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| My nephew and I in 1993, planting the seeds for college |
THINGS TO REMEMBER AND REINFORCE ABOUT LIFE: At College and In the World
I began putting college talk in my nephew’s head early on in his life. His journey started a bit tough, but as a doting and honest aunt, I could see he had potential. So he did eventually graduate high school, taking control of his future. Below are the comments from a letter I wrote to him as he embarked on his first year in college. These words modeled the same advice that had been given me by my mother and other family as I began that sojourn into full adulthood; commencing! As we enter this season of graduation celebrations, hopefully this is timely tested for readers to share with their graduates.
1. Talk to God daily. He “orders your
steps.” You know he has brought you out
of many situations and you see the miracles he has done for you. I can’t say enough of how proud I am of how
you turned things around your senior year and are at college. You should be too. Your potential for doing
and being good things is evident.
2. Life requires work; not many things come
about easily. “If you take one step, God
will take two.” Have a plan for what
you want to do while at school, your holiday breaks, and summers.
3. Things won’t always happen the way you want
them to and when you want them to. “God may not come when you want, but he’s
always right on time.” Don’t rush
life. Let things happen for you in their
time. Be your age!! If you don’t, you wind up being bored because
you’ve experienced “too much, too soon.”
4.
Make decisions carefully and well thought out ones. Get good accurate information from a variety
of sources to help you determine what you want to do and how you want to
be. I know you’re hearing a lot of
different things from other students and friends. Hear it, but don’t believe everything you
hear. Check out the real truth with facts. Be your own person with a solid
understanding of your own opinions and perspectives.
5.
Life has its good times and bad times,
fun times and boring times for everyone.
No situation or place is ever perfect. I know you think big cities like
NY are great and they can be fun, but they’re not all they’re cracked up to be
either. It takes a lot of money to live
and do things there and like anywhere else if you don’t have friends or family
there big cities can be impersonal.
6. Flexibility and an open mind important. And it is ok to change your mind about
things. However be aware of any consequences involved about those things you
may change your mind about. Particularly
any negative consequences that involve finances, your reputation, or upset your
future.
7. Friendship is one of the greatest gifts of
life. So make friends based on trust,
respect, and shared values. Those will last longer. And I feel your friendships will be so
important to you as you get older especially since you’re an only child, your
friends may eventually become your family.
8. Explore new hobbies and interests that have lifelong
value as well as variety and can get you through the ups and downs of life
whether you’re in good health or not, have money or not, have people to do
things with or not. Things I learned to
do as a kid and while in college provide me with entertainment now. I read when I can’t be outside, I bike when I
want to enjoy the outdoors, like to play tennis and splash in the water,
learning to play golf, enjoy talking to good friends on the phone, and as you
know love to eat and enjoy dining out.
9.
Remember, you are blessed, loved by God, family, and friends!!
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| My nephew with his late grandmother at his college graduation in 2006 For more information on my book (Navigating Life's Roadways) and family, see navigatinglifesroadways.com or amazon.com |
