Notes to my Graduate Self
Stop forcing the future: When I was a senior, I was dating a girl who was a freshman in college. My entire senior year was wasted on wanting to get out of high school and start my journey at college. Going back, I wish I just lived in the present with all of my relationships and events I participated in. As now a 40-year-old man, I know this to be true today. Being present is a gift to everyone you are with now. Too many of us live in our past or looking to much to our future. Therefore, my advice would be to just be present, learn from the past, and have a vision for your future. Work on yourself today and those who you are with and the future will take care of itself.
Outside Noise: You will be surrounded by voices from television, social media, and friends and family who will try to take your mind and change it. Unfortunately, most of this noise will be negative and much doom and gloom. Therefore, be very selective what and who you listen too. I wish I learned to only surround myself with positive people and read and listen to experts in their field who would help me become a better person. You can filter what enters your mind and heart from others, therefore tune down the negative noise and turn up the positive.
Love: This is the single most important ingredient in life. Without love, you will feel empty, irritable and uneasy. To feel love and share it with others you have to spend time with God. In the Bible, John wrote, “Whoever does not know love, does not know God, because God is love”(1 John 4:8). If God is the source of love, then we must try to understand His heart by reading the Bible and listening to preachers who share the truth of the Good News. This Good News is Jesus came down to save us from ALL our sins so that we can be saved by God’s grace. This grace confirms that we will be loved for the rest of our lives and for eternity by being with our creator. What greater joy is to know this to be true. Once you accept these truths, you will begin to understand how to imitate God’s love to everyone you encounter. You truly will be more happy, joyful and will have peace beyond all understanding if you know this truth.
Vision: Having a vision for your future will help you feel a sense of purpose. I was blessed that I knew I wanted to be a teacher and coach when I was in 8th grade. Many people don’t know what they want to do as a profession or in life because they don’t spend time figuring out the gifts which God gave them and what job would allow them to feel fulfilled. If I didn’t know the vision for my future, I would have spent time taking personality tests and experiencing different jobs by visiting or shadowing as many as I could. We don’t know what we don’t know, therefore go out and explore all of your options before you or your parents spend thousands of dollars in a degree that you pursued for money and status instead of living out your daily passion in a profession.
Habits: My last piece of advice I wish I knew was how important it is to have small wins. I used to get wrapped up in the end result instead of enjoying the journey in each adventure I was a part of in my life. I would not have placed so much weight on the end result: if it went my way, being happy or if it didn’t, then feeling like a failure. Therefore, learning to enjoy the process and being disciplined to do something small each day has allowed me to gain success in all areas of my life. Remember, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” (Lao Tzu). Start small, be consistent and build a future for your life and for those around you!
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