Hats off to Resilience

4.16.2024

Hats off to resilience 

Dear Class of 2024 (and specifically my son Jake),

As we have begun anticipating your graduation from college, I’m flooded with many emotions. Obviously for all of the typical motherly nostalgic moments and the cliches about slowing down time and where did the years go, but this milestone feels bigger than normal. 

Perhaps it is because your graduation from high school never happened. Loss was all around us in every aspect of our world. People were dying and fearful for their lives, we were sheltered in our houses isolated from loved ones and unsure what the future would look like. The world celebrated your graduation with special televised concerts, local community parades, drive through diploma ceremonies and other creative ways to mark the milestone. But none of that could replace the ability to feel genuinely joyous and celebratory with friends and family. We anticipated the next chapter with a level of enthusiasm that was sadly overshadowed by fear and anxiety. When I look at the photos from moving into your freshman room, it’s hard to imagine that was our world just four years ago. Masks, long lines for testing and endless restrictions. Classes were virtual and many businesses around town were boarded up. You didn’t know differently, but I have to imagine it was more unsettling for you than it even was for me. 

So, while the next four years included so much personal evolution and many lessons inside and outside of the classrooms, it is resilience that will define the Class of 2024. Without even focusing on it, each of you faced unimaginable obstacles, unprecedented challenges and constant uncertainty. This was your baseline. And, then layer on all the “typical” college growth one navigates along their journey. That is a lot to tackle. But you, and your peers, have done it. It may be too early for you to have the perspective of what you overcame and persevered through, but it will always define the high school graduates of 2020 and college graduates of 2024. Four years ago we were so focused on all that you had lost. Today, I am completely focused on all that you have gained. And, I hope you are too.

As you leave the comfy college bubble and enter the “real world,” let me assure you, there will be times you yearn for the bubble. That is expected. But, as Dr. Seuss once wrote, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” 

Moving forward, always remember nothing in life is given to you. Everything must be earned. Life will no longer be measured in academic letter grades. This means that your effort, diligence and commitment to excellence is solely driven and measured by you. Be honest with yourself, and willingly calibrate along the way. Be sure to believe in yourself. If you aren’t your greatest fan and most vocal advocate, who will be? Take risks. The constraints of a core curriculum and graduation requirements have all been met. Your diploma proves that. So, explore your passions and interests. Careers don’t have to be a linear journey and your life should include more than just work. We need the optimism of your generation to influence the world that we are living in. So, get involved in causes that speak to your soul and volunteer your time and offer your insights. Fill your body with healthy food as fuel and clear your mind with regular exercise. Trust me, it is much easier to offer this advice than to live it. Life is hectic, work is consuming and sometimes the hours feel short in a given day. That is to be expected. So, set goals for yourself and try to attain them daily, weekly and monthly. You will be surprised by how much your college experience actually prepares you to tackle all of this. 

As I was scrolling through old pictures for a graduation project, I found images from Jake’s first day of kindergarten. Wearing a Carmelo Anthony college basketball jersey that was almost down to his knees, brand new high top Paul Pierce basketball shoes and clinging to his New York Knicks drawstring bag, he walked onto that bus filled with some confidence and a lot of trepidation. There was a look in his eyes that communicated his angst, uncertainty and fear. Ironically, I know this academic milestone will be remembered by images filled with a lot more confidence and very little trepidation. That my child is the definition of growth. 

AND SO IT GOES…enter this next chapter knowing you have been tested, challenged and navigated setbacks. Equally as important, you did so while also flourishing, growing, evolving and mastering new skills. 

The world is waiting for the Class of 2024 to make its mark. As tumultuous as it feels right now, with raging global antisemitism, two major wars dominating headlines and a domestic political election year resulting in even greater negativity and dysfunction than normal, we must resist any urge to lose hope. We will be relying on all of you to show us how to be resilient, to continue to persevere and to never allow factors out of our control to define our destiny. Each of you have mastered this mantra. Your diploma encapsulates these critical life skills in addition to the hard earned academic achievements. My mother always taught me that learning to cope is the most important skill to teach our children. It’s impossible to anticipate all of the hurdles one will face, but if given the tools to navigate and overcome them, roadblocks don’t derail the journey. The Class of 2024 showed us that! Hats off to the most resilient graduating class…go and make your mark!

Editor’s note: Extra special congratulations shout-out to the Wisconsin Sammy families who have become such a special part of our lives too. Sharing these four years with you and your boys added a dimension to the college experience that was truly amazing. Their friendships translated into our friendships and bonds all around have been created and will always be cherished. I know the dads will probably miss their annual weekend the most! But, for now…looking forward to Jumping Around together in Madison soon! ❤️