To the class or 2025,

Now that you are grown adults outside my classroom, I can finally say I must favorite well wishes. 

Good Luck fuckers.

And I mean this in the most living way possible.

Because class of 2025, you are my graduating class’s mirror.

First, the dark reflection:

During our middle school years, we experienced the horrific event of Columbine and safety in schools changed. During your youth, we faced the tragedy of Parkland. Safety in schools has been transformed once again.

Desert War ended for us when we were young and for the class of 2025, the war in the middle east finally ended. Though not as smoothly as we would have wished. 

The class of 2005 had their world forever changed with 9/11. Because of those horrific events, your lives will never know how simple traveling used to be. 2025 also faced a world changing event, covid. Your generation was shaped by the most isolating event in recent memory.

 But your class, the class of 2025, didn’t shut down. I watched you all as eighth graders reached for one another and built each other up. I could not be more proud of how your class has strived to never be alone. Checking in with each other and reaching out when they were worried for a classmate. There are a few that I know I ensured saw the next day. 

 I never thought I would watch you all walk across the stage as grown adults. Parts of me wishes you wouldn’t reach the other side because I will deeply miss you all.

Now the brightness:

The class of 2025 I watcher you all see things you didn’t like about the class of 2024 and changed it. The mentorship and guidance you gave to the underclassmen in our program made every single one of them feel welcomed. You didn’t care for the spotlight and shared it. You built a team and encouraged them to grow and learn. I hope you keep this in mind whatever journey you find yourselves on. 

Right now, it looks as if you will head into adulthood in a recession just like we did. And it may seem scary, but it’s not the end of the world. Just live. Travel everywhere. Eat all the delicious food. GO DANCE! And for the love of God, don’t worry about being cringe. Because when you do, you’ll miss out on everything. 

You may have been told that you that you have to follow a certain path, but it’s all lies. Rules don’t exist. Get your degree now or travel the world. Doesn’t matter. Go back to school when you feel ready. Work in a blue collar job or a white collar job but do whatever brings you joy because life is too short. There is no promise of tomorrow. 

So once again, good luck with adulthood. Remember everyday above ground is a good day. And when you wake up in the morning, it is your chance to start over and bring joy to the world.