You did it.

You've reached this point in your life where you receive a piece of paper proclaiming years of achievement behind you and promising unending and unimaginable opportunities ahead of you. It can be overwhelming, and you can quickly lose your sense of true self in the midst of it all.

I encourage you: don’t lose sight of who you are. It’s easy to think you’re many things, but as you walk across that stage and enter a new chapter of life, remember these few things:

1. You are not your family or parents.

They’ve raised you and nurtured you and (hopefully) equipped you to move on in this life, but they ultimately don’t define who you are.

2. You are not your job, your paycheck, or your unemployment.

You’re not stuck in the 9-5 hourly wages, and you’re not going to be stuck searching for one. You are not worth minimum wage, and you aren’t defined by the job you need to get by.

3. You are not your culture or your hometown.

Your culture shapes you and informs you way of looking at and approaching life. It takes a village to raise a child, and no matter the size of your hometown—be it rural farm country or big city skylines, it’s shaped you, that’s true. Don’t forget it at all. It’ll always be there, as you keep moving on, but it doesn’t define who you are.

4. You are not your school, be it high school or college.

You attended there, yes. You made memories, discoveries, mistakes and dear friends. But these things (and you) aren’t defined by your school. Don’t get stuck in your alma mater when life demands change and new seasons and places and growth as it pulls you toward more. Remember the places, hang on to the moments, but you aren’t defined by the school where they came from.

5. You are not your social media account or your smartphone.

At the end of the day, which “you” do you want people to know? Which "you" do you know? Technology can be good and a great way to keep us connected, especially as many go their separate ways after high school and college, but I beg that you don’t let it define who you are.

6. You are not your stuff.

These things don't last. And you will grow tired of them. They may even begin to consume you if you let them. Would you rather be known as the girl with all the shoes and jewelry, the man with all the cars and gadgets, the family with all the latest technology... or the human with all the selfless, generous, unconditional love and kindness in their soul?

7. You are not your sins, your vices, your hidden secrets, your brokenness and pain, your struggles, your battles, your diagnoses, your messes, your insecurities and fears, your shortcomings and faults or the dark things of the past.

These things shape us, yes, and as we get older, we find how to embrace them without shame or fear. But I pray, friends, you know—these things are not who you are. They’re a part of your story but you aren’t defined by these things. Know this and live this—there, you’ll be free.

8. You are not your achievements, your good grades, your gifts or your talents or awesome experiences.

These things shape you, too, but they’re not as grand as the human being you are inside. Remember, dear friends, you are human beings, not human doings. You can do all the good in the world and achieve every goal all your peers ask of you and make everyone proud but at the end of the day, these aren’t things that last, either. Because you will fail. You’re a human, we all are. So do your best and be excellent in all that you run after, invest wholly and deeply but hold loosely—you can’t let these define who you are.

9. You are not your body or your diet or latest workout plan.

There’s a line between healthy and obsessive. I’ve been on both sides of this line (I’ve even visited the unhealthy side,) but remember, not even your body will last forever. You’re still a human, and humans grow old. Take care of yourself, be kind to your body, but remember your true self is inside—you’re not defined by what people see on your outsides. (And in 50 years, your youth will be gone, but who you are will live on.)

10. You are not your friends, your roommates or your significant other.

These people may be with you forever, or for merely a season. These people will shape you, no matter what you do, but these people cannot determine who you are. They will challenge you, grow you, get you down and lift you up, but you can't depend on them to tell you who you are. As life carries us on and on into the future, they may leave your side, leaving you without any foundation or center. Even if they remain close for a lifetime, they're still, ultimately, not the source of your identity.

11. You are not your singleness.

This is often the time in life where it feels as though everyone around you is getting into a relationship, getting engaged or getting married. It's tempting to wonder why you're not in the same spot. It's easy to grow dissatisfied, either with not having a significant other or a ring on your finger or a wedding to plan. But your journey doesn't have to imitate your peers—in fact, it shouldn't. Live in the season you're in, single or not, and remember: your relationship status doesn't define who you are.

12. You are not your degree or 5-year plan or your future.

We live in such a culture of "you are what you do." But friends, this is untrue! I've said it before and will say it again: you're a human being that does stuff, not a human doing that exists. Live into the person you've been built to be, and do things as an outpouring of your heart and soul. And be open, because what you do may change but your person and character doesn't have to.

I leave you with this: you are you, and all that is within you. The character that you show, the passions that you get excited about, the being God’s created YOU to be and will continue to create as you grow and move forward- that’s who you are.

Enjoy the journey, with eyes, ears, heart and mind wide open to all that lies ahead. Congratulations.

“And I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 1:6