My dear daughter- on your graduation day

My Dear Daughter, 

As you stand at the threshold of this new era,  

My heart is filled with both pride and sorrow.  

Pride, for you have grown into a resilient and compassionate soul;  

Sorrow, for the world you inherit seems fractured and crumbling—  

A world of ceaseless conflicts, senseless violence,  

Superpowers treating lives as chess pieces,  

Global institutions, once built for peace and justice, now collapsing,  

While the powerful act with impunity in the name of righteousness.  

When missiles rain and treaties shatter,  

It’s easy to feel powerless.  

But remember this truth:  

In times of chaos,  

You and I are the guardians of what truly matters.

Now, this world has become a jungle,  

Where the strong prey on the weak…  

When leaders of powerful nations dismiss international law,  

Climate agreements, or fair trade principles,  

They are gambling with your future.  

As graduate hiring dwindles,  

Youth unemployment rises,  

Environmental destruction deepens,  

And trust in governments and institutions crumbles,  

Helplessness spreads like weeds…  

Yet, in this apocalyptic-seeming script,  

I see you—and your generation—refusing to be mere bystanders.  

When the weight of global chaos feels suffocating,  

Small acts of connection become revolutionary sparks. 

Buy an extra serving from an elderly street vendor packing up in the rain,  

Hold the elevator for three more seconds for a mother with her child,  

Plant a wildflower in the cracks for a struggling bee

These simple gestures are random acts of rebellion.  

Kindness and resilience take root,  

Flowers bloom even in the gaps of brick walls!  

Fireflies may be tiny,  

But together, they light up the night path.  

See the bridge over the Mekong, joining two nations

Carrying rice, carrying laughter.  

High-speed trains threading through green mountains,  

African friends learning to build wind farms.  

Concrete bridge piers stand silent,  

Yet they hold more power than cannons ever could!  

Build bridges, NO to bullets & bombs

Go forth, my girl!  

Remember how you sheltered stray cats in the rain—

Keep learning, exploring,  

Holding courage and openness close to your heart

The moon chases your white sneakers,  

Lighting up your first mountain peak tonight!  

With your childlike heart,  

Find your own definition and place in this life.  

Soar beyond the horizon!  

And know—a safe harbor always awaits your return.