It's that time of year for graduations and ceremonies. It's a time of future promise, of rising tides and all that entails.
Reading an article today on Linkedin by Guy Vanynerchuk, 'What to do After you Graduate" I felt compelled to share some things about my own daughter and her experiences graduating high school and college.
All too often, we are complacent. We don't strive to accomplish our dreams. We are safe. We take the path that someone else wants for us. We aren't bold
I say, Be Bold!
One of my daughters remembers that time when she was graduating high school. I saw in her such promise and talent, just like my other two daughters. The difference? I didn't tell them what I told the middle daughter. Not by any lack of reasoning, I just didn't say it.
I told my middle daughter she could be anything she wanted to be. I told her to go for it. She was graduating high school and would be attending the University of Southern California on a dean's scholarship. She is bright, talented, and a gifted artist.
So she did! She died her hair every color of the rainbow and graduated in 4 years, staying on the deans list the entire time. She lived in a hotel thanks to the dorms being full; a three story apartment building with no elevator; and she lived in a converted garage.
After graduating from USC, she worked for an organization raising money for Green Peace, Save the Children and others; she also worked for AmeriCorp in Juneau, Alaska. She boarded a plane to Europe on a bet from a friend with a one way ticket. Staying in hostels, making new friends, and learning her way through Rome, Amsterdam and London.
She would chaffeur her paternal grandmother to and from the Canadian border from Arizona and on another trip up and down the west coast. The former trip they each made up fake names and took amazing photos. After the trip my daughter created a photo album of their trip and gave it to her grandmother as a Christmas present.
She has wonderful memories of a time in her life when she "went for it." I was quietly a bit terrified but didn't want to stall her dreams, just making sure she was safe. Looking back now I'm immensely proud of her for her free spirit.
As parents, do we stifle our kids' dreams? Do we impose our own idealisms on them for fear of them not succeeding?
If your child is graduating high school or college, promise them that they can be anything they want to in life, they just need to try. If you don't try, how do you learn about yourself or what your true passion is or will be?
And my daughter, she's now a nurse working nights in a hospital and she is content that she travelled, climbed mountains, and has a beautiful daughter, the joy of her life!
Make sure to view at the seven minute mark!
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