Dear graduating seniors,

Here are some things I thought you should know:

• Life is not over; it is beginning anew.
• Fun is not over; working will enable you to find new kinds of fun.
• You do not have to say goodbye to your friends,
• Though it will be hard to see each other when life gets busy and you will miss having them so close.
• What is cool now will change; what you think is a lame idea for a job may be exactly what you want to do in 10 years, and
• It’s okay!
• What you think is a lame waste of time now may be exactly what you do for fun in 10 years, and
• It’s okay!
• If you can choose a job that aligns with your future plans, do so. Otherwise, get any experience and make the best of that experience.
• The job you take now may not even exist by the time you retire, and
• It’s okay!
• Being in the “real world” is exactly what you make, but YOU have to make it – don’t let other people decide what’s real for you.
• It can be scary to be the one making decisions, but you must do this in order to do the above, and
• You will make mistakes, and
• It’s okay!
• You also don’t have to say goodbye to your favorite professors forever.
• Your college/university will call you for donations – give if you feel you’ve gotten.
• You may find yourself in a minivan, and
• It’s okay!

Even if you have no idea what you are going to do for a job or where you are going to live, it’s okay. It’s okay in the grand scheme of life, anyway. Your parents probably have other expectations. You may or may not live up to those expectations, but as long as you know the things above, it will be okay.

Happy graduation!

Congratulations to my intern, Heidi!