My Truth: It’s a different world, for real!

By Cheryl Smith
Texas Metro News
https://texasmetronews.com

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

In the past, I have used this space to attempt to prepare students for graduation day — a time when there are mixed emotions.

It seems to me that high school graduates are happier and really don’t realize, or have a clue what’s around the corner for them. I’m happy for them also and I’m hopeful that there is something around the corner that will make them productive members of society.  The once mandated learning ends so where do they go? Do they have somewhere to go—whether it be college, the military, the workforce – something to keep the learning going?

Soon many will get a rude awakening because it’s a different world.

Now for those college graduates—those who had somewhere to go four, five, six or more years ago—it’s a different story. 

Now stories have been written where Zillennials, Boomers and Gen X say life experience is more valuable than college degrees. 

Well, there’s a lot to be said about continuing to grow as you learn because some will also admit that they’re not ready to go out into the world and begin the awesome task of adulting.

And if you go to the right school or enter the right program or workforce situation, everything is all good. 

But at 18, were you really adequately prepared to take on the troubles of the world?

Something to think about, isn’t it?

It is my hope that every college graduate will have taken advantage of opportunities presented to them and some not presented to them, but that they went out and explored. Hopefully graduates, you have mentors who you keep in touch with and will continue to keep in touch with.

Let’s face it, by now you should be looking for your own job if it hasn’t been secured already. Your parents shouldn’t have to look for you. They can assist, but it’s your world!

It’s kind of frightening. I sincerely hope that the professionals on your campus were committed to your success and drove home the importance of balancing your life while you’re in college by going to class, studying, pursuing and working internships, making lifelong friends and having some fun.

Some of you will go on to graduate school. Do that, and for some this is a do over because you get to take care of some of the business you may not have taken care of during undergrad years

You’re going to hear a lot of speeches and words of advice. Listen carefully. Some advice is for you. Some of it won’t be for you at this point in your life.

I’m just going to encourage you to find someone, latch onto someone, spend time with someone who has been there and done that and realize that you don’t know everything and you can learn lessons from almost anybody. 

Just know that in any lesson, you must consider the source and their motivation. Every graduation is a beginning. This is something new you’re about to go through. Be safe. Hopefully you have home training or a support system that helped prepare you for this day and if not just know there are people out there who want you to be successful and success is not always dependent upon how much money you make.

Balance in college, balance in life. You’ll be a better person and you’ll have a better life.

And remember to lift as you climb, doing as Dr. Michael Sorrell of Paul Quinn College says: leave a place better than you found it.