[Photo taken at my college graduation ceremony in 2007.]
It’s grad season 2016. Woo-hoo! Congrats to those reading who have just graduated or will in the coming weeks – especially the college grads who this post is dedicated to. Graduating from undergrad was a bittersweet moment for me. I was excited about finally getting out of school and into the working world. Though I was fearful of the unknown that would come with that new territory. Many lessons were learned along the way. To be honest, 9 years later I am still learning and growing post grad. Growth should never have an end date and learning should be on going, even if it is in an informal format.
Here are a few nuggets of wisdom that I have gained over the years in no particular order.
*Set goals and follow through but don’t set your life on a strict timeline that forces things to happen by a certain age. This will get exhausting at a certain point. Be goal oriented but know when and what things to let flow organically.
*Enjoy each season of your life because you can’t rewind time.
*Your first job will (most likely) not be your dream job but you have to start somewhere.
*Choose your circle of influence wisely – they will greatly impact your life.
*Write down your dreams, goals and plans. Something about writing things down makes them more likely to come to life.
*Don’t forget to reach back and help someone behind you by sharing your wisdom and experience. You don’t have to have arrived or have it all together to do this.
*Invest in life experiences: travel, spend time with loved ones, give back.
*Invest in yourself: further your education, learn new skills, purchase professional clothing for work, explore new hobbies.
*Find a wise, experienced mentor and stay with them as you grow in your life and career. You can always add or change mentors along the way. As long as the relationship(s) is challenging you to grow and stay on track to meet your goals.
*Have a foundation spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. You will need these elements immensely through the ups and downs of life.
