The Class of 2025 is graduating into a tumultuous world where the only certainty is uncertainty.
But it is also a world of incredible opportunity.
On the surface, the picture looks bleak. Instability is mounting around the globe. Wars are ongoing in multiple regions.
Rising authoritarianism, trade disputes and shifting power dynamics are testing the foundations of democracy and reshaping the global order in ways that may not be fully understand for generations.
Young people may be tempted to believe that the Virgin Islands is insulated from such issues. That would be a mistake.
Indeed, history has shown that the VI feels an outsize impact from global shifts. Each of its two main economic pillars — financial services and tourism — are inextricably linked to the outside world in a way that makes the territory extraordinarily vulnerable to changing tides abroad.
And this is to say nothing of the threats associated with climate change and other external factors out of the VI’s control.
But these challenges are only part of the story. There is also much good news.
Artificial intelligence is transforming the workforce in exciting ways that would have seemed like science fiction just a few years ago.
Meanwhile, advances in communication make it possible to do many jobs remotely from almost anywhere — including right here in the VI. Fintech and other emerging technologies are also opening new doors for workers and entrepreneurs alike.
All these shifts present exciting opportunities in any jurisdiction as internationally focused as the VI.
Even better, many of today’s graduates are well equipped to thrive in this brave new world. Success will require flexibility, creativity and outside-the-box thinking — skills they have already been forced to develop.
In 2017, after all, most of today’s graduates survived Hurricane Irma, which devastated schools and led to years of shift-based learning. And less than three years later, the Covid-19 pandemic forced them into remote schooling.
As graduates work to find their footing, they also have plenty of support. Qualified Virgin Islanders have priority access to local jobs.
And thanks in large part to the territory’s tourism and financial services sectors, work opportunities range widely — from office roles in finance to hospitality, culinary arts, yacht captaining and much more.
For further education, HLSCC is free for Virgin Islanders and low-cost for other students, and substantial government scholarships are available for study abroad.
In short, VI graduates are fortunate and well-positioned despite the challenges ahead. With hard work and determination, we have no doubt they will succeed.
We look forward to cheering them on.
