From Opportunity to Uncertainty: Reflections on a Granddaughter’s Graduation
Last Friday, I attended one of the proudest moments in a grandfather’s life - the graduation of my granddaughter from the George Washington University, specifically the Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, DC. Surrounded by cheering families, proud parents, and hopeful students dressed in caps and gowns, the atmosphere was joyful and inspiring. More than 600 students graduated that day with Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and Master of Science degrees.
My granddaughter was among approximately 60 graduates receiving bachelor’s degrees in International Affairs. Yet amid the celebration, one statistic stayed in my mind long after the ceremonies ended. She told me that only about 25 of the 60 graduates had definite plans after graduation either admission to graduate school or tentative job offers. The majority were still uncertain about their future employment.
That reality made me reflect deeply on how different life is today for young graduates compared to my own generation in the mid-1960s.
When I graduated many decades ago, the world seemed filled with opportunity. A college degree, particularly in science or technical fields, almost guaranteed employment. In my own experience, I had several job offers before graduation. Employers actively recruited graduates, industries were expanding, and America’s postwar economy was booming. There was optimism that education naturally led to stable employment, home ownership, and a predictable middle-class life.
Today’s graduates face a very different landscape.
The modern economy is more technologically advanced, globally interconnected, and highly competitive. Artificial intelligence, automation, outsourcing, and economic uncertainty have transformed the employment market. Many entry-level positions that once served as stepping stones for young professionals have disappeared or become temporary contract work. Even highly educated graduates from prestigious universities now compete in crowded labor markets.
Ironically, this generation may be the most educated in history, yet many enter adulthood burdened by anxiety, student debt, and uncertainty about their future. Degrees alone no longer guarantee economic security.
For students graduating in fields such as International Affairs, the challenge can be even greater. Government hiring has slowed in many areas. International organizations and NGOs face funding uncertainties. Diplomatic and policy careers remain attractive but highly competitive. Many graduates now pursue internships, fellowships, or graduate degrees simply to remain competitive in the marketplace.
As I watched the graduates crossing the stage in Washington, DC, I could not help but compare the America of my youth with the America facing today’s young adults.
In the 1960s, despite social upheavals and the Vietnam War, there remained broad faith in upward mobility. A college education was viewed as a direct bridge toward stability and opportunity. Today, that bridge appears less certain and more fragile.
Yet I also admire this younger generation. They are adaptable, technologically sophisticated, globally aware, and resilient in ways my generation never had to be. They navigate a world of rapid economic change, political polarization, climate concerns, and digital disruption. Their challenges are greater, but so too may be their capacity for innovation.
Perhaps every generation believes the world was simpler in its youth. But I genuinely believe today’s graduates face pressures unknown to many of us decades ago.
Still, as I looked at my granddaughter proudly receiving her diploma, I felt hope rather than despair. Education remains valuable not merely as a pathway to employment, but as preparation for thoughtful citizenship, lifelong learning, and personal growth. The journey ahead may be uncertain, but uncertainty itself often creates new paths and unexpected opportunities.
For grandparents like myself, graduation ceremonies are more than academic milestones. They are moments that connect generations. reminders of where we came from, how society has changed, and what kind of future awaits those who follow us.
The diplomas handed out that day represented not guarantees, but possibilities. And perhaps in today’s complicated world, hope and resilience are the most important qualifications of all.
Meanwhile, here are some photos I took during the Graduation Ceremony. This was held at the Charles E Smith Gymnasium. The 5,000 seat capacity gymnasium was filled with parents, families. grandparents, friends and relatives of the 600 new Graduates. Carenna was one of the eleven acknowlegde and made to stand up during the ceremony because she was a Dean's scholar and graduated summa cum laude.
Personal Note: After 24 years of absence from the Washington DC area, that trip back brought back pleasant memories of My FDA years. The trip wasn't as traumatic as I imagined it would be. Thanks to the pre-checked( TSA) and pre boarding and wheel Chair provided ( United Airlines) and the well- organized scheduling ( after graduation parties) by my capable traveling companion, my beloved Ditas, my youngest daughter.
Part 2 of this trip will include write-up and photos the After Graduation Dinners Parties hosted by Ella Lazarte, Ditas first cousin and Irene Bueno- Ditas college friend from UC Berkeley.
Carenna Highlights on Elliot News/blogs:
https://blogs.gwu.edu/elliott360/2026/05/05/senior-spotlight-carenna-katague-thompson/
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