I think by now, you may know me as being rather optimistic.
On that note, it's time to celebrate! It's graduation day at ASU!
A record amount of Sun Devils will graduate: 8,000!
Wow! Tomorrow - NAU will be turning out graduates as well!
It's so exciting - a fresh start to their lives, a strange feeling of freedom... and then... that feeling of "what now?"
Some of those grads probably know the path they're taking, and to them, I say, way to go! For others, they might be considering different directions, or they might not yet have a direction. To them, I say -- way to go! I guess the reason I cheer both groups of grads, is because this is the time of life when young adults start to learn the importance of decision-making: if X, then Y. (algebra, remember? that class you either dreaded, or, if you're like my younger brother, skipped it altogether because it was too easy).
This new chapter of life doesn't have any required course schedule to follow, there's no syllabus to direct you through. There isn't a grade point average you need to achieve. Thank goodness, there are no required textbooks to buy anymore (although, now, other things will eat up your finances). Starting today, you create your own milestones, your own goals. You're writing your own course called, simply, life. It's not without it's failures, however. The beauty in failing - the learning and growth that comes with it (hopefully).
I stumbled across a picture - featuring a large wall at NAU. Scrawled across it "it's ok to not know all the answers." I would concur. Welcome to life - fill in the blanks as you go and take heart. We all started somewhere not knowing all the answers, either. And we're all still learning as we go. Congratulations Class of '08. Enjoy the journey.