What to tell Grade 6 graduates?

I WAS asked recently to say the Baccaluareate Mass for the

Grade 6 graduates of a certain school here in Cebu. That immediately

brought me to think about what to tell these young boys and girls.

More precisely, I thought of what Christ would tell them especially at

this juncture of rapid world development.

            Definitely, these graduates have to be inspired and

encouraged to look forward unafraid to the next stage of their

education and to the future in general. They have to be reassured that

things are looking good and that there are now more and more

opportunities for them to grow in knowledge, to learn new skills, to

meet more friends and people, etc.

            But neither can we be blind to the dangers that also lurk

along the way. We cannot deny that these dangers are not only many but

also are most tricky and subtle. How to alert these graduates of these

clear and present dangers without frightening them is the challenge to

face. More than that, how to train and equip them to tackle the

challenges and trials of the times is an urgent task to do.

            But before anything, it should be made clear to them that

everything depends on their relationship with God. And precisely the

purpose of education, to put it bluntly, is to make the students know,

love and serve God.

            Another way of saying that is to tell them that they have

to aim at becoming ‘another Christ’ who is the pattern of our humanity

and the redeemer of our damaged humanity. It would be good that as

early as possible these young boys and girls realize deeply that their

creation by God is still ongoing and that the finished product of

their creation is precisely for them to be ‘another Christ.’

            They should be instilled with a deep sense of religion and

piety, especially these days when the culture of secularism and

worldliness is getting invasive and becoming dominant. They have to be

made to realize that everything has to have God as the constant

reference point. In this, we have to teach and show them how to do it.

            Aside from a deep sense of religion and piety, the

graduates have to be encouraged to cultivate a deep sense of family.

We cannot deny that there are nowadays very strong forces that tend to

weaken family life. There are now, sad to say, many broken and

dysfunctional families. This problem has to be addressed urgently.

            Things should be done so that the graduates can enjoy a

healthy family life where they can feel very much at home with

everybody, where they feel loved and grow in their love for the

others, where they grow in the virtues, especially order, hard work,

etc.

            And lastly, the graduates have to be taught to develop a

strong and healthy personal, spiritual life. In this regard, they have

to be taught the value and the art of prayer and sacrifice. This is a

very delicate affair that has to be handled properly, giving these

young boys and girls the proper motivations.

            They should be encouraged to open up with someone whom

they can trust—their parents, first of all, and then their teachers

who should try to be their mentors, perhaps some priests and friends

who have the competence to guide them. They should feel reassured by

the help these people can give them. They should avoid keeping things

to themselves, especially when they have problems and difficulties.

            There actually are many more and even endless things to

tell them, but we do not have enough space for them now. Let’s just

pray for them and wish them all the best!