In this season of graduations, I’ve been reflecting on my own graduation and the path that’s led me where I am today. Surprisingly, in some ways, I wasn’t so different from today’s graduates. Years ago, when I wore a cap and gown, I received my diploma in the mail afterward—just like many graduates do today. At my state college, I think it was more of a way to make sure graduates had paid all their fees and behaved themselves during the ceremony, but that’s a topic for another day.

When it was my turn to join the workforce, the economic landscape was bleak. Jobs in my chosen field were hard to come by, and like many of today’s graduates, I felt the stress of student loan payments that would soon come due. Unlike today’s graduates with email, LinkedIn profiles, and video calls, I pounded the pavement looking for work. After mailing countless resumes and interviewing for more than a few less-than-ideal jobs, I eventually lowered my expectations of finding “The Job” and instead found an opportunity to gain valuable experience—and a paycheck.

Building my work life slowly wasn’t a choice, but simply step one on my path to adulthood. The economy was in recession, which brought its own challenges and uncertainties. But in the days before cell phones and social media distractions, it may have been easier to focus more deeply on the people, tasks, and things that mattered most than it is today.

Many of today’s graduates also carry the massive weight of college debt as they begin their careers. Experts note that young graduates face one of the toughest job markets in a decade, making good jobs difficult to find. Today’s challenges are different from those of the past, as AI reshapes industries in real time, social media competes for attention, and misinformation spreads faster than truth. But when looking ahead, it’s important to look back, because history provides valuable lessons.

When we do look back, we see that every generation is handed defining challenges: the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and today’s Generation Alpha. The future is something each of us helps create, regardless of the era we’re born into. When we face uncertainty with faith and determination instead of surrendering to fear, we can navigate difficult times without losing our humanity.

As you embark on this season of graduations, I hope you see a bit of yourself in today’s graduates—in both the challenges they face and the accomplishments they’ve already achieved. And once you’ve made it through the long, boring ceremony, that’s when the exciting part begins for all of us.