Graduation Messages to the Class of 2026: What lies ahead
Remember college graduation day? You sat on the edge of your seat, listening to a well-known speaker pontificating about what’s ahead, sharing their stories, some lighthearted moments or funny tales, firsthand experiences, and wisdom as you waited to be handed your newly minted degree.
What’s the typical takeaway from these voices of experience? Continue to learn, stay curious, don’t be afraid to take risks, value your relationships, have an adventure and try to keep an open mind in your personal life and career.
Also, bear in mind that your diploma is just a piece of paper. It’s nice to have, and you worked hard to earn it. However, it’s no panacea for everything in the future. Steel yourself for rough patches ahead. In these times of roller-coaster policies, wars, AI, and so many challenges, including high inflation, layoffs, a tough job market, funding cuts, the underlying threat of personal and global tragedy, terrorism, poverty, unemployment, global warming, and the high cost of everything, it can seem as if life is mostly doom and gloom.
Is it? Frank Bruni in a New York Times op-ed (April 6, 2026) titled, “We’re Supposed to Give Students a Map. I Don’t even Know the Terrain,” addresses this issue. Bruni, who has been on the faculty of Duke University for five years, is uncertain what to tell his students about the future. He writes: “…how do I describe this troubled world of ours — the grave crossroads we straddle, the mighty stakes of our decisions — in a manner both truthful and gentle? How do I gird my students for the uncertainties and obstacles ahead while equipping them with an ample store of hope?”
Bruni resolves that he needs “to communicate that for all this country’s current trials, it still brims with opportunities, its promise greater than its woes. And a blurry future isn’t the same as a bleak one. It just asks today’s college students to be especially nimble and patient. And it demands that those of us who stand before them work extra hard to find an honest balance between uncomfortable reckonings and reasons not to despair.”
Lest we not despair. There is hope, there’s always hope. There was a substantial increase in new jobs in March, although finding the right one has been a Sisyphean effort. As college grads enter the workforce, there are reasons to feel optimistic about new industries, roles and opportunities.
In addition, writer Jodi Kantor, also with The New York Times, recently wrote a book that’s an excellent road map, How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work. It’s a guidebook to understand modern career uncertainties and discover purpose. Take out a copy from your library or buy a copy, a worthwhile investment.
If we were giving a graduation address, here is the advice and optimism we would offer to grads who are conflicted about the next steps to take. These 10 steps will help them get from point A—graduation—to point B—a first job or internship. And a big congrats. You’ve made it even before you start:
Play up your youth. Employers value fresh perspectives, adaptability, and the energy that new grads bring to the workforce. Your technical skills and social media prowess far outpace those of older folks. Keep a portfolio of your skills—artwork, graphics, articles, spreadsheets--and show at an appropriate time. But from us old folks, dress professionally and for the job you hope to attain; invest in a few work outfits for the job you hope to get.
Persevere. If you hang in and keep pounding the pavement, it can pay off in your job search. At the same time, stay open to learning and embracing change, all of which can lead to fulfilling careers, even in challenging times.
Network. Reach out to people, even if you’re shy. Push yourself. Talk to friends and if you learn of someone in a career you’d like, ask if you may reach out. Sometimes, reach out to total strangers. You may be amazed at how receptive they may be about talking to you. Do your homework. Then, email, ask to take the person for coffee, write a thank-you note for letting you pick their brain and keep them in the loop. They may become invested in helping you reach your goal. Many adults love being contacted and mentoring younger, enthusiastic adults. And don’t forget good online sites such as LinkedIn to find professionals to contact, as well as those in your college alumnae office.
Accept mistakes as part of the process. Suck it up. We trip, we fall and we get up again. It’s okay to fail if you learn from it. It will also make you more resilient for the next step and the next hurdle. Remember the cliché, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.”
Follow your passion. Don’t be blindsided by $$$$. Work is work but find something that you love to do. Be honest. Be authentic. Stay true to your values. Figure out your interests. You want something that makes you want to get up in the morning, leap out of bed and enjoy heading to the office, even if it’s at home. Not sure of your passion, read articles about jobs others pursue and see what makes you enthusiastic—a journalist’s career, a caterer’s, a teacher’s….you decide.
Take small steps to reach your bigger goals. It may take some time, but time right now is on your side. Want to be a caterer? Ask to volunteer for one. The same goes for becoming a teacher. Maybe work as a summer camp counselor teaching a skill. Little steps turn into bigger strides.
Keep in mind that life is not a straight trajectory. It’s a series of twists and turns. You never know how it will turn out. It’s a question of opportunities and some luck. You might meet the love of your life and have two beautiful children. Maybe you will save or change the world like Steve Jobs or Mother Theresa. Be an entrepreneur and start your own business; develop an app. Or maybe you’ll become the best parent on the planet, a chef or a happy clerk in a candy store or bakery.
Define success. Figure out your interests and have a go at it. Don’t focus on the idea of success before you figure out what it means to you. It doesn’t have to do with how much money you have in the bank, whether you have a big house, lots of bling, a fancy corner office or how many cars you have in your garage. It has to do with happiness in your core and building a future that excites you.
Read college graduation speeches that are often published. Hillary Clinton has said, be "Good Enough" vs. Perfect: Clinton has advised women—and others--not to feel they must be "perfect from day one" or wait for the perfect moment. Take risks and seize opportunities. She’s a success even though she didn’t win the Presidential election. Look at all she’s done. Actor Steve Carell delivered a humorous, heartfelt commencement address to the Northwestern University Class of 2025, emphasizing kindness, listening and self-care. He urged graduates to embrace "basic human decency," avoid envy, and enjoy life's small moments, all while adding in self-deprecating humor and wit. He even danced through the audience. Numerous traits can help as you pursue a job, but never forget good human behavior even when down in the dumps and discouraged.
Be grateful for what you have. Be thankful to family, friends, teachers and mentors for their support, all those who helped you to learn, succeed and grab hold of the right values. They are the ones who will comfort you when you're most down and discouraged and pick you up and say, “Keep going.” And they are likely to offer advice if you ask, so take the initiative and seek help along the way.
Keep in mind that if you’re still looking for that dream job and haven’t found it yet, fill your time with good work. If you're distraught about not finding work that you like, helping others will make you feel good. Volunteer. This might lead to a job. Vote and get involved in a political campaign and try to effect change, march in political groups, work in homeless shelters, help with the immigration issues, join the Peace Corps, Teach for America or Ameri Corp, try improv or open mike nights, jam with musicians, join a chorus, take an art class to hone those skills, and if you do see your dream job advertised and hundreds are applying for the same position, offer to work for free for a few months to get your foot in the door...if you can afford to do so.