Dear High School Graduate.

Dear High School Graduate,

Congratulations. Graduating from high school is an amazing accomplishment. Don't underrate it. Celebrate it! Please go hug your Mom and Dad. It won't be until your own child graduates from high school that you can fully appreciate everything they have done to get you to this point- until then- be grateful and know you would not have made it without them.
There's a big, crazy, wonderful world waiting for you- go get it!
Just remember;

It's okay to not have everything figured out. 
There is nothing worse than that question, you know exactly which one I'm talking about!
 "What are you doing now that you are done with school?" 
Gulp. Sweat drips off your forehead. *let me die now*
It's okay to not know. It's okay to be unsure. You DON'T have to have it figured out. Take baby steps. Some plans unravel- that's okay. Mistakes WILL happen- that's okay. Dust yourself off and keep going. You have your entire life ahead of you to be a grown-up, take it one day at a time. If you ever feel like you do have it figured out, that's totally fine; Christmas lights, child car seat buckles and parallel parking are there to remind you that NO, you don't.



Learning doesn't end at graduation. 
Learning is a lifelong treasure. Your schoolbooks are now closed, but the most important things in life; many of them you have yet to learn. Keep your heart and mind open. Expand your horizons. Don't stagnate. Life is  only as small as our minds are. Keep learning; and learning how to advance to Level 12 of Angry Birds does NOT count.

Be smart with your money.

No one likes to mess with the hassle of finances, but save yourself from a messy snowball of debt later in life. Seek out people in your life who operate with wise financial principles and ask them to mentor you and show you how they made wise choices. (and always keep a slot in your budget for running shoes & coffee.)

Make your family a priority.

You won't regret it- I promise. Relationships are not easy, and sometimes the people that are the closest to us hurt us the most. Your family was custom made for you by God. Please, please don't waste it. Cultivate relationships with them. Go to that softball practice. Send that 'I'm proud of you' text. Buy an extra ice-cream cone. Sit through that 8th grade graduation (bring water, it will be stifling hot). Be a friend to your siblings, just DON'T let your brother give you a haircut.

Everything you do today, counts for tomorrow.

I know, that sounds scary. It is. Your life will build on the day-to-day choices you make. Sometimes you will need to sacrifice what you want today for what you want in the future. Don't be afraid to tell yourself no. 

Keep a journal.

 You don't have to be Anne Frank, but keep a record of your life. Write about what you think. Write about what you see in the world. Write about what God is doing in your heart. Write about what you are learning. Write out your questions. Write about your adventures. Write about your heartbreaks. Write about your mistakes. Write about the people you love. Someday you might read back through and learn something, or someone else might read it; so make it funny. 

Set goals. 

You don't have to have a 10 year plan. You can fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants. Set goals so you don't fly into your 10 year reunion with nothing by regret. Personally, financially, physically- set goals for growth. Set goals and work hard to meet them. There will be seasons in your life when your only goal will be to get out of bed in the morning- that's perfectly normal.

It's never to late to start over. 

Be humble enough to say "I was wrong". Be brave enough to say "I need to change". Be wise enough to learn from your mistakes. Be bold enough to go against the grain. Be kind enough to say "I am sorry." 

Tell the people you care about "I love you".

Laugh - a LOT.

Seek God with your whole heart.

Travel.

Work your tail off.

Dream.

Love your Life. 

xoxo,

~Curly Pink Runner

P.S. Don't forget to make your bed!

What was the best piece of advice you received when you graduated?