Here’s to the Class of ’22.

They spent their short-person years in a country at war, felt the pain of money worries through the Great Recession, saw their educations interrupted by a global pandemic and yet here they are, ready to take their place as young adults in an economy fraught with the worst inflation in 40 years.

Anyone who says today’s youth aren’t tough hasn’t seen their world through a child’s eyes and is not setting their foot on the path that lies before them.

We say kudos — you got here.

And you’re going to get to your next step of choice.

And the next.

Just like the graduates who have entered the adult world during all those roadblocks in paths past.

Public school graduations in Lee County begin tonight with the majority taking place this weekend at various venues that this year will again admit family and friends to cheer their special graduate on.

It is here that we typically offer the same sage advice: Don’t expect points for effort anymore; accept that, political pandering to the contrary, nobody owes you anything, and be prepared to deal with the hard, cold fact that life is often neither fair nor easy.

But we suspect that the Class of 2022 — entering school in the Great Recession and finishing following the worst worldwide pandemic since the flu of 1918 — is well aware of life’s harsh realities.

So instead of a traditional get-ready-to-grow-up mantra, we will again recognize that there are many in this year’s graduating class, both here in Lee County and across the state of Florida, who are, indeed, already adults, young adults who want to change a world that needs changing.

On that mission, we wish them well.

And we wish that there was far, far less for them to tackle.

Graduations begin tonight for the city of Cape Coral’s charter high school and continue through Saturday and Sunday.

This year’s graduation schedule for West Zone schools and Bishop Verot is :

Alico Arena

• Oasis High School, 7 p.m., Friday, May 20

• Cape Coral High School, 10 a.m., Saturday, May 21

• Ida S. Baker High School, 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 21

• North Fort Myers High School, 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 22

Suncoast Arena

• Mariner High School, 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 21

• Island Coast High School, 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 22

Bishop Verot’s graduation is Saturday, May 21, at 9 a.m. at the school.

All of the Lee County School District ceremonies will once again be streamed live for those who cannot attend. Visit https://www.leeschools.net/calendars/high_school_graduation.

Again, our very best wishes to the Class of 2022.

You got this.

— Breeze editorial