Insanity is a dish best served microwaved

To the Graduating Class of 2009:

I am almost finished handing out your cap and gowns.  As easy as it sounds, there’s much work that goes into orchestrating it all to make it look so smooth.  However, it doesn’t compare to the amount of work it took you to get to this point.  Although you may feel that you have arrived (in a way you have), this is only the beginning.   If you are planning on going to college or not, this is just the start of a new adventure.  Take a good look around your world today.  Because maybe Saturday, it will be a different world than which you know now.

Of course you will have the summer to spend with your friends and the love of your life.  Life will change whether you want it to or not.  People will spread out in this beautiful world and accomplish some amazing things.  Other friends will waste their time on this earth and start compiling regret after regret.  Just remember this:  you can only control what YOU do on this earth.  You can try to influence people (both positively and negatively) to see things your way.  In the end, one of the beautiful things we have as human beings is free will.  The decision will be his or her to make.  Then you have to make a decision of you own.  My point is that life is just a series of decisions.   Some of them are going to work out for you and many will not and set you back a few steps.  But that’s okay.  Learn from each decision you make and go forward and grow.

The world is so much different than how it was 11 years ago when I graduated.  However, the same energy and excitement still exists with a high school graduation.  You just don’t know if this is the last time you will see the friend you met the first day of kindergarten.  Or that you will ever find the words to show the appreciation to the people that helped you get there.  It might take you many years after graduation to find it.  But when you do, it’s never too late.

Life isn’t about things… it’s far from that.  Things fill our checklists.  We have to have the house, the car, the big screen tv, and the right clothes.  No, life is about the people that you will cross in your life.  Some of these people might only be in your life for a few minutes, but provide you the light to see the way.  Relish those connections with people and work hard to value those who you hold dear.

I’ve told some of you to know what you value and value what you love.  I wasn’t just blowing smoke up your bum.  It’s true.  This life will take you on a wild journey.  But find your passion and what you believe in and go at it with all you have.  Life is just too short and will speed up.  Yesterday becomes next week.  Next week is next month and then next year.  Before you know it you’re older and have no idea where the time has gone.  But if you have a serious talk with yourself (we all talk to ourselves) and establish that this is who you are and what you value, others will see you for who you are.

I’ve learned so many other things in the past 11 years that I wish I could tell you.  But that would be cheating.  You will have to learn for yourself because experience is the best teacher.  There are going to be times when you want to quit.  But stick to your values and those around you and you’ll work through all those tough times.

So when you walk across that stage this month, be ready.  You are growing and changing.  The world is yours and I hope that you join me and everyone else in our world that are doing just small things to make this place a better place for everyone.  Maybe you will be the one that make a BIG change…

Congratulations Class of 2009!