Dear graduates,
First of all, congratulations! This is a huge milestone in your life and I am so incredibly proud of you! I know the future may seem exciting, terrifying, confusing, and liberating all at the same time. Here’s the secret that you’ll learn about life–there is no secret. Nobody has it all together. I know we see those influencers all over social media or even people we’ve known since we were three that just seem to have it all figured out. They’re struggling with just as much as you and I.
I see many of my peers I graduated from high school with that are now graduating from college. I feel like I’m behind because I took a different route. Taking a different route doesn’t mean I’m behind or I’m any less, even though it most certainly feels that way. The good part of taking a different route is that when you’re off the beaten path, there’s opportunity for new discoveries.
You may find that the career you’ve dreamed of since childhood may not be what you entirely expected and that’s okay. You may learn that the place you’ve always dreamed living isn’t what you really want and that’s okay.
You’ll discover a better career or place to live if you let the door to those opportunities open. Don’t block doors trying to open because you never know what you could be missing on the other side.
Growing up, I’ve never really been fond of big cities. I grew up in small, rural towns. When I was 16 I was working towards running for a rodeo queen title. I was willing to give up a trip to Europe (I had never been before and had been very much looking forward to this trip) in order to spend more time training. Luckily I had an accident while training that resulted in an injury severe enough that I had to pause my training, but minor enough that there would only be temporary changes to my everyday life. I ended up going on the trip because I couldn’t train. I discovered that Ireland, this place I had always dreamed of seeing, was just as magical as I thought it would be. I also discovered a city that I absolutely fell in love with that also changed my perspective on big cities. I am now working towards living in London at some point in my life because I loved it so much.
The point of that little story is to emphasize that you have no idea where life will take you. And that is totally okay. Sometimes you just have to roll with whatever directions life takes you because it’s leading you to where you need to be.
Again, I am so incredibly proud of you for what you have accomplished. This is no easy feat and you have had to persevere through so much.
Congratulations graduate!
Sorting Through the Shit 