So, next Saturday morning at 9 am I will be standing before 600 graduates at Dover University giving a commencement speech. This is a two year school with the largest majority of students graduating in the health care profession of some kind. Some will go on to 4 year schools others will not. Many held full time jobs, have kids and a home while going to school full time.
I’d really like to offer these graduates some honest and useful advice. Who better to ask then our CSH family of employees? Many of you have sat through graduation ceremonies either as a recipient, parent or relative.
Is there anything you would recommend that I make sure I mention as I send these folks out into the world?
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Taken right from the pages of my book, "Wisdom Of A Lifetime" under the "General Advice" section...
"Don't let your possessions possess you" Too many people get hung up on the newest and freshest thing. When you constantly focus on what you just have to have, you never stop to appreciate what you have now. And if you don't appreciate what you have now, you are never going to be happy whenever you gat what you are after at that moment. You will never stop to look around and appreciate because you will always be looking ahead.
"Everything you do has a price"
If you choose one road, you don't take another.
"Learn something new everyday" Just because you leave school doesn't mean the learning stops. Try to learn something new everyday about anything. It will enrich your life. Life is growth and growth is life.
"Learn Patience and Gratitude"
A sincere thank you goes a long way in life, and as for the Patience part, the Hebrew translation of "glory" means "to wait" Think about it.
and last but not least...
"Never take yourself too seriously."
My Dad always told me not to ask anything of anyone that I wouldn't do myself. I have always lived by that. Some people get too uptight over who they are versus who they think they are. Money and Fame are nice but, like I said everything has a price. Anyone can make a paycheck. Your actions define who you are. If you make the mistake of building your identity of what you perceive, you have, if a time comes when you lose that, you will believe that you are worth nothing.
Be well and good luck.
My favorite two quotes from Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture –Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
"The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough."
"When you see yourself doing something badly and nobody’s bothering to tell you anymore, that’s a very bad place to be.Your critics are your ones telling you they still love you and care."
Pausch died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008.(47 years old) His book is truly inspirational.
Life is much like a jigsaw puzzle, inwhich only the future can put together. As we live life one day at a time, with the blessing of GRACE we must strive to be righteous in our pursuit of endless possiblities to success.Keep in mind the road to success is not always easy, Keep determination as your strength and your strength as your Faith. Life is and has a Purpose. Make the most of every moment.
I would like to share few things that I have learned from my father and have being my rule of thumb to lead my life and pass on to my children;
1-Look deep, breath slow and always keep your calm.
2-You are the owner of the words you don't say and the slave of the ones that come out of your mouth.
3-Happiness is found when you loose yourself in the service for others.
4-Don't forget to live!!!
This last one hits really hard specially in these times... we are in the forever balancing act between family, work, community, and always thinking, "I can't wait for kids to grow, can't wait to reach a peak of my carreer, can't wait to retire and in that run...when life is at the end.. we had forgot to live....
And always remember that family comes FIRST!!!
I know first hand how difficult it is to go to school, work, and raise a family at the same time. In their position, the thing I would most like to hear is a reminder that they have proven that they are capable of achieving anything they put their minds to. This is something they never should forget as it will serve them well both in their future careers and their personal lives!
...Embrace opportunities that come your way. Don't let your own fears and insecurities keep you from chosing to do something, but rather use them to help you be the best at something you choose to do. Be positive. Listen to others. Enjoy being an active participant in life; it's wonderful!
THINK OF WHAT IT IS THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY AND HAVE ALWAYS WANTED FOR YOURSELF AS AN ADULT AN THEN YOU WILL KNOW YOU HAVE MAKE THE RIGTH DECISION.
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