For me and many other post-secondary students, graduation ceremonies are a pivotal event that marks students’ transition to full-fledged adulthood. The class of 2020, however, has had a drastically different experience. With graduation ceremonies canceled or postponed, and the school year abruptly cut short for many students, the class of 2020 has essentially been thrust into the daunting world of adulthood. With the comfort and security of student life gone, I and other graduates must learn to navigate an uncertain job market without any sense of closure for the end of the life they once knew. 

While adjusting to the ever-changing “new normal,” my own resilience has been tested and I have been forced to reconsider some of my longtime beliefs about what life after university would look like. While grappling the challenges of today’s climate, I have been examining the concept of self-leadership in an effort to gain a new perspective.  

Self-leadership refers to the concept of influencing one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions towards positive outcomes. It is difficult to maintain this outlook when today’s world appears grim, particularly for so many young people who have not yet had the chance to develop their careers.

“The class of 2020 has essentially been thrust into the daunting world of adulthood”

Despite the many uncertainties ahead, it is important for new graduates to maintain a positive outlook and not to lose sight of what they have to offer the world. Anyone can be a leader regardless of age and experience level. Young people can be leaders in spurring change and we have tremendous power to change our lives. In order to navigate these unprecedented times, new graduates can use this transformative period to question previously unchallenged assumptions. Essentially, graduates can use this time of large-scale social change to tap into their potential, discover new interests, and explore their passions. 

Personally, I am using this time to expand my skill set. I am doing an internship, which has given me the opportunity to learn about self-leadership, entrepreneurship, and marketing. I believe this will help me become a more well-rounded candidate to future employment prospects. Additionally, I have been exploring my passions, such as reading and creative writing, that have until now taken a back seat in my busy life.

A fellow class of 2020 graduate, Malala Yousafzai holds that students will not be defined by the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yousafzai argues that “the class of 2020 won’t be defined by what we lost to the virus but by how we responded to it.” Instead, new graduates have the opportunity to make the most of this situation and take advantage of the opportunities they are presented: “the world is yours now. And I can’t wait to see what you make of it.”