Graduation is such a mixed bag. It sounds so immensely cliché, but graduation is often the most bittersweet occasion and milestone in life that you'll ever experience. Your elated emotions are coupled with fear, sadness, anxiety and stress. You have moved on from one grand accomplishment of your journey, but are completely unsure how to deal with the changes and large preparations that come after completing the aforementioned accomplishment. Your friends, family and loved ones are proud of you regardless, but you feel uneasy about living through the changing days that come after. Whatever you choose to do in your path, make sure to remember and live by these 16 quotes of advice.

1. "Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher." -Oprah Winfrey

Life will knock you down more than once, but I have learned that having people that support you by your side is the key to getting back up and doing better each time you fail. Without friends and family surrounding you, it's much harder to be a positive light in someone else's life. When you have that love near, nothing else matters.

2. "We lose ourselves in the things we love. We find ourselves there, too." -Kristen Martz

Though many might want you to believe that school is about getting the right grades, that is the farthest thing from true. School is about learning, of course, but also about finding what you're passionate about and might want to make a career out of one day. Find your interests and never stop pursuing your goal to make them into your life's work.

3. "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." -Karim Seddiki

It's much easier said than done, but just being confident in yourself and the amazing things you can accomplish is key to being successful. Remembering that everyone struggles with self-doubt and feelings of not being good enough are important to note when encountering difficulty or setbacks in your life goals.

4. "One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world." -Malala Yousafzai

When you feel sad or lonely, it's easy to resort to thinking you are just one meaningless human being. In actuality, we all individually have the power to change the world in ways we may not even realize. Every choice you make and career path you decide has the potential to change the world and make a powerful difference for the future generations ahead. Never let it be said again that one person is unable to change anything.

5. "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." -Albert Einstein

As stated previously, everyone has value. Everyone has something to give back to the world and embodies a unique skill set we need to further future generations to come. Though we might not agree with what someone on this Earth has to say about every little thing, does not mean we should demean their ideology or right to say what they did. We don't grow by thinking in a narrow-minded atmosphere. We grow by learning a new mindset and being open-minded to the ideas of others, even if we may not agree. Respect is the key.

6. "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

You might not have been enthusiastic about everything you've accomplished in school, but one thing's for sure: you did it! You got there and now you're graduated. Now, you can spend more time focusing on the things that make you enthusiastic about getting up and working. Whether it's marine biology, construction, cosmetology or making birdhouses for a living, make sure you know that you'll be excited about it!

7. "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." -Buddha

Enjoy graduation and live for the moment. It's easy as young adults to live fast and let the fleeting moments of life pass us by so easily. Before you know it you're graduating and then you're immediately looking to the future for job opportunities. The most important thing we forget to dat this time is to take in all that we're feeling in these big moments before they're gone before our eyes. Soak up all the time you need to reflect on your school experience and enjoy the time you have with people before they're gone.

8. "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." -Dalai Lama

Happiness is not only a state of mind, but it's your state of mind. You can decide whether a day is good or bad just based on your own assumptions of how you feel that particular day went. It's amazing what our minds can trick us into believing. When we decide our actions and our life choices are good enough for the world to take note even though a curveball may be thrown, we are saying our happiness is more important than what the world decides my actions to be. Stand up for yourself and take responsibility for your own actions and happiness.

9. "Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light." -George Washington

Never make up a bad excuse to get out of a lie. Being honest is one of the most underrated character traits of all time. In a world where there is so much lying, cheating and fraudulent accusations, it's often hard to sort out the true blue people from the fakers. Not only will your future employers value honesty, but your friends, family, coworkers, peers and colleagues will too.

10. "Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." -Bill Gates

Though most of us strive to be successful after graduation, success in terms of money, power or prestigious job titles shouldn't be seen as the primary motivation. Success should instead be measured in small attainable goals like getting a promotion or even just finding a job after college. You need to learn to cope with some failure along the way, but it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy success along the way.

11. "We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already. We have the power to imagine better." -JK Rowling

You should never use your success as a means to stop improving, but know that you hold greatness inside you already. Always imagine and don't rest on your laurels and lose your drive to get better at things because you have already done so well in your career. Use your success and power to inspire others, teach them and lift them up so they can owe their success to you and your passion to motivate others to keep growing. You already have the ability to do so much, so don't waste it on something you don't want to do.

12. "You can't please everyone and you can't make everyone like you." -Katie Couric

No matter how much you try, you can't always win everyone over (including employers). Though we are constantly taught and trained to be people pleasers for jobs, you have to remain true to yourself. You cannot always put your energy into changing someone's perception of you. Just stay true to yourself and know that you worked hard enough to earn your degree.

13. "There is no substitute for hard work." -Thomas Edison

Whatever work you decide to go into, give it all you've got. People notice whether you're just doing enough work to get by or if you're really giving your all.

14. "You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world." -Tom Brokaw

You've got this, graduates. This is the end of your long journey to getting a degree and all the sleepless nights and coffee breaks have led up to this moment. Now it's your time to change the world.

15. "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." -Neale Donald Walsch

You may feel apprehensive over graduating because school has routine and you've made it your own little comfort zone for the past few years. Now that time has ended and you don't know what to do with yourself. Get ready to get out there, get a job and learn how to be comfortable all while being totally uncomfortable!

16. "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss

You may feel like reminiscing or going back through photos wishing you were back in school. You may wish you could turn back time and enjoyed the little moments you spent with the people who made your school experience so worth it. That's OK, but also remember that although it went fast you lived it and loved it in the moment and you can always revisit your schoolmates.

Congratulations Graduates!

~ Dedicated to SUNY Plattsburgh's Class of 2016 ~

Go Cardinals!