My Message to the Class of 2020
Congratulations to the Class of 2020! While COVID-19 may have left you with a virtual ceremony for your 16+ years of hard work, you had the most supported graduation unique from previous classes. The Obamas, Beyoncé, BTS, Lady Gaga, Secretary Robert M. Gates, Sundar Pichai, Secretary Condoleezza Rice, and Malala Yousafzai were your commencement speakers. Not only that, but Lizzo, BTS, the New York Philharmonic, dozens of other artists, famous actors like Dwyane Wade, Tom Hanks, and Alicia Keys also performed just for you.
What a memory to have. And a great story to tell your kids.
I'm usually not of an optimistic mindset, but trust me when I say, while job recruitment has nearly come to a stop, unemployment is unusually high, and the stock market crashed, all of these will pass. And you will be successful.
A Case Study: 2008
In 2008 pre-recession, life was great. The stock market was at all-time highs. Homeowners were abundant. And students getting ready for graduation were optimistic going into the job market. Then, the bubble burst. Institutions were destroyed, and individuals fell on hard times.
But what happened after?
The markets recovered in record time: 4 years. The previous recession before took nearly 25 years!
What made this drastic difference was the duration for containment measures as well as the speed in which the government reacted. The Federal Reserve quickly lowered interest rates to record lows increasing money velocity, which led to more investment and boom in the economy.
Companies grew at unprecedented rates with borrowing rates so low, and thus, the Class of 2008 was once again given its chance to rise to collectively take over the job market.
To The Class of 2020
The markets have largely returned to where they were before. This was in a matter of months, not years. And mid- and large- companies are stronger than ever. And people are especially considerate towards you, Class of 2020.
To my friends in Silicon Valley, tech companies actually grew! This means great prospective jobs for my engineers, analysts, and consultants.
To my biotech friends, obviously, all of these are growing at insane rates to ramp up R&D for the vaccine. Again, a solid prospective job field to apply to right now.
To my creators, this is the perfect time for creation. People have record levels of time now. And to top it off, we can't leave our homes. So digital content is on the rise, and you can capitalize on its growth. Be the next Ed Sheeran, Picasso, and PewDiePie. You can do it.
The list can go on. See the pandemic as an opportunity for growth, not stagnation. Develop applicable skills in your field to better your resume. Get a new hobby. Whatever you do, don't stop progressing.
Live intentionally.