Message to the Graduates Today

Message to the Graduates

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. How many times have you heard that phrase? Probably quite a bit. However, sometimes, there are moments in your life that are significant milestones -- milestones that are so important that the reality that your whole life is in front of you becomes crystal clear. This is one of those moments. This truly is the first day of the rest of your life. All of your hard work has paid off, and you're now able to take that next step. What nugget of knowledge I'd like to share with you, before you step into the future, is this -- choose the direction of that next step not only with your head, but with your heart as well.

You may wonder why I've chosen this particular piece of advice with you, surely there are other more practical things I've learned since the time when this was my own milestone moment. How to maximize your study time in college -- how to land a great off campus place to live - tips for interviewing for your first job, but the reality is making sure you follow your heart with your head, is just so much more important. You likely have plans in place for what you'll be doing after graduation. That next step may already be set. Some of you will be going off to college. Some of you will serve our country proudly in the military. Some of you will head off into the workforce. And, I'm sure there are still some of you who are still undecided what you want to do. It doesn't matter which of these categories you fall into, my advice is just as important whether you feel like your future is already set in stone or if you're still living it day-by-day.

Make your decisions with both your head and your heart. It's not as simple as that one sentence makes it sound. To help you with the process -- two pieces of more practical advice that you can use. All good decision making involves considering all of the alternatives, even the ones that you would normally instantly push out of your consideration. Let's talk about your career choice. You may have a major already selected or even a career path in mind, but this doesn't mean your path is set. Remember when you were little and people asked you, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Most kids give answers like an astronaut or the President -- the sky's the limit when you're young. I'm telling you, the sky is still the limit. What does your heart tell you that you want to be when you grow up? Don't limit yourself when listening to your heart and thinking of the possibilities. Consider all of the options Then even though your head will point you in one direction, really think about which option your heart is telling you to choose. Once you've considered all of your options, and have made your decision with your head and your heart, formulate your plan of action.

Again, this involves using your head and your heart. Your head may tell you that to get from Point A to Point B. In your path of life you have to walk a straight line and get their as directly as possible. That's not always the case though. If your heart is telling you that you need to take a detour while on that direct path, really consider it. Sometimes it's the detours that are the most interesting parts of the trip.