Brad Paisley is offering some words of encouragement to the class of 2020. The seniors will miss the chance to do many things associated with their final year of school, including graduation and the ensuing celebrations, due to COVID-19. While Brad acknowledges that the disappointment is deep, he offers an inspiring message to those who are missing out on one of life’s biggest milestones.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about the class of 2020,” Brad shared, via his record label. “And, this can’t be easy. It’s not fair. You’ve been robbed. I know you feel that. You should have had the opportunity to walk across that stage and throw that cap in the air. You take the pictures in your backyard with your entire family from all over America flying in to see you graduate in this accomplishment in this time in your life that’s so full of promise.”
Brad goes on to add that the disappointing turn of events could be a defining, positive moment in their lives, if they have the right outlook.
“Well, the fact that you’ve been robbed of this moment doesn’t change anything about your potential and your future,” Brad noted. “If anything, it should give you some sort of inspiration in terms of what you want to do going forward. I challenge the class of 2020 to take all of this frustration and turn it into something good. Become doctors, scientists, nurses, first responders, leaders…
“People who do a better job than we have done with this,” he continued. “You can change the world and that doesn’t just change because you didn’t get to walk across that stage and shake hands with your principal or throw that cap in the air. You are the future of this country and we’re hoping that you will rise up and make it an even better place.”
Brad concluded by suggesting that the current graduating class could be better –– and stronger –- than their predecessors.
“People who take adversity like this, and become the agents of change that keep this from happening again, are maybe the answer,” he said. “That’s going to be on this generation to do a better job than we’ve done. So maybe they will. I think you’re going to have kids decide to be nurses, scientists, vaccine developers, pharmacists, and there’s a calling … Use this as inspiration is what I would tell this class.”
Brad has been doing his part to cheer others up during the coronavirus pandemic, including essential workers. He recently spoke to several grocery store workers in upstate New York, via Zoom, after finding out that they were dressing up as superheroes for their shifts.
“What an amazing way to handle one of the worst jobs to have right now, but one of the most important, which is working in a grocery store,” Brad told Good Morning America. “They’re on the front lines.”
Brad’s current single is “No I in Beer.” Download or stream at BradPaisley.com.