New beginnings are wonderful, as in full of wonder, awe, and a bit unsettling even when welcomed. While high school graduating students have completed their first step into adulthood, their parents and families may or may not be just as ready for their graduate’s next steps into adulthood.
No longer do these grown-up children need their parents permission for chaperones, jobs, colleges, nor doctor appointments, often much to their parents chagrin.
Being a parents of now five grown children, I didn’t like these words either. However, if we have done our jobs, and raised our children to be independent, as they have reminded us all along the way by their thoughts, words, and actions, then we in fact have done a good job in parenting.
Some of us fledgling children left our parental homes earlier than high school graduation. I was one of these high school students. It was not popular to get married in high school, yet two other of my high school friends did the same thing. All of us are not alone in this, and some of my friends have successful marriages to this day.
In my case, I decided from day one that I had a new start, something which I highly recommend to all graduating high school students. I decided to make my life beautiful. I thought of my new mantra every day, to make my life beautiful. I chose to fill my life with a garden of children.
How do high school graduates make their lives beautiful from this day forward?
- HAVE SHORT-TERM GOALS
- EXERCISE
All these considerations seem to come up all at once. Calmly think of them one step at a time. You can do this. I suggest doing this privately before sharing your personal thoughts with others. Make lists of your short-term and long-term goals, including other ideas that factor in your decisions. These are your new adult decisions. Do not forget exercise so you do not become one of those freshmen students who gain 40 pounds in their freshmen year away from home.
- PLAN ON YOUR OWN WORK STUDY OR SUMMER JOB
Do not be short-sighted and trade education for a life of working 40-80 hours per week, something adults soon resent until the day they retire. Now you have the opportunity to change your mind if you have already done this. There are still doors open to you. Guidance Counselors at every Online College and Junior College are available to assist you. This is your life. It is time for you to take charge of you, not anyone else. Today is a new day for a new beginning.
What is the definition of courage? It is not the absence of fear, fear of failure, fear of success, or any other fear. Courage is feeling fear and walking ahead despite of it. You can do this.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. How do you choose to make it beautiful? I tread lightly here on advice others may have given you. Make sure your short-term goals lay a firm foundation in the same direction as your long-term goals. Remember also that now is not forever. You can always change your mind, but it is important to make a plan for yourself.
If you do decide to work first, as many students need to do, in order to save up for transportation or tuition, trade or vocational school, or a four-year college experience, realize that not all students walk the same path for their life. You are independent and unique. There is no one else like you. You are truly amazing.
- HAVE LONG-TERM GOALS
What have you decided for your life path? From now on high school is behind you. Your life is an unpainted tapestry yet to be filled in with the colorful experiences with which you paint it. Some high school graduates know exactly what they want as a profession of occupation in life. Many others have no idea until inspiration strikes. Many high school students will change their minds choosing to become teachers of children rather than pediatricians, or a host of other options. You will never know unless you try. If you never try, you will never know.
Also know that anytime is a good time to begin or begin again, no matter how young or old you are. If you miss one deadline, simply plan for the next. Once you fulfill one dream, then dream another dream. Change you minds as often as you need to. This might sound like precarious advice. I speak from experience.
Obviously, I did not go straight to college after graduating from high school. I decided to raise a beautiful family as best I knew how. I choose to help the world by being a foster parent to six young children, who were always between the ages of my own children so there would be no competition among them. I wanted to show my children, by first-hand experience, that they could share their lives with those in need, even if it was only a temporary assistance.
My high school yearbook declares that I wanted to be a writer and a mother. Turns out I did both. Energetically, I put my goal out in the universe by telling everyone that I wanted to write for the local newspaper, The Milford Daily News. When the previous reporter for the town of Mendon retired, a friend told me the job was mine if I wanted it. I served my hometown as a reporter and local photographer for 20 years or so before moving to Laconia where my husband and I helped to start the Laconia Daily Sun, which is still in operation to this day.
Yet I felt the need to do more with my life so I sold ads for the Laconia Daily Sun, wrote feature articles, while also attending the DoveStar Institute of Holistic Technology to get into mind, body and spirit healing. After graduating from the two-year program as a Reiki Master and massage therapist, I opened my own business, The Massage Clinic, getting doctor referrals for therapy in Connecticut. I got so busy I had to open four offices and hired nine other therapists. In order to keep my license, I had to keep taking Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). One of the best courses I added to my repertoire was that of Holistic Health Counselor and Practitioner which I received from the American Institute of Holistic Health And Wellness, allowing me another dimension to holistic therapy.
Energy healing became a huge area of interest for me. I saw direct results in the transformation and healing with my clients. I personally worked on 5,000 of 8,000 clients during my eight-years prior to my retirement. The most wonderful energy course I took is now called New Paradigm Multidimensional Healing from the International School of Esoteric Sciences. Today I am a teacher, able to teach worldwide, as well as offer holistic counseling worldwide with my holistic counselor and practitioner certification.
Why do I mention all of this? I am appealing to all high school students to never give up. You have no idea where this beautiful life will take you. While it is necessary to make plans for your future, as I have suggested, you might find your life take many unexpected twists and turns. Nothing can ever keep you down but yourself. Never listen to any negative thought or advice. Others only have their own experience which they are drawing from. Your life is different. Their life is not your life. You decide for yourself from now on, what you will do, how you will complete your tasks, where you will choose to manifest the best in your life, why you will make the choices you decide to make, when you will decide to think, speak, and act; and with who you will surround your life. This is how to create a beautiful life.
Do not forget to expect change all along the way. I wish someone had told me about change. I used to get so angry every time I made a decision, or a schedule, that in the next moment it had to change. Change is a constant part of life. If you know this ahead of time, you can avoid much stress and anxiety. Just know that you can handle any change that comes your way.
You can do anything you decide to do. Do not ever let listen to anyone giving you negative advice. Kindly tell them “Thank you,” smile with respect, then do what you think is best. There will be time to listen to the prudent advice of friends and family. The key point to know here is that you will know the truth when you hear it. It will be a gut instinct feeling. Always go with your gut instinct. You will rarely be wrong.
A word here about guilt motivation. Recognize when someone offers you advice because it serves them, not you. Emotional tools some people use include: fear, obligation, and guilt. This destructive operation plan is now referred to as F.O.G. It is the kingpin of manipulation techniques. You are not here on Earth to be used as a bargaining chip in someone else’s life. Life is too short for that. Do not allow others to usurp your talents. There is a needy world out there and even strangers attempt this guilt-trip technique. This is the time to actually focus on you, your goals and aspirations. Also recognize that these choices of how to move on when change occurs in your life, is also available to others when change occurs to them.
- PLAN YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION.
This is another way of saying to make your own way in life. High school graduates need to break with the comfortable routine of the parent’s home they always knew as their own, as well as the comfortable rides home they always had. This is one of life’s changes which can be uncomfortable. Change need not be adversarial. But there is a time to move on. You will know it when you feel it. Feelings are not right or wrong. They just are.
- PLAN YOUR OWN WORK STUDY OR SUMMER JOB
Striking out on your own may be a first for you, but there is a first time for everything. Now is the time. Many high school graduates already have jobs. If you cannot find a job, be inventive. There are opportunities online these days. Think of the interests you have and begin with those. Do you like to cook? I’ve seen several opportunities in local restaurants for cooks and line-cooks. From eating in some of these restaurants, some of them could use bakers who could sell your desserts after their meals. Offer your cooking and serving self at the cafeteria in schools and/or hospitals. Be creative and BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. You have many gifts to offer the world. Be confident. Present yourself with good posture, language, and dressing for the occasion. Might you like office work, or might you like to work in a car repair garage? I believe in you.
- PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT
Go in the direction you wish to work in for your future, finding jobs that could give you a taste of whether you will even like the work you think you will. For example, perhaps you feel called to be a nurse. Volunteer as a Candy Striper to see if you even like being in hospitals. I volunteered in Pastoral Care at Harrington Hospital for 45 hours of service to obtain my Chaplain certification within the Universal Life Church Seminary. You might find many other ideas such as these. Perhaps you could start your own landscaping, planting flowers and bushes, raking, removing debris or lawn care company for your summertime project.
Just because there are other companies out there does not mean your start-up company will not survive. For example, when I started my massage therapy business in Connecticut without any friends or family in that area, I first looked up local competition. I found 15 other thriving businesses in my area. I figured if they could survive, then my business could survive. I did not allow one negative thought to enter my mind, no fear, no doubt. Focusing on what works, WORKS! You’ve got this.
- PLAN FOR YOUR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
Many high school graduates find this is the perfect time to reach out, scary as it might sound to some, and seek housing with other high school graduates in either renting apartments with adequate bedrooms for each person. People are amazing. Find people with interests similar to yours. You can advertise for the personality traits compatible with yours: quiet, busy, likes computer games, needs their own space, etc. More opportunities for both housing and work abound in this consideration near colleges. Finding apartments closer to employment opportunities cuts down on transportation needs. High school graduates have a wonderful opportunity to spread their wings as they come to grips with the personal freedom that is now theirs.
My best wishes to all of you.
Namaste