In the last couple of weeks my Facebook and Twitter feeds have been filled with famous people giving advice to college grads.
Ten years ago I graduated high school, I'm trying to be a published author, and I operate a blog focusing on me trying to be the adult I thought I was supposed to be. You know, competent.
And because of this I'm extremely qualified to give a commence speech type thing:
To the high school graduates, Congratulations!
You've proven you can remember facts and figures and spit them out at a moment's notice, and you're capable of filling in bubbles with a number two pencil.
Forget all of that.
As of now, you're going to be graded and judged on what type of person you are, and what you can do for others and for yourself.
This is the time when you get to figure out what type of person you want to be. (Hint: If you're going to college you have a few more years to figure it out) And the choice is up to you, but remember the rest of the world will be judging you, so don't be a jerk.
Also, enjoy this summer with your friends. This will be the last summer where everything is as it was. Next summer friends may stay at school, have jobs, hang out with new friends, and be working. The jokes of senior year won't matter as much, and you'll all be changed, mostly for the good.
So, before you embark on your journey, enjoy the time with your friends and family. Have fun, cause shenanigans, don't get arrested.
Remember this time, capture the moments with friends (you don't have to use your cell) and go on adventures, have bonfires, hang out.
High school was not the best years of your life (unless you make it so), nor will college. A million things will happen between now and by the time you get the invite for your ten year class reunion (it comes faster than you think)
You will work hard for your goals and you may not reach them, but something better comes along you never thought would happen. Embrace it.
Things you never thought possible, or thought of at all, will happen, while things you've worked your hardest for may not.
There will be a time when you look around and wonder how you got where you are. It's entirely possible your life is unrecognizable from what you imagined.
I hope it works out so it's better than you thought possible.
And if not, there's Netflix.
You will fail. You will fail so hard you won't want to pick up the phone and talk to anyone. You will want to hide out and watch movies and eat pizza and wonder how the hell you got yourself into this mess.
And at that moment you have two options. Get up and work some more, or lie there and become a blob.
Don't be a blob. Be glad that you tried, be glad that you lived, and be glad you took the chance. And go do it all over again.
And for some of you, you may fail more than you succeed. So did a lot of people who have led the way in new technology, science, books, and acceptable pizza toppings.
It's okay to cry yourself to sleep after you've failed. And if you're a college student, you may find yourself just breaking into tears at three in the morning as you try to finish a project or paper.
It's okay. It happens.
At some point you're going to wish for an answer sheet. You're going to want to see what the future holds. You're going to want the answers for your exams. You're going to question your ability and why you are where you are.
You're going to feel lost and overwhelmed.
Ride it out.
Here's the secret I learned since graduating high school: No one knows what they're doing or why, or where they parked their car.
Welcome to the scary world of doubt.
The training wheels of life are officially off, and you're on your own to pedal. However you remain upright, do it. You may pedal differently than others, but if it works for you, do it.
You do you.
You will meet people who's lives appear perfect, and neatly mapped out for success, while you struggle working the soft serve ice cream machine (hint: turn the knob the other way) it's okay, everyone finds their way at some point. Sometimes, it takes a bit longer than others.
And if you're the one who has it all figured out, help the poor person who is starving for some ice cream.
Have fun and good luck!
