EDITORIAL:Some advice for 2026 high school graduates from their Lancaster County peers

THE ISSUE

Thousands of Lancaster County teenagers graduated from high school over the past couple of weeks. Hempfield High School opened the county's commencement season May 26. Warwick High School will wrap it up Monday.

We're addressing this editorial to members of the high school classes of 2026 in Lancaster County.

Don't worry, graduates - this isn't going to be an attempt to offer you advice from a world-weary grown-up perspective.

Even as society changes dramatically around us, throwing new challenges - artificial intelligence, for instance - in our paths, it can be difficult to find original ways to say, basically, "Good job, kids. Now step into your life as adults with your heads held high."

(But, good job, kids! Step into your adult lives with your heads held high. You've been through a lot. We have faith you'll do well.)

Instead of serving up our version of a commencement address, today we're going to offer some advice we pulled from columns published during the 2025-26 school year on this newspaper's Generation Z(eal) page, which is devoted to the opinion writing of local students.

So this advice - wise and true - comes from your peers.

We've noted the writers' grades they were in at the time of writing.

Here goes.

Angel Obispo, 11th grader at Conestoga Valley High School, writing on the need for gender equality:

"When knowledge is restricted, power is restricted. Those of us with access and awareness should use those advantages to stand up for those who don't have such rights. ... Awareness is not enough. It must move us to action, advocacy and a refusal to accept 'almost equal' as good enough."

Honor Hersh, 11th grader at Solanco High School, writing about the death of a close friend:

No "one should wait until tomorrow to tell someone that you care. You might say 'We have all the time in the world.' ... We always think we have time. Not just time in general, but time to show up, time to fix things, time to send those messages and especially time to make memories. But time is a quiet thief."

Zoe Baker Herron, 11th grader at Manheim Township High School:

"We are living in a unique time of social isolation, continual humanitarian crisis, global climate threats and an increasingly authoritarian government. This unique circumstance requires a unique kind of hope to allow us to fight it.

"So arrives the junction where radical hope becomes necessary. It is ridiculously important that we continue to radically hope. Hope is consequential because it is resistance to the overwhelming desire to succumb to a reality in which unnecessary suffering is commonplace.

"This hope is not advertised or tangible; it is an invisible hand that we all have to decide to hold. It may take some time to find it, and it may take practice, but it is always possible."

Siyana Georgieva, ninth grader at Manheim Township High School:

"As we get older, we live through more negative experiences. We learn that life is not always easy and that people make mistakes. However, we also learn how to persevere through it all. ... Using humor in difficult circumstances can help you relieve stress, see things from a different perspective and connect with those around you. ... Studies show that laughing can relieve your stress response and this can help lead to more positive mental and physical health. ... In this ever-changing world, not everything will go according to plan. No matter the situation, though, humor can be used to your advantage when utilized properly. ... It's no joke that laughter is the best medicine, especially in dark times."

Raleigh K. Leid, 12th grader at Garden Spot High School in the Eastern Lancaster County School District:

We "all need to find interests of our own - outside of consumerism - and begin to become our own unique selves, without the herd mentality of social media."

Lily Baker, 11th grader at Warwick High School:

"A sense of community teaches us to reflect passion and empathy. Plus, any community ... can foster social connection. You never know where or when you'll meet a new friend. ... I believe that movie theaters can be places where everyone belongs. It's a fun night out and an easy way to reconnect. So, next time you're craving a movie night in, think about heading out instead. ... Choose movie theaters over modern streaming services. Choose community over staying home."

Zyree Dixon, 12th grader at Lancaster Mennonite:

Everyone is "trying so hard to stand out that they all end up blending in. The same shoes, the same hoodies, the same hairstyles, the same pictures. After a while, it stops feeling creative and starts to feel forced. Looking 'put together' on the outside doesn't guarantee you feel good on the inside."

"Authenticity isn't about everything being perfect. It's not supposed to be. It's messy, it's honest and it can't be captured with a filter. But that's what makes it real. The way someone carries themselves, the way they talk, the small details that make them who they are - that's what actually matters. That's what makes a person stand out in a way no trend ever can. ... At some point, we have to stop performing and start actually living. Being real takes way more strength than pretending. Trends fade, but being yourself doesn't. When you stop chasing 'aesthetic' and start owning who you are, it changes everything - because nobody else can be you."

Our thoughts

This is all excellent advice.

As members of Generation Z, you are often misunderstood and misrepresented. But we find you to be generally curious, thoughtful, funny, compassionate, generous and adaptable. You've survived school shooter drills, school closures necessitated by a pandemic, the onslaught of AI, intense political polarization, economic crises and a societal obsession with social media. Your resilience is truly impressive - and it will help you navigate what lies ahead.

Whether you've already accepted your diploma or still are waiting to cross the stage, we're deeply proud of you. We congratulate you and your families.

Take a bow. You've earned it.

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