Thirty years ago, I received my high school diploma. I was young, 17, and with the whole world ahead of me, I was certain about one thing: my life would end up far away from Bend, Ore. I was very right about that, but I also thought there had to be more to life than milking cows. I was very wrong about that. As my daughter, Cassie, recently walked across the stage to receive her high school diploma over the weekend, I thought about the advice I had to offer her.
First of all, Cassie is so far ahead of where I was as a high school graduate. She is wired to work hard and is extremely driven. So, she could easily offer advice to other graduates that might resonate a bit more than I could.
But, I’ll take a stab at it. These are my top five pieces of advice.
- Hit the pause button. Power down and unplug every now and then. Look up and take in the view. Don’t focus so hard on getting to the destination that you forget to enjoy the journey.
- Comparison is a thief of joy. It’s easy to become envious with jealousy. Others might experience their life highlight now and yours is yet to come. Don’t compare. Stay in your lane and be patient.
- Extend grace to yourself. We are all human. Mistakes will happen. Learn from them and move on.
- Say yes to opportunity. Make connections and realize that networking happens everywhere. The answers might not be immediate, but extending your hand into a formal introduction and showcasing your passion for life connects you to more opportunities than you ever realize.
- Discover your why. When we find our passion and then follow it, we lead a purpose-filled life. One that brings joy to your heart and intention to the world. Go find yours.
As we started Cassie’s senior year, I told her to take it one step at a time so it wouldn’t be so overwhelming. Now, I realize this advice was more of a pep talk to myself.
I could not be prouder of my soon-to-be 18-year-old daughter. Cassie’s future is bright, as she plans to head to Iowa State University to study Dairy Science.
What additional pieces of advice would you offer to a recent graduate? Drop me a note in the comments below.
