Every year around this time, members of council are invited to attend the high school graduation ceremony.

Itsa国际传媒檚 an opportunity for us to not only salute individual students, but to also recognize the contribution of our youth to the community.

This year, due to COVID-19, there will be no ceremony.

Yousa国际传媒檙e in the feelies, itsa国际传媒檚 understandable.

Everyone should be able to celebrate their achievements.

If this was going to happen to anyone, it was going to happen to you, Class of 2020.

Because you were different from the start. You were born into a world reeling from the 9/11 attacks.

You have seen the impacts of war with the arrival of refugees in our community.

Yousa国际传媒檝e seen the impacts of the opioid crisis with overdoses and deaths of people you know.

Yousa国际传媒檝e seen the impacts of climate change with unprecedented wildfires and flooding.

Now sa国际传媒� surprise! sa国际传媒� yousa国际传媒檙e graduating in the middle of a pandemic.

The upheavals yousa国际传媒檝e experienced throughout your early life, culminating in these bizarre final few months of your graduating year, has given you inner strength, even if you donsa国际传媒檛 yet realize it.

You have learned that life is uncertain and nothing is promised. In the process, you have become resilient.

Yousa国际传媒檙e going to hear a lot more about resilience as you step out into the world.

Whether wesa国际传媒檙e talking about individuals or society, business or government, community or country, there will increasingly be a need to bounce back from crises and adapt to new normals.

Not everybody has an ineffable quality to be knocked down and get back up stronger.

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But you do. Yousa国际传媒檙e proving it right now.

You wonsa国际传媒檛 get your moment to parade into the arena and party like itsa国际传媒檚 1999. But yousa国际传媒檝e found other ways to celebrate and capture your graduation through photo shoots, videos and social media. Yousa国际传媒檝e had to innovate.

Innovation is another word yousa国际传媒檙e going to hear more often.

Increasingly, the ability to resolve problems sa国际传媒� personal and societal sa国际传媒� will depend on doing things differently.

Not everybody knows how to think outside the box. But you do. Again, yousa国际传媒檙e proving it right now.

Yousa国际传媒檙e living history, and already you have quite a story to tell about your graduation. About how you crossed an empty stage in an empty theatre to receive your diploma. About being all dressed up with no place to go. About how a pandemic made you boldly go where no grad had gone before.

The ability to share a good story will serve you well.

Facts and figures have their place but itsa国际传媒檚 our stories that create lasting impressions and help us make sense of this crazy world.

For many cultures, including most First Nations, storytelling is the foundation for learning and relationship building. Indigenous writer and storyteller Thomas King says a great way to start a story is with the words: sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檒l never believe what happened.sa国际传媒�

Not everybody knows how to tell a good story. But you do. When talking about grad, yousa国际传媒檒l forever be saying, sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檒l never believe what happened.sa国际传媒�

So even if your graduation hasnsa国际传媒檛 gone as expected, be proud of your accomplishments and know your future is so bright yousa国际传媒檒l have to wear shades.

Your resilience, innovation and storytelling will get you through the tough times of today and you will emerge as the leaders of a better tomorrow.

Class of 2020, the force will be with you.

Always.

Doug Holmes is a Summerland councillor and parent of a 2020 graduating student.

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