Many of you have a son or daughter or maybe, like me, a granddaughter graduating this month. This is always a momentous occasion for the teenager and their families.
Most of us who have a few years under our belts know that time flies. Before these graduates know what hit them, they are thrust into the world. Many changes are coming. Some will go to college, some will enter the job market right away, others will soon get married and have children of their own.
Things seem to move fast after one graduates from high school. Time really does fly by. It is just a fact of life.
When working on this week’s column, I decided to go to the internet and see what some others had to say about graduating. Some are funny quotes and some stop to make you think.
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” Muhammad Ali
“To those of you who are graduating this afternoon with high honors, awards and distinctions, I say, ‘Well done.’ And as I like to tell the C students: You, too, can be president.” George W. Bush
“The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate.” Doug Larson
“Don’t be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I’ve had four careers and three husbands.” Nora Ephron
“Just remember, you can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” Arnold Schwarzenegger
“I think sleeping was my problem in school. If school had started at 4:00 in the afternoon, I’d be a college graduate today.” George Foreman
“Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path, then by all means you should follow that.” Ellen DeGeneres
“Remember, half the doctors in this country graduated in the bottom half of their class.” Al McGuire
“Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself.” Mark Cooper
“The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces!” Will Rogers
“The road to success is always under construction.” Lily Tomlin
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” Mark Twain
When your mother asks, “Do you want a piece of advice?’ it’s a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.” Erma Bombeck
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Albert Einstein
“Remember, when it comes to applying for jobs, books are judged by their cover!” Patricia Akins
“You’ve got brains in your head. You’ve got feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Dr. Seuss
“When they hand you your diploma, keep moving. Just in case they try to take it back.” Unknown
To get serious for a moment, graduating from high school is a huge step toward adulthood.
Times have changed since many of us walked across that stage years ago.
There is the internet, social media, cell phones, computers and so much more.
But life is still a tough road to traverse. You will make some mistakes, we all have. But do not let that get you down. Get up – dust yourself off – and start over again. You may fall down many times, but never give up!
Remember common sense and logic are important.
Stay close to your family and friends who love you. They will always be there when you need them.
Here is to hoping you all have a blessed life.
Until next time.
(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)