The Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of artificial intelligence – college graduates and other young people who are fresh to the job market have faced a lot. And they are definitely experiencing headwinds at this moment.

So, to try and help them navigate a unique and difficult time in history, we asked you, our USA TODAY readers, as well as our columnists, to offer some advice. The responses were meaningful and heartfelt and included leaning on your friends, taking the long view and even leaving the country.

Below is a sampling of some of those bits of wisdom. Want to weigh in? You can still do it by going to usatoday.com/forum, leaving us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923 or by dropping a note at forum@usatoday.com.

Build on what is meaningful to you

After I graduated from college, I went to Beijing to teach English to Chinese children. I stayed there for six months. This meant a lot to me as a woman of color. I knew I wanted to be more cultured and learn about backgrounds other than my own.

Mistakes I made that I wish I could take back are trying to be what people expected of me, and the fear of not just going for it. Living in China gave me the courage to take a huge risk. I switched from trying to become an elementary school teacher for 10 years to becoming a professional poet in June 2020.

The opportunities have never stopped since then, but my biggest "yes" was last year. I submitted my poetic style letter to the Letters to America project. This project highlighted America's 250th anniversary from a Black woman’s perspective. My letter, along with submissions from two other Black women writers, was composed into a song. It was sung by soprano Karen Slack at Carnegie Hall on March 11.

The advice I wish I had received after graduation is to build on what is meaningful to you and watch it grow. The poetry is meaningful to me because I use it to advocate for others who have no voice and to raise awareness of people in need. This took a willingness to connect with those who also believe in what I am trying to accomplish for humanity. Collaboration is not something mentioned enough, but it plays a big role in the growth of what is meaningful to a person.

I present the same advice I needed to the Class of 2026: Build on what is meaningful to you and watch it grow. Everyone is unique, and every story is different. We win together, not apart. Each individual needs to find a community that will help change........

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