Every year, we see young people in togas and medals walk up the stage to get their diplomas. On Facebook and Reels, we now hear them speak. Many of them give strong, emotional speeches. Some share how they worked during the day and studied at night. Others tell stories of how they fought through hard times during the pandemic. And yet, they still finished college with honors.
Just last week, the University of the Philippines had its graduation in Diliman. Over 2,300 students finished with Latin honors. That includes 241 summa cum laude, 1,143 magna cum laude and 985 cum laude. That’s 61 percent of graduates with high honors! For us Baby Boomers, this is surprising. In our time, such numbers were rare. But we cannot help but admire them. They show that this new generation is achieving great things, too.
Mr. Fred Pascual, former president of UP, believes that AI (Artificial Intelligence) plays a big part. He calls it “Augmented Intelligence.” He says students today use more digital tools — like Google, ChatGPT, YouTube tutorials, and online libraries. Maybe these tools help them learn faster and do better in school.
But graduating is not the end of the story. College is just one part of life. It is a training ground. After graduation, you face a bigger challenge: real life. It is when you leave the safety of your home. You start your first job. You earn your first paycheck. You meet new people — coworkers, bosses, clients. This is where learning continues.
As we watch these graduates, we also remember the difference between our generation and theirs.
• Baby Boomers, like me, believe in hard work, teamwork and staying positive.
• Gen X are practical, independent and don’t easily trust change.
• Millennials are tech-savvy. They want meaning in their work and value work-life balance.
• Gen Z, the youngest adults today, were born into a digital world. They want authenticity, fairness and inclusion.
Each generation is different. But one thing is the same: we all want to live meaningful lives. So, what can we do? We can learn from each other. Instead of saying, “Our time was harder,” maybe we can say, “Their world is just different.” Instead of rejecting new things like AI, we can try to understand and use it wisely.
In the end, life is not a race between generations. It is a relay. We pass the baton. We cheer each other on. And when today’s graduates run ahead with hope, let’s not just stand by. Let’s guide them, support them, and maybe even learn something from them too.