Thousands upon thousands of high school seniors in New Jersey in the past week or so received something they had been working toward for 12 long years a diploma.
But it wasn’t the diploma itself that was the highlight of the day.
It was wearing the cap and gown. It was the pomp and circumstance. It was the proud parents in the audience. It was being with friends and classmates, some of whom for the last time. It was for the beginning of the rest of their lives.
Many will go on to college. Some will go into the military. Some will go into the work force. All will have gone through a major transition in their lives.
The speakers at commencement ceremonies often look back at what the class has accomplished. Most, however, look to the future.
They look out over the graduates and predict amazing accomplishments will come from the 18-year-olds sitting there.
”You are the future,” they might say.
And, while some of the class might go on to be leaders in our business and political worlds, many will become who their parents are today: hard working, loving family members, maybe active in community organizations, paying the bills and raising children of their own.
Along the way they will meet new people, make new friends and have some excitement and adventures.
Graduating from high school is a milestone, but it is also just a beginning.
We live in one of the most wonderful places on the planet, and have experienced a rewarding, fortunate and even luxurious, by many standards, life.
Our advice to the grads is not to take that for granted and be prepared to give back.
Become true citizens, involved in community life.
Think globally, act locally.
Keep on top of issues. You can make a difference in the education of those who will follow you. You can make a difference in the leaders in the township, state and country.
At the very least, vote.
Embrace some facet of civic life. Resist the self-centered rationalization of “what’s in it for me?”
In the end, the world needs you and you’ll feel better about yourself.
But for now, congratulations to the members of the Lawrence High School Class of 2011. May you indeed do great things.
