Unique generation of our society

Clayton Hayes is a lifelong resident of Dyer County.

In my day, high school seniors were known for three things: borrowing their parents’ cars, sleeping through the first period, and hoping their "C+" in Algebra II would somehow get them into college. Fast forward to today, and this new generation of seniors is making us all look bad—seriously bad.

I don’t know when it happened, but today’s 17-year-olds seem to have more achievements than a mid-career professional and better social skills than, well, anyone I know.

Take, for instance, extracurricular activities. Back in my day, joining the drama club was considered going above and beyond. Today’s seniors are holding leadership positions in not one but five or more clubs, and somehow have the time to start three others from scratch. Oh, you didn’t start an environmental activism organization in your sophomore year? Weird angle, but okay.

They’re captains of sports teams, presidents of service clubs, and leaders in debate, all while juggling advanced calculus, AP Chemistry, and something called "robotics engineering." I don’t even know what that last one is. Is it like Legos on steroids?

And it’s not just about high grades anymore. Today’s seniors don’t aim for straight A’s—they’re also “building their brand.” Yeah, branding is something I thought was reserved for companies or livestock.

Yet here they are, curating personal websites to showcase their "portfolios," complete with blog posts on global issues, community service reflections, and maybe a think piece or two about the future of artificial intelligence, with some offering political advice for our upcoming elections

Let’s talk volunteer hours, In my day, raking the neighbor’s yard for a few bucks counted as "community service." But these kids? They’re practically running entire non-profits. You think you’re doing your part by donating canned goods?

Today’s seniors are out there launching GoFundMe campaigns, organizing relief efforts for natural disasters, and making TikToks about sustainability.

I haven’t even mentioned their proficiency in tech. These seniors don’t just use technology, they dominate it. They don’t call tech support; they do tech support. When my laptop crashes, I panic. When theirs crashes, they write code to rebuild it from scratch. There’s a good chance their latest TikTok could have been edited using software they programmed themselves.

But what really gets me is how nice they are about it all. They’re humble, compassionate, and somehow manage to be emotionally intelligent—qualities no one should have at 17. I remember seniors back in my day who thought "empathy" was a new 50's band. Not these kids.

They’re out here starting mental health initiatives and making sure everyone feels included. I mean, can you imagine? I could barely include myself in my own group projects.

And the seniors don’t just limit their kindness to humans, either. No, they’ve extended their compassion to plants, animals, and the environment at large. I hear they’re teaching trees how to recycle and tutoring birds in renewable energy practices.

Let’s be honest: we adults had our chance. But compared to these high school seniors, we’re relics of a bygone era. These kids are smart, socially conscious, and have the work ethic of a caffeine-fueled start-up founder. And yet, they still manage to smile while we’re just out here trying to remember how long it takes to microwave a Hot Pocket.

The moral of the story? If you’re feeling slightly overwhelmed by the high school seniors of today, you’re not alone. Just remember, while they’re out saving the world, the rest of us can take comfort in

knowing we had a good run. Sort of. Well, not really. But hey, at least we know who to call when the Wi-Fi goes out.

In conclusion: Today’s high school seniors are awe-inspiring, slightly terrifying, and definitely going places.

Meanwhile, I’ll just be over here Googling what "blockchain" is... again.