Congratulations. You did it. This is not how you expected your senior year to end. COVID-19, no prom, no sports, no hanging out with your friends, some you may not see again for many years, online graduation ceremonies. No one deserves this, but here we are.
You are entering a world that will never be the same. You will face challenges that my generation and the generations of the Pioneers never had to. We, of course, had our own issues, domestic, social, political, but none quite like this. Masks, social distancing, staying 6 feet apart, don’t shake hands have become a new normal.
However, you were born to this. Your hard work and sacrifice in school have given you the skills to overcome. Your education and the values that your parents taught you have prepared you to make noise to deal with these challenges, and to make real changes to improve the lives of all human beings, regardless of race, religion, sex, politics. We are all on this trail of life as one and now you will be the Pioneers, the ones to lead us into the future.
Your leadership and vision of a fair and equal life for all is the key to our humanity. Some of our older generations have lost that vision and strayed from the trail. The torch has been passed and it is now up to you to lead us back to that trail of truth, justice for all, without prejudice.
Just as we once did, go chase your dreams, catch the wind and find your trail. Never stop dreaming because all significant achievements in history began as a dream. The disappointments of missing a prom, sports, hanging out with friends, not having a formal graduation ceremony will pass. Now is when you take control of your life and find your personal path of truth, honesty, respect, opportunity.
Learn from the past history to make us better and stronger tomorrow. Be the solution. You are ready. Go for it. Take the lead. Good luck to all in your journey.
Jim Casement
Past Grand President, Pioneers of Alaska
