Moving on to the next chapter of our lives seems selfish. How can we, as a graduating class, focus on our own futures when the future of our country is so uncertain? When we discuss how black people are not guaranteed a future because of police brutality, and nobody is guaranteed a future because of a global pandemic, the concept of graduation is minuscule. Who cares about graduating when our world is struggling?

There are inarguably more important current events than graduation. But we must not forget, as the Class of 2020, that graduation signifies a shift. Not only for our individual lives, but for the future of our country. Everyone should feel a sense of pride and responsibility wash over them once they hold their diploma in their hands. As we move on to the next level, we must remember that tolerance, expression, and emotional IQ are critical. We must remember who we are — our passions, our messages, our purpose.

East Lyme High School seniors Thea Ward and Stella Georgian both qualified for the statelevel Poetry Out Loud competition. Noah am Ende co-wrote, acted, and directed his own horror film. Hayden Yuan wrote a column for The Viking Saga, our school newspaper, about the importance of mental health and learning to feel whole again. Delia Lin discovered her love for drawing colorful illustrations of faces, cacti, and Skittles, and grew her art account to over 4,000 followers.

These are five representative examples of seniors who found their passion, their message, their purpose, and acted. Just like them, the East Lyme High School Class of 2020 is composed of students who have channeled creative energy toward their vision. This vision became action as we organized clubs to create greater impact. Our grade has students involved with Chikumbuso Club, raising money for children in Africa to attend school, buy bikes, and improve quality of life. Although the club helps families 7,464 miles away, they still exchange hand-written letters back and forth.

Last year, three seniors participated in the Encountering Differences Conference to interview local historian and attorney Lonnie Braxton, who faced discrimination growing up in segregated Mississippi. The group traveled to Harlem to learn about culture, systemic oppression, and how to prevent racism within East Lyme and the country.

Seniors started the TedX Club to provide students with a platform for independent exploration and a forum to share their newfound knowledge with a community audience. “Confronting Sexual Harassment," “Narratives on Black Sexuality” and “The Power of Teenage Voices” were some of the talk titles selected as their “ideas worth spreading.”

In their own ways, seniors have found opportunities to create change. When older generations talk about how we are going to “change the world,” they often discuss our generation being involved in politics. Without doubt, this is important. But the truth is, someone does not have to be a politician to change the world or the condition of our country. They just have to bring a certain light and tenacity to our culture, and show America that it is worth it to care.

It is worth it to care.

Many in our class remain undecided about their next step or how they will “change the world” in their own way. But to all of our graduating seniors: you will find your passion, your message, and your purpose. You will make change. You fit into our future.