Last week we wrote the editorial about what it truly feels like to be a teenager at graduation. But after attending commencement ceremonies this weekend, it’s clear that this generation grew up in some unique circumstances. 

A journalism professor once told us to never use the word “unique” in our stories because it doesn’t identify anything, since everything is unique. But how else can one describe a time period that has never happened before?

This generation—Gen Z (born between 1997-2012)—entered middle school when the Covid pandemic began. This changed everything for them, from online classes to Zoom to digital presentations. 

At graduation ceremonies across Sullivan County this weekend, both the graduates and the school staff spoke about this time of immense change—and pain. They spoke of the difficulties of concentrating during virtual school, missing out on activities that would normally be in person, and having those milestones marked by masks and social distancing. 

They also spoke of their strengths. They went through this challenging time and came out the other side and were now standing on fields and stages ready to receive their diplomas. 

It wasn’t just Covid that marked this generations’ time in school; there’s also the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). 

While AI has been around for a while, these past few years saw a rapid rise in the use and spread of this technology. 

“Think about how much the world has transformed around you,” said Eldred Central School District Superintendent Traci Ferreira during Eldred’s graduation ceremony on Friday evening. 

Her words hit the nail on the head; these changes happened around them. 

While we don’t know what the lasting impacts of Covid will be, if any, the students—now entering the “real world”—will have to contend with the AI revolution and what it means for jobs. 

If the past is precedent, we say they are ready and able to handle these changes and hopefully contribute in positive ways.