Graduation

"Life, we learn too late, is in the living- the tissue of every day and hour. " - Stephen Leacock

"Every man dies; not every man really lives" - William Wallace

"Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; life live to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think. - Horace (Ancient Roman Poet)

"As long as you live, keep learning how to live" - Seneca

It's that time of year again, when thousands of people make the transition from high school to college, or from college to career. For some reason I've been thinking a lot about graduation speeches, and how cheesy they often are. So, naturally I started to wonder what I would say if I ever had the occasion to speak at a graduation. Of course it's a purely hypothetical exercise (since it's extremely unlikely that I'll ever speak at any event, much less a graduation), but it was fun to think about. This is just an outline of a few points of advice that I would offer to graduating students, and thought it might be fun to share them here. If you want to indulge me as I get on my soapbox and offer the wisdom I've gathered from my 23 long years, read on. 

My thoughts for grads:

Be proud that you have accomplished something great, but also remember this is by far not the greatest thing you will achieve. Treasure the fun you had, the friendships you made, and the learning you did- and then move on excitedly to the next stage in life. Don't be saddened by the loss of this part of life, or afraid to let go- more and better experiences are ahead! There are many, many more years and adventures to come, and this was but a small portion of your life. Looking back, memories of school will dim in importance to the multitude of new experiences and relationships you will have throughout life. 

Dreams are good and important; however, don't let your life become so focused on a dream that you forget to live your life. Someone once said "Life is what happens while we are busy making other plans". Time goes fast- enjoy life and make the most of every moment! 

Life will almost certainly be different than you planned. Learn to roll with it; yes, it's important to have goals and plans and dedication, but despite all that sometimes life will simply push you onto a different course. Don't let it upset you too much; instead, be glad for the unexpected adventure. Accept that change is inevitable and learn from the surprises along the way. It's ok to let go of some dreams and embrace different ones. But remember that you always have a choice- even when life throws you a curve, you can decide how to react and what to do next. Use these experiences to gather knowledge and strength to stay on the paths that are important to you. 

Be responsible and remember that every choice you make will effect your future, whether tomorrow or in several years. Maintain your health, finances, resume, reputation, and relationships in good standing as much as possible- it will be worth it. There's almost always a tomorrow, and rash decisions will come back to bite you sooner or later. 

Life can be very harsh. Sometimes we are a little 'protected' in high school and college, with a buffer of parents, teachers, etc which can insulate us from some parts of reality. Graduation can mean the loss of this buffer (either gradually or suddenly), and the world may at first appear cruel and unforgiving. Always remember to focus on the good and bright things (they are always somewhere to be found),  and work towards a better world in small ways in your everyday life, rather than feeling hopeless or defeated by evil.

Sometimes, wisdom can mean changing your mind. Don't condemn yourself (or others) when you realize how much people change over the years. Wisdom comes from growing and changing and learning continuously; avoid stagnancy, stay humble, and remember that no matter how confident or learned you are, you will never know it all. Remember that you didn't always have the knowledge you have know, and that you don't have the knowledge now that you will one day have. Show acceptance and mercy to others who see things differently or are in a different stage of the journey than you are. This will bring joy to your relationships and exercise your mind constantly. 

Speaking of relationships, they change too, and that's ok- but don't let them become cheap to you. Relationships are one of the most valuable things in life, and probably the most enduring. Friendships, family, romance , faith, and the interactions and overlapping of them will form your most precious memories. Faith is strengthened by a loving and supportive community. Friendships are made stronger by sharing your faith together. Romance is strengthened by supportive friendships and exercising your faith as a couple. Family bonds deepen when supported and guided by faith and caring friendships. 

Find joy in the small things. Treasure perfect moments, and in bad times remember that those good moments will always come again. Escape the craziness sometimes and center yourself, finding peace and remembering your values and your value. Let good memories bring you joy and find strength in love rather than hatred. Make a difference by choosing good in your daily life; small things matter as much as big things (and most big things are made up of lots of small ones anyway).

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." - Albert Einstein