It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves (Destiny is not in the hands of chance, it is in your hands, you shall not wait for it, you shall conquer it).
William Shakespeare
Much around us feels uncertain at the moment. Every day we receive news from all over the world about natural disasters, extinct animal species, wars, the growth of autocratic states and so on...
So it would be absolutely natural to withdraw, to close our eyes and ears in order to protect ourselves. The situation of the new 11th graders, for example, is also a new, challenging one, because they have just been thrown into new class constellations, with new teachers, at (for many) a new school. This requires encouragement, a willingness to take risks and the joy of discovery, a desire to meet new people and perhaps challenging situations: Get out of your comfort zone!