themselves. The Class of ’22 is way ahead of graduates from the past as they learned a number of strategies to teach themselves under difficult learning conditions.
They are more independent and capable due to the restrictions they encountered. Though not a result of health restrictions, our next cohort of graduates will have experienced more college classes and internships while in high school thanks to partnerships among businesses, colleges and high schools to build opportunities for students to prepare for life after high school.
I believe the Class of ’22 will also make us proud with their tendency toward kindness and service. Many of our future graduates have been involved in service projects to support those most impacted by the health emergency. Though the last few years in school are not what we would have wished for the Class of ’22, they have made the most of it and they are ready to succeed.