When I was asked to write a message to the class of 2026 about my views of and/or advice to them, I must admit I was a bit confused.
After all, I am a teacher and in my time as a teacher we have been referred to as leeches on more than one occasion. I also do not have children, and recently, people without children have been referred to as deranged and sociopathic. Some have suggested that we should have a smaller voice in democracy as we are “less concerned” with the future. I’ve never been very close to my family and don’t have many friends unless they have four legs. I don’t particularly feel comfortable in social situations.
Few of my attributes seem to indicate that I should be one of the people chosen to give advice to people going on to shape the world. But being a teacher has taught me that maybe there are more people like me than our culture wants to acknowledge. So, here I go.
I thought of a bunch of things that I wanted to write about, but they didn’t have a coherent thread.I spent some time trying to weave them together, but I finally gave up trying. So here are some random, somewhat unconnected thoughts.
Many people say, “get a good education, work hard—this will give you a better chance of success.” True, but no kidding. This is hardly sage advice. People who lean on this have an incredible grasp of the obvious.
“Get outside of your comfort zone, this is where the magic happens.” Maybe for some, but for others this is where disasters happen. Maybe try pushing the bounds of your comfort a little without taking quantum leaps outside of it—this might be where growth occurs.
Some say, “These are the best times of your life,” referring to high school or college. God, I hope not! I really hope you don’t peak at 18. I know you can continue to grow.
It’s ok to not enjoy pep rallies or other large gatherings that might make you feel out of place or uncomfortable.
You don’t need to make grand contributions to the world. Contribute to the world when and however you can. You don’t need to be the one with your name on the Nobel Prize in order to be important.
Plumbers, electricians, and other trades are important and well-paying jobs; they will not be replaced by AI in the near future.
Despite not having certain attributes some find desirable, I love my life. I have had a career that I love. I have a wife who loves me and whom I adore. I have had dogs and cats that fill me with joy. And as I approach my retirement, I am content with what I have done and what I will be doing. Content is alright too.
Thank you to all the students who have allowed me to be a small part of their lives. You will have a great future.
