Graduation season is here. 21 tips for recent graduates as you set out into the world


Rose Bowl, June 6, 2021, Milken Community School graduation.

The picture above says a lot. Here are two people who didn't have to get along, who didn't have to build a loving/caring/sharing relationship, yet they did. Well done you and I am so happy that it turned out this way, as it very well could have been a very different story. On that teary eyed note, here are 21 tips I have for those of you graduating high school/college (in no particular order and with appropriate shout outs):
  1. Say thank you to those who help you, no matter how small the service (thanks Ned for reminding me of this one);
  2. Build meaningful relationships (both of friends and professional relationships - thanks Clement);
  3. Start saving now (thanks John);
  4. Understand the power of compounding (thanks Al);
  5. Own up to your mistakes (remember that "excuses are the nails that build a house of failure" - Thanks Lynn);
  6. Try something new on a regular basis (thanks Giles);
  7. Travel (Thanks Mom and Dad);
  8. Find something you are good at and go for it (rather than simply pursue your passions - thanks Scott);
  9. Try to keep on learning (thanks Bob);
  10. Be patient, good things come to those who wait (thanks Ron);
  11. Professionally it's easier to swim with the tide than against it (thanks Scott);
  12. Pay attention to details (thanks Mike);
  13. Ask questions, a lot of questions (thanks Amelia);
  14. Take up enough space, but not too much (thanks Brandon);
  15. It's easier to keep up than to catch up (thanks Frances);
  16. Boring is the new sexy (I cannot remember who to thank on that one, but I believe it came from a movie);
  17. Every once in a while be a little foolish, you might learn something (thanks Steve);
  18. Be flexible (thanks Beth);
  19. Don't let anger or resentment fester, move on (thanks Vishal);
  20. Be a good listener (thanks Ian); and
  21. Love unconditionally (thanks Masako).
You have worked hard until this point... It probably won't get much easier... But stay the course and all will turn out just fine.

Congrats and Onwards!


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