My Advice to the Class of 2022

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This may not be for you, but I bet you know someone that could benefit from reading this – if so, please pass it along.  I want to share a few pieces of advice I think every college student should hear before he/she walks across the stage.

 

First of all, congratulations.  This is an incredible milestone. You’ve stuck with something through many challenges (once in a century kind of challenges--and then some) and you completed your goal. I promise you that no one--not your parents, not your siblings, not your professors, would have wished to have half of your college experience be during a pandemic.  But you did it. You didn’t quit. You persevered. And now it’s time to celebrate. And as you do, I want to offer you advice I’ve learned along the way that I think is important for you to know as you move on to the next phase of your life’s journey.



  • Your education is only beginning. The rest of it simply isn’t for a grade. But to succeed you’ve got to continue investing in education, whether it’s books, internships, podcasts, TedTalks, or time with a mentor. The fun has just begun. Now you get to choose the books you read. Score! There will be lessons and teachable moments all around you. Learn them.


  • Failure will happen. Embrace it early. The more you fail, the more resilience you will build. The bigger your aspirations, the more failure will undoubtedly be a part of your journey. Make failure your best friend. Don’t shy away from it. Take risks and move forward.


  • You are who you hang out with. Be intentional in spending time with people who encourage you as you move forward in your next phase of life. Be intentional in spending time with people who are doing things—not just talking about doing things or worse yet—people who are just critics. Stay connected with people from college and invest in opportunities to connect with new people at a variety of career phases.


  • Structure and plans help. Don’t worry; the plan can be tweaked! But as of the day after graduation you may suddenly find yourself with a lot more time on your hands. Use that time to reflect, dream, and begin to put together 90-day and year-long goals. While you may be uncertain about how to create your long-term vision, you can create a life and career for yourself in the next year that can be meaningful and rewarding. So don’t be afraid. You can (and will) make changes as you go.


  • You don't feel fully prepared. Don't worry, you shouldn't. You’ll never know everything you need to know before launching. You’ve got to get out there and try things and sometimes you’ll need to build your wings on the way down. Don’t be afraid to take a job, make a move, or go on a date. This is the beginning of a whole new adventure.

 

Graduation is truly only the beginning. I’m thrilled for you to celebrate your accomplishments and move forward into this next phase in the journey.