The Class of 2019 has arrived

Congratulations graduates! It’s been a long time since I stood in your place. I remember being excited to finish a big phase in my life and apprehensive about starting a new one. I am sure you feel much the same. For the past twelve years, you have been a child in our public school system. Your graduation is the rite of passage from childhood into the world of adults. Well...almost.

Our court system considers you an adult, so shoplifting is no longer a juvenile offense. You can serve in the military or get married without asking your parents permission. You can even run for most public offices. Do you feel mature enough to be mayor? Probably not, but you could if you want. You can’t, however, have a beer with your buddies after work. You are considered too young to decide to smoke or vape. Some of our legislators tried to ban you from driving for the next three years, but common sense prevailed. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be allowed to drive to work. I suppose you can view these next three years as a transition in which you are sometimes considered an adolescent and other times an adult. Those who fight the system usually fail. On the other hand, those who approach these three years as a period of development become the most successful.

Many of you will go directly into the work force. Despite your hopes and how highly you rate your abilities, you will not land your dream job until you have proven yourself. You will most likely start out in an entry level position with little if any benefits or job security. If you are lucky, you will get a job with a company in which you can grow as you gain experience. Most of you, however, will have to change employers to move up in pay and responsibility. Do not underestimate the value of additional schooling. Employers notice workers who try to improve their skills. Those who work plus take classes at local community colleges are noticed and rewarded.

Those of you who go to college will stay in this limbo, almost adult, status until you are out of school. The most valuable advice I can give college students is to question your professors. Most of them have never been in the real world and live in a world of unproven theory. They are used to intimidating 18 to 21 year olds and are uncomfortable if challenged.

I went back to college after I retired from the Air Force. My presence terrorized the professors because I had experience outside of academia. Challenge them. You pay their salaries; make them teach instead of pontificate. College is a fun time, especially if someone else is paying for it. Parents frequently make financial sacrifices so that their children have the opportunities education provides. Thank them for it. If you are awarded scholarships or additional aid, send thank you notes.

I had a commanding officer once who refused to admit problems existed. He called them opportunities. Your parents and grandparents have left you a legacy of opportunities.

Human population is changing our environment at an accelerating rate. We have polluted our atmosphere, filled our streams with industrial waste and trashed our oceans with plastic. In order to feed our growing population, we have been forced to add chemicals to our soil without knowing the long term consequences.

We have become more and more dependent on government to do for us those things we used to do for ourselves. Our country faces an alarming level of debt. America has changed from a nation of producers to a nation of consumers. You didn’t create the situation we face. You can blame the generations who preceded you, but that won’t help. You now own the opportunity to save the world, or at least make it better. I hope you do a better job of caring for the planet than we did.

(Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and a long time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a freelance columnist for over 18 years.)