Dear Class of 2016,
Congrats. You’ve graduate high school. You’ve fought through the hardest yet the absolute easiest part of your life. Here’s why I say that. As you close this chapter of your life you’re probably focusing on how you’ll never have to see the people who made your life miserable. Or have to go into so building you dreaded. Or get talked at by some boring teacher. Or even meeting your best friend, that one food fight at lunch where some girl got milk in her hair, and many of the memories that made high school tolerable. High school was hard for you sure. You’ve been pushed, shoved, physically and emotionally. However you’ve made it on top, you’ve graduated, your name has been called, you walked across that stage, you received that diploma, and you’ve tossed your hat. Oh how you have no idea what comes next.
Life. Life is what comes next. For the record, I want to be the first to tell you that living is easy, but life, life is hard. For some of you, you’ll be working. Good job! I admire you who are choosing to work and save money, especially if you plan on going to school. Just make sure that you stick to your plans if you have any, and that you start planning if you don’t. Others will be going to tech school. Congrats to you as well. You’re going to find a great job in that field and I thank you for your determination in being interested in every day work. Understand you’re going to be going through some competitive work, and make sure you do well. To those going into the force, be strong. I have faith in you and I’m incredibly grateful for your sacrifice and will to fight, protect, and save many of us. And last but not least, to those who are going to school again in the fall, congratulations! You’ve only tasted what’s going to happen in the fall.
For those who are attending school in August: You’ve just completed the easiest part of your life. You might know this already but in case you don’t. Surprise! College is nothing like high school. Instead of having 7/8 classes a day each day of the week you’ll have it 1-3 times a week, 4 times if you take a summer class, or 7 days a week if you take online. Your course work isn’t heavier, but it is denser. You will be tried harder than you have ever been in high school. You will take tests on quantum theories, cognitive dissonance, or even what your professor ate for lunch. But one test you will definitely be taking is your own. You will test yourself for the next few months and you may or may not like the results.
You will find a new you and as much as you don’t think that now, you’ll see it soon. Your eyes will open and you’ll never see the world the same after each blink of an eye. Sure this happens over a period of time but you’ll notice eventually. You’ll discover new things about you and new things about the world around you. You’ll discover that you are a 3 am crier, a ramen connoisseur, a new age hippie, a reggae lover, a trap king or queen, or even a hidden sports star. You’ll make new friends, some from wealthier families, some from less fortunate circumstances, some from your hometown, and some from halfway across the world. You’ll discover there are new personalities, there’s new ways of life, and there’s new ways to live.
One thing you will realize is that Life is hard. Sure all these amazing things are happening but freshman year is like that for the first semester. You’ll realize you aren’t the person you expected to be. You might fail a few classes, or you might stay in instead of partying, you might not like your school anymore, you might hate your roommates even though you’re living with them for 10 months. You might also be best friends with the weird girl from your math class. You might become the preppy jock with a skip in his step. You might realize college is more accepting than high school ever was. You might realize your sexuality. You might even realize you can’t control everything, that you are not invincible, you are not who you are now.
You might not have as much control as you think you do. That is what I want you to grasp the most from this letter. Living is easier. So live, don’t focus so much on controlling your life because that is impossible. You can’t control it if your professor grades your personal best paper as a D minus. You can’t control your roommate’s personality clashing against yours. You can’t control if someone is or isn’t as open minded as you. The only thing you can control is how you go about things.
My suggestion for you, class of 2016 is to live. Live life to the fullest or to the dullest which ever you choose. But do not control everything. Try your best in everything you do and try to let loose. Don’t expect anything but definitely plan. Enjoy your days while we all are still young. Party your heart out. Study your brain silly. Talk your tongue off. Type your fingers away. Do whatever you need to make yourself happy and to survive the roughest year and transition of your life. Have faith in yourself and live. Congratulations again for graduating high school, as I’m sure you’ll have many other significant accomplishments to come. Enjoy these next few months and make sure to spread and live good vibes and happiness!
Much Love to Everyone, Sean.
