Reflections from the high school grad parties…

June is a busy season for high school grad parties and I attended several over the past couple of weeks. These grads are bright, young Generation Zs who are ready to enter college and create the foundation to make their mark on whatever they choose to achieve. It was simply fascinating to attend many of these events and feel the energy among them. So much passion, positivity, can-do attitude, freshness, and collaboration among competition. It was also a celebration of reflections and thoughts from the Gen Zs…

Reflections on the 4 years of high school fun, pranks, rendezvous, studies, sports, exams, travels, last-minute test preparations and sometimes missing classes… Reflections on preparing for college apps, checking and rechecking those essays, obtaining recos from teachers, taking SATs and ACTs… Reflections on the bonds of friendship, some which will remain forever… Reflections on the tremendous love, affection, encouragement and mentoring which teachers, families and friends provided during these crucial teenage years… Reflections on the nail-biting wait for acceptance into their favorite colleges… Reflections on learning to deal with acceptance and rejection…

The world economy can be nebulous, unemployment can be high, emergence of the emerging can slow down… However, when among these high schoolers, their awareness of these broad global issues do not seem to deter them from seeking solutions and discussing ideas. I truly believe champions and leaders have always risen and will always rise through the challenges which surround us. Seeds of thinking new and thinking big must start early. It was heartening to see many of these young adults discussing the very fundamental issues involving environment, societies, cities, water, energy, life sciences, human behavior, etc., and how they embrace the higher education which will help them understand these issues more. Technology is an enabler and assumed to be integral in solving these issues. It is truly fascinating how fast children mature in their thinking…

As one grad summarized, the purpose of the grad party is taking off the training wheels and entering mainstream life through the canvas of higher education. How elegantly put! Yes, the world is waiting and it is a very large canvas… Find your brush and paint with imagination and curiosity. May the creator in you drive you much more than the consumer in you… Congratulations Grads!