I never imagined I’d hear about human trafficking or NARCAN at a graduation ceremony, but welcome to 2024.
This spring, I attended seven graduation ceremonies, which means I heard a lot of speeches and several renditions of Pomp and Circumstance. Although the classic graduation march left me with a somber earworm, all of the smiling faces framed by mortar boards did more to boost my optimism than I expected. Even the steady rain in Charlottesville at my daughter’s closing exercises couldn’t get me down.
While attending graduation for our school division’s technology center, which specializes in career and technical education, I was impressed by the various skills students learned. These kids know how to plumb and wire a house, assess A/C issues in a car, and take vital signs. However, some of the certifications they earned made me sad. Of course, nursing students need training for serious issues. The nursing students were recognized for, among other things, training in “Stop the Bleed”, a three-step technique to stop bleeding and save lives. (Thank you, school shooters.) And of course, they know how to use NARCAN to revive someone who has overdosed.
But then came the cosmetology students. They were acknowledged for training in proper sterilization techniques (understandable) but also for assessing clients for risk of domestic abuse or human trafficking. At first, I was horrified, but when I considered most stylists come in contact with lots of women each day, it made sense.
Grim certifications to reflect the scary world we live in.
While it’s extremely sad that these teenagers need to know how to administer NARCAN, it’s also comforting that they do. Our world today presents many challenges, but our students are launching into adulthood with training to tackle these trials. And not only do they have skills, more importantly, they embrace compassion.
In almost all the student speeches I heard, as well as in student interviews from my podcast feed, young people talked about the importance of connection. Many 2024 college graduates didn’t have a proper high school graduation in 2020. The specter of COVID still stretches over them. But, I’m hopeful these students, who heard too many lectures via Zoom and spent as much time in Google Classroom as physical academic spaces, now understand one of life’s most important lessons: people matter. Friendships save us. Living is more fun when you do it with others. Over and over, in gyms, auditoriums, and on the soaked grass of The Lawn, voices spoke to importance of relationships. In ceremonies dedicated to academic success, these kids were encouraging their peers to prioritize meaningful interaction with other people.
The world feels scary, but thousands of students, armed with knowledge and compassion, are marching out to meet the challenges. That gives me great comfort.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
In the book I told you about — “The Overlooked Americans” — the author makes a very similar point about the state of the world. Even though at times people can seem extremely divided, we tend to hold similar values and place friendships and family as one of the main determinants of success. It’s one of my favorite things to remember when I am listening to the news 🙂