Dear Graduate: A Letter

It’s graduation time here in North Iowa and I can’t help but think about R graduating in a short 3 years…or about how I felt 16 (gasp!) years ago when I graduated.  I also can’t help but remember when I was the graduate.  There are so many mixed emotions.  There is part of me that feels like those days were just a year or two ago and the other part of me feels like a lifetime ago.  I suppose that’s because it was a lifetime ago.  Wait…how did I get this old??

But, I digress…

Dear Graduate, 

I have several things to say, so bear with me if you would.  The next week or two is going to evoke a lot of emotions…sadness, happiness, pure excitement, and fear.  You’re not only going to feel these emotions in the next week or so, but the next several months as you prepare for the next step in your life.  So, here are a couple things to keep in mind as you move forward.  

• Take in every moment.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s the commencement ceremony itself, your reception, those last few nights at home as a high school student or your last couple classes.  Take them all in, take a deep breath and really enjoy them because life will never be the same again..even as you cross that stage, life will never be the same.   
• Your life is about to change drastically.  Life is going to get complicated, hard, exciting, amazing, and utterly fantastic.  You will need a new level of patience, determination, and faith as you move forward.  There will be days you don’t believe in yourself, your goals, and where you are going.  When you feel this way hold fast, pray, and lean on those who believe in you.  
• There will never be days like you are living right now.  Your friends are going to change, you are going to change, your family is going to change and that is completely normal.  While it feels different, uncomfortable and hard…it will soon become a new normal and be just as fantastic as what you’re experiencing now.  
• Be patient and kind with your family.  Your mom, step-mom, grandmother…they are all going to be incredibly emotional in the next couple weeks and months.  Be nice.  They love you more than you will ever know, they would do anything for you and part of that is watching you grow, develop, mature, and make a life of your own.  As proud of you as they are, they are going to miss you like crazy and there is going to be a hole in their life, so be patient with them as they adjust.  
• YOU are more amazing than you can even begin to imagine.  It doesn’t matter whether you are entering the military, going to junior college, or an Ivy League college…you are 1 in a million and have the entire world at your finger tips.  Whatever you dream, you can achieve.  You hold the power to make your life whatever you want it to be.  Be nice, be respectful, work hard, have fun, be responsible, study, hold fast to God, and live life every day fully.  

It doesn’t matter what the first several points of this letter are (although all incredibly true)…that last one is the most important.  Remember it, post it in your room, on your desk or mirror for those days that you lose the faith (because I promise there will be those days).  Repeat it and adopt it as your mantra becuase it’s true.  

Good luck, God blessings on your life, and I can’t wait to see what you do with your life!  

An old high school graduate!

What words of wisdoms do you have for today’s graduate?

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