Graduation Time Again
It is the time of year that graduates begin walking across the stage in our corner of the world. The past couple of weeks have seen numerous college graduations in our area and this weekend sees the first of our community’s two high school graduation exercises.
Graduation is a time of excitement on the one hand and trepidation on the other. For the graduate there is excitement in the fact that a journey is complete and it is time to move to another chapter in one’s life. The world is full of promise and possibilities.
Yet, there is trepidation. The familiar patterns of the last 12 years are changing. While there is more independence there is also more responsibility placed on one’s shoulders. Choices have consequences and suddenly the consequences of one’s choices have greater impact on the future direction of one’s life.
Thirty-two years ago I sat in the Porter Auditorium in Macon with the 37 other members of the graduating class of Tattnall Square Academy. Our headmaster, Dr. Joe B. Hill, gave us some words of wisdom. One of the things he said was, “On the night I graduated high school I was the smartest I ever was in my life. Every day since I’ve learned that I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was.”
I would learn later that evening that I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was. We were having a post-graduation party at a classmate’s home. The driveway was full of cars when I arrived so I decided to park my car on the road in front of the house. There was a drainage ditch running along side the road and my right side tires promptly slid into the drainage ditch.
The tow truck came and removed my car from the ditch. Today when I drive past that spot on Wesleyan Drive in Macon I ask myself, “How in the world did you possibly think that your car would fit there without sliding into the ditch?”
Over the years I’ve had similar experiences. I look back on those experiences and ask myself “What were you thinking?”
To the class of 2012, you will have your “What were you thinking” moments in the years to come. Not every decision you will make is going to be a home run. You are going to hit your share of home runs to be sure. You will hit some doubles and get a few base hits.
However, you also will have your share foul balls and strike outs.
The important thing is to learn from those mistakes. In the eleventh chapter of First Corinthians Paul tells those early Christians that it is important to learn from the mistakes of the past saying, “These things happened to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us.” (I Corinthians 10:11a NRSV)
So to the graduates, whether you are heading to college, the Armed Forces, vocational school or the world of work, your choices matter. Some will be good and some will be bad. The important thing is to learn from all of them.
For the past few years I’ve submitted my list of “Top Ten Things for Graduates to Remember.” Here is my list again dedicated to the Class of 2012:
Top Ten Things for Graduates to Remember
1. Not everyone is going to like you. It’s sad but it’s true, not everyone in the world will celebrate your success.
2. Do not let the negative people you encounter make you a negative person.
3. Choose your battles. There are times we must stand up for our principles; however, not everything is worth fighting over.
4. When in conflict with others, ask yourself how you would like things to be when the conflict ends. Make that your goal; conflict is about you winning and not the other person losing.
5. No one owes you anything. Being a victim is not a path to success in life.
6. Don’t be afraid to dance. Sometimes you might look stupid but you will always enjoy the party.
7. Some days will be good; others will be bad. Celebrate the good days and remember that even in the bad days there are opportunities.
8. Pray. To have a relationship with anyone you have to communicate with them. It is the same way in our relationship with God.
9. Be a friend. To have friends one needs to be a friend.
10. Put God first. When we do that everything else will take care of itself.