Dear Graduates,
As your years of learning at home under the instruction of your parents draw to a close and you prepare to transition to the next stage in your life journey, you likely feel a mix of emotions—elation over finishing high school, excitement and anticipation at what lies ahead, and perhaps a sprinkle or two of apprehension. You may feel uncertainty over what your next steps should be. If you are like most graduates, you may be thinking that you are the only one who isn’t sure where you are headed. I hope you caught the irony in that last description. The threshold of every transition is a doorway where the familiar ends and the unknown begins, and no one crosses with complete certainty.
As you stand on that threshold, stepping from what has been into what lies ahead, it is important to keep in view what truly matters. You are entering a world that will often ask what you do, but the more important question is who you are becoming. This process will shape everything that follows. With that in mind, here are eleven things to remember.
- Freedom and Responsibility Come with Adulthood.
As you have likely already begun to see, graduation marks a transition from structured childhood to increasing independence. You now have greater freedom over your choices, but with that also should come greater ownership of the outcomes. You may have heard your parents say a few [thousand] times, “With greater freedom comes greater responsibility.” They weren’t exaggerating! Remember: The ability to discipline yourself when no one is watching will shape your future, as will the lack of that ability.
- Your Path Will Not Be Linear.
Many graduates assume life will follow a clear sequence: education → career → success. What will your path in life look like? Try this exercise: using a piece of paper and a pen, draw random scribbles, zig zags, and swirls without lifting the pen off the paper. Good! Now that is more likely to be your life path. Careers change, interests evolve, and unexpected opportunities appear. Detours are not failures; they are often how people discover their real calling. I recently had a talk with one of my students at the college where I teach. The student was upset that the program she was halfway through completing had not turned out to be something she had the skill or desire to do. After she figured out what she wanted to transfer to, I told her not to be discouraged if that plan didn’t work out either. “There is value in the process of elimination. Very few people have a definitive plan that actually turns out as they had intended it to from the start,” I told her. Remember: Resilience and curiosity are far more valuable than having a perfect plan and sticking to it.
- Character Matters More than Achievement.
Grades, awards, and accomplishments may open doors, but character determines what happens after that. The story of Joseph in the Old Testament is a good example. His accomplishments opened many doors for him, but it was his integrity, faithfulness, and humility that earned both God’s favor and man’s. Pharaoh opened the doors of his kingdom to Joseph, but the forgiveness Joseph extended to his brothers, who had caused him great harm set the stage for events that would affect the entire nation of Israel for centuries to come. Joseph fulfilled God’s purposes rather than choosing to act on his emotions, and that saved his family from famine and brought healing and unity where there had been division. Remember: Character is built in small choices long before it is revealed in big moments.
- Choosing Your Influences Carefully Is Very Important.
You are the first generation to grow up fully mobile-first. Your world has been digital from birth. Not every voice, online or elsewhere, deserves your attention. Surround yourself, both digitally and physically, with voices that will speak truth, peace, joy, and God’s love into your life. The friendships you form will influence your habits, values, and direction. Remember: Be intentional in choosing who you listen to, learn from, and walk with.
- Learning How to Learn Is Valuable.
Homeschoolers tend to have an advantage in this skill. The world you are entering will change faster than the world previous generations experienced. Adaptability, intellectual curiosity, and a mindset for lifelong learning may be the most essential assets you can have. Remember: The ability to continue learning will matter more than what you already know.
- Relationships Are the Most Important Investment.
Nothing matters more than the people God puts into your life. Resist the push to prioritize career and achievements over those relationships. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest-running longitudinal study on human happiness (lasting over eighty years), found that good relationships are better predictors of long-term happiness and life satisfaction than wealth, career success, IQ, or social class. Remember: Relationships require time, loyalty, and intentional effort.
- Rushing the Season You’re in Isn’t Helpful.
You will feel pressured to have your life all figured out immediately, but don’t let the pressure get to you. The next few years of your life are a time for exploration and growth, for learning how to be led by God so you can one day lead your family. You are allowed to learn, change direction, and mature over time. Slow down and give yourself space to take it all in. Remember: Life unfolds in chapters.
- Guarding Your Attention Is Necessary.
In our digital world, our minds are constantly bombarded. Your focus is the hottest piece of real estate on the market. You must be vigilant to protect yourself from the enticing distraction of social media, the tendency for constant self-comparison, and the very real threat of information overload. Remember: Whatever holds your attention determines what shapes your mind and future.
- Holding On to What Grounds You Builds Your Foundation.
In this world of constant change and stormy conflict, you need a strong anchor to hold your ship steady. There is no anchor that will hold as securely as a relationship with the One who calmed the storm by the words of His mouth. Building on the foundation of your faith, you will also be anchored by developing strong core values, maintaining family traditions (and forming new ones!), and being part of a community that shares those values and traditions. Remember: Deep roots allow people to withstand changing circumstances.
- Failure Is Not the End of the Story.
Everyone experiences setbacks. Failure often teaches more than success. I heard someone recently say, “It’s not how many times you get knocked down but how many times you get back up that determines the course of your life.” Don’t let yourself think you are a failure! Failure is a circumstance, not an identity. Remember: Your story will include mistakes, and that’s part of growth.
- Life Is Bigger than Career.
Just as failure is not an identity, neither is a career. There is much purpose beyond work. A career is something we do, not the full measure of who we are. When identity is rooted in something deeper, you gain the freedom to succeed without arrogance, fail without collapse, and transition without losing yourself. Remember: Pursue excellence in your work without being defined by it.
And now, dear Graduate, I wish you well. As your name is called and you cross the stage to receive your diploma, walk confidently with your head held high. Your perseverance, the failures and the wins, the people that matter most to you, and the dreams in your heart have all brought you to this day, and they will carry you forward. Step over that threshold into the unknown, knowing that just as it was in the past eighteen or so years, so it will be in all the years ahead: your life will slowly unfold one step at a time.
Sincerely,
Someone a Few Steps Ahead
ADVERTISEMENT
