Illustration by Cody Angell

There are countless pathways to a richer future; Itās up to you

The big day is slowly creeping toward us, faster than some of us would like, slower than some of us can handle. After four years (five or six years for the Super Seniors!) of really hard work, blood, sweat and tears, the day will finally arrive Saturday. It will be the classic ćlook how youāve grown!ä and ćyouāre an adult now!ä cheek-pinching kind of occasion where family from colder parts of the country will come in for the gorgeous Arizona sunshine.

Oh, and to see us graduate, of course.

Saturday will be a transition for all of the graduates. It will mark the end of the era of innocence, childish play and academic procrastination. Gone will be the days of meandering into class in pajamas, 30 minutes late. Responsibility will hit us over the head like a hot, omelet skillet. Some of us will go on to graduate programs to perpetuate the world of the student. Others will be forced to face the scary world of finding a job, an internship or, at least ,the means to travel around for a while. This has and will continue to be a most difficult task. Employment is scarce, and you donāt have to take my word for it.

Fellow columnist Daniel Cucher recently noted several reports that claimed ours will be the first American generation to not do better than our parents. At first, that notion slaps us across the face. The implication of failure is barely hidden in that theory, and it stings. In the history of our country, the youthful goal has always been to make more money and live better than our parents have. Thatās what the American dream has always been, right? To earn more than our parents did, in order to make them proud? Yes, the American dream has been about making money and then showing off the wealth ÷ the house with the white picket fence, the two-car garage, the jack russell terrier, the beach cottage for summer getaways.

Times have changed. The economy is not as robust as it was when we were children and our parents were building their 401Ks. But the idea goes well beyond a stagnant economy. Simply put: Didnāt the ever-growing wealth have to slow down at some point? If we do indeed surpass the economic success of our parents, then it will be our children who wonāt be able to surpass us. Wealth canāt continue to build infinitely.

ćThis is supposed to be a special commencement issue filled with good tidings for the graduates!ä the readers scream (as does my editor). But wait ö it is! We donāt have to do better than our parents economically to do better than our parents.

One door may be closed for us ÷ the opportunity to earn and spend more than our parents. But the only reason that has ever been a goal for us was because history told us it had to be. We have a new challenge ahead of us: to change the American dream.

We never should have been comparing ourselves to our parents in the first place. Instead, we should be aiming for a standard of success that every adult should expect to achieve living in the richest nation in the world. Should we aim to end our days homeless and using welfare checks to make ends meet? No, but nor should we aim to end our days as millionaires lounging with a Mai Tai in one hand and our stock portfolio in the other. We will work hard to do as well as we can and live comfortably. Now, thatās not the ambitious, overreaching goal weāve been taught to seek, but if we aim for that more feasible standard of life, then one glorious consequence will occur ÷ More Americans will live comfortably than ever before.

The point is this: We donāt need to do better than our parents. We need a future where more of us will experience life, liberty and happiness. And if we live simply so that others may simply live, then we will have exceeded our parents. Weāll end up living in a much richer world.

Good luck and congratulations, graduates.