The past two years have proved difficult for almost everyone. For recent college graduates, President Joe Biden believes there is a silver lining.

Biden stated that 2022’s class was well-equipped to make a difference in the world, citing the ability of graduates to manage uncertainty. Biden explained that the global pandemic caused everything around to shift, and added additional difficulties for you to keep a sense of purpose and belonging.

Biden stated that graduates have been able to adapt and make good decisions in uncertain times. Biden also said that leadership choices are likely to be more important than ever.

Biden declared, “You are graduating in an inflection moment, not just in American history but also in world history.” “Things are changing so rapidly that the next 10 years will be the decisive decade of this century because they’re going to shape what our world looks like and the values that will guide it — not just in the immediate future, but for generations to come.”

Biden also highlighted adaptability as a key trait for youth leaders to learn from, and argued that respecting others is an important quality to have because of the current world alignment. In the past, countries allied with other countries based on geography and conflict, he said — but now, it depends on values, especially ones that prioritize people over power.

Biden stated, “We are living in a global struggle among autocracies as well as democracies.” This is what you are graduating to… in a world where strong, committed, principled American leadership is more important than ever. America’s leadership is not limited to its ability to lead, it must also be able “to the top” by setting an example.

The president acknowledged that the class of 2022 also faces a steeper set of challenges than most graduating classes — including economic turmoil, international conflict and a yet uncalculated pandemic toll. They could use the leadership skills that they have already acquired, unknowingly or not, to make a bigger impact on the future of the world.

Biden stated that no generation of graduates has the right to choose which world it’s going to enter. You can change the world that has been already formed.

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