Graduation and the reality of what it means

By Aaron Bridges | Guest writer for The Sunday Column

OPINION – When you're a child, you often wish your life away. You can't wait to grow up because you want to do adult things and be able to make your own decisions without someone constantly telling you what to do.

Then graduation arrives. You make it to 12th grade after traveling the long road from kindergarten through high school, and now you're preparing to graduate. When I think about graduation, I see it as the moment when a child begins the transition into adulthood. Whether you choose to enter the workforce, attend college, or serve in the military, graduation marks the beginning of a new journey.

By this point, you've been a baby, a toddler, a child, and a teenager, and now you're becoming a young adult. It is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

For parents, graduation is both a joyful and emotional time. It is a season of reflection as you look back on the years you've spent raising your child. It's bittersweet because it reminds you just how quickly time passes. As the old saying goes, "In the blink of an eye."

When you watch your child walk across that stage and receive their diploma, you take in the moment and realize they are no longer your little baby or toddler. They are now adults preparing to make their own impact on society. They seem to need you less than they once did, and while that is exactly what you've prepared them for, it can still leave an ache in your heart.

I think many children want to grow up too fast, and sometimes they unknowingly wish their childhood away. In many ways, the world encourages them to do so. Yet childhood is such a precious season.

When children are young, they depend on you for everything. They want your attention, your guidance, and your presence. Sometimes it feels as though they need you at every beck and call. As parents, we spend years meeting those needs and helping them grow.

The days may seem long, but the years are incredibly short.

Life becomes busy with work, school, activities, and responsibilities. We often find ourselves saying, "We'll do it tomorrow," or "We'll have plenty of time later." But the reality is that time passes much faster than we realize.

Now that summer has arrived and another school year has come to an end, perhaps it's a good reminder for all of us to slow down and cherish the moments a little longer.

I, too, had a graduate this year. Realizing that he is now an adult and wanting even more independence has reminded me just how precious time truly is. Between work, friends, church activities, and life's responsibilities, he is constantly on the go. The time he spends at home seems less and less because he is building a life of his own.

In some ways, there is a sense of emptiness. I've found myself wishing for more time or wishing I could go back and relive certain moments. But we can't go back.

I write this Sunday Column to say that graduation is a special milestone. It is a moment when society welcomes the next generation of leaders, workers, innovators, and contributors. These graduates are our future doctors, teachers, electricians, military service members, business owners, and community leaders. They are the people who will help shape the future of our world.

As I close, I want to emphasize the importance of making every moment count with your children while they are young and still think you're the greatest person in the world. Enjoy the moments when they want to spend time with you, seek your advice, and depend on your presence.

Those moments pass quickly.

Yes, it is a little sad, but it is also incredibly rewarding.

So, congratulations to the Class of 2026.

Go make the impact on society that you were meant to make. Spread your wings and pursue your dreams. Make mistakes, take chances, and accomplish great things. Learn something new every day. Celebrate your successes and find fulfillment in your journey.

And when you fail—and everyone does—pick yourself up and keep moving forward. Life is not defined by what happens to you; it is defined by how you respond to it.

Don't allow failure or discouragement to define who you are. Instead, let those experiences shape you, strengthen you, and teach you how to become the very best version of yourself.

The future is yours. Go make it count.

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Copyright 2026, Aaron Bridges.

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