It’s graduation season and I’ve covered a few ceremonies already and have a few more to go to in the next few weeks.
Maybe it’s the pessimistic part of my brain but I can’t help but roll my eyes a little bit during the speeches. They always kind of make it sound like the hard part is done and you are prepared.
In all fairness, I was a lot more gung-ho and hopeful about the future at that point too and no one wants to crush someone’s spirit. It’s probably not being a pessimist but more of a realist.
School, especially high school, is supposed to prepare you for the real world and as you spent the last three to four years navigating social groups, keeping track of schedules, and attending classes it was preparing you for the situations you will face now that you’re ‘in the real world.’
It’s true the future does have many good parts waiting for you but it takes a lot of work and doesn’t always progress as quickly as one thought. Regardless if you go to post-secondary, take a gap year, or go right into the working world you’re going to have to prove yourself and you’re going to have a lot of the same battles you have right now.
Growing up it always appeared, from the outside that the ‘adults’ had it all together but I’m starting to learn that isn’t true.
You will still say things that are embarrassing or that you regret. You will still get wrapped up in the drama. Just don’t be the cause of the drama.
You will make mistakes and some of you might even have a job where the mistake gets published to a few thousand people in print and online. It’s what you do with the mistake, do you learn from it or pass accountability?
There will be stressful financial moments and tragic moments and you will find the people both in your personal life and work life that will help and support you. Some of them might even grow to understand you. Surround yourself with those people, they will keep you motivated.
In the workplace, you will face co-workers you don’t mesh with, awkward first days, uncleaned staff rooms, and there will be days that the boss is disappointed with you. Don’t let the rough patches fool you into thinking you’re failing. You will make friends out of co-workers, advance your skills, face fears, and you will settle into communities that you grow to love.
We are all constantly learning even after high school. Whatever path you choose there are the proverbial ups and downs. Being stubborn enough to keep going is what matters.
Go forward into the next stages of life knowing that not everything is smooth sailing from here on out. Stick with it and don’t give up. Put to use those things that the first 12 years of school taught you. Think of every milestone, good or bad, as a chapter in your biography.