Spend five minutes with the news in 2026 and it’s hard not to feel uneasy. Climate anxiety, economic instability, war and the relentless pace of technological change dominate the headlines. Artificial intelligence is reshaping work, schools are under pressure to evolve, and many adults quietly wonder whether the next generation is prepared for what is coming. From where I stand — working closely with young people every day as the principal of an alternative high school in Mon