First of all, Congratulations! You’ve done an incredible thing. And not only did you do it, you completed it. You could have stopped when it got hard. You could have settled for less. But you didn’t. As the “Congratulations” pour in, realize it isn’t just a tradition or something to say. People mean it because you have done something worth celebrating. You’ve done something impressive. And while other people are proud of you, don’t forget to be proud of yourself too.
You’re about to enter an adjustment phase. You might be moving to another state or packing up to travel the world. You could be starting even more school and the class titles seem overwhelming already. Maybe you’re staying right where you are and your adjustment will be figuring out what it means when you’re suppose to stay while others leave. No matter what it is, things are about to be quite different. You’re allowed to be sad. You’re allowed to cry and scream and hate growing up. But you’re also allowed to be stoked for the next adventure and never look back. Wherever you fall in that spectrum, know it’s okay to be there. You don’t need to be afraid of feeling your feelings, but also don’t create false feelings just to fit in around everyone else.
But at some point, get excited for this next phase. New things bring out those gifts, talents, worries, friends, you didn’t know you had. I get it, futures are scary. And I’ve come to realize just how much I hate uncertainty. But I’m going to give you a piece of advice I’m trying to do too. Rejoice in the uncertainty; enjoy the mystery. Maybe this season means you are heading into a desert. But as God brings you through this excruciating journey, look for the untouched beauty. Maybe you are climbing up the mountain thinking you’re never going to summit. Don’t worry, you will. But you’ll spend more of your life talking about the journey it took to get there than the view from top. More memories and growth are happening everyday, and you’ll miss them if your eyes aren’t gazing at the real prize. Whatever next looks like, enjoy right now.
When I was entering my Senior year of college, I had plenty of ideas for my future but no direction. I was talking to one of my leaders from a Cru Summer Project at midnight over chai lattes in the Delhi airport. We were talking about my next step and she asked me one simple question, “what’s the dream?” The question wasn’t a surprise. It’s something we had talked about all summer, but I thought about it again before I answer.
“Well then go after the dream.”
She said it so clearly, so directive, that I actually believed I could chase my dreams. My whole life people have told me I can do whatever I put my mind to. They were completely genuine and encouraging, and I never doubted that it was the truth. But that night, at an airport in India, was the first time I realized that I could put my mind to do whatever I wanted. I could chase my dreams.
So that’s what I’m telling you to do. In case no one has ever told you, or in case you never heard them when they did, you, go after the dream. And if you don’t know what that dream is yet, that’s okay. More than okay, beautiful. You get to start that adventure with God and discover what makes the heart that he created sing. And then when you know what the dream is, go after it. Today, the next day, and the one after that.
Now dear graduate, you’ve got some dreams to go chase.
