This graduation speech is for those of you who are going to change the world, as well as for those who are going change the world around you. First of all…congratulations!!! The bad news is that I bet many of you are a little scared. You’re probably asking yourself, “Now what?” The good news is that if your parents made it (and “what do they know?”), you can make it too.
Congratulations on your graduation. This is an exciting time. The world is at your fingertips. The question is: What are you going to make of this opportunity? The answer is: That’s totally up to you. Here are nine valuable lessons to consider as guideposts for your journey through life.
Nine Valuable Lessons Upon Graduation
Pursue your passion. Don’t be a spectator in the game of life. Get off the couch and make your mark. Don’t lose sleep about what might happen, don’t worry about what people might say, and please don’t let anything or anyone extinguish your flame. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal. You won’t be successful if you don’t try. So pursue your passion, follow your dreams, and make it happen. The truth is, some people don’t live…they merely exist.
Keep life in perspective. Many of us take each day as it comes and then seem surprised to find where life has taken us. The fact is, we drive ourselves crazy with the demanding schedules that we keep. It’s as though we measure success by the quantity of our daily activities rather than the quality of our lives. So don’t get swept away in the current of life. The truth is, checking items off a to-do list doesn’t determine progress; focusing on your priorities is what counts.
Hit lots of singles. Some people believe the only way to achieve success is to swing for the fence. The fact is, you don’t always have to hit the ball out of the park. If you’re trying to save money, lose weight, or achieve any worthwhile goal, don’t discount the power of taking small steps. The truth is, success isn’t only about doing big things; it’s the cumulative effect of doing the right, little things each and every day.
Give it all you’ve got. You often have a choice between enriching your life and supporting others. What many folks don’t realize is that being a taker is a losing game. The fact is, good spouses aren’t self-centered; they put their spouse’s needs ahead of their own. Good friends aren’t selfish; they’ll lend a dime even when it’s their last penny. And good business partners aren’t greedy; they create win-win relationships rather than trying to gain the upper hand. The truth is, giving is like a boomerang –– it often finds its way back to you.
Make a difference. Graduation marks the end of a chapter in your life. Be a positive force in people’s lives. It doesn’t require a gift from your wallet, but rather a caring heart. Make people feel special; bring out the best in them; and be genuinely happy for their achievements. The truth is, success isn’t measured by what you accumulate in life, but by what you give to others.
Appreciate what you have. Some people are like sharks that spend their whole life consuming. The problem is, these folks are so focused on attaining more that they lose what’s valuable by taking it for granted. So appreciate what you have before it becomes what you had. The truth is, happy people don’t necessarily have more; they’re just satisfied with what they do have.
Own your life. You’ll be faced with decisions every day. You have the freedom to choose the direction that you want to take, to determine the choices that you’ll make, and to decide how hard you’re willing to work to achieve your goals. If you want your life to be different, don’t look to others — change it yourself. The truth is, your life is determined by the sum of the choices that YOU make every day.
Make yourself proud. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whether you meet the expectations of others; what counts is that you meet your own standards. So set the bar high, live your life with integrity, and make yourself proud –– you have to face yourself in the mirror every day. The truth is, if you don’t respect yourself, why should others?
I’m saving one of the most important lessons for last. Believe. The truth is, some of the most important things in life are invisible. Even though you can’t see, touch, or smell them, they’ll have an overriding impact on you and on those around you. They are the intangibles, such as love, trust, integrity, respect, and faith. Even though they’re invisible, learn to appreciate and nurture them. They are invaluable.
One day when you’re old (yes…over 40), you may pause and ask yourself the question: “How did I do?” Here are clues to the answer: Have you learned that happiness is as important as success? Do you care not only about where life has taken you, but about how you got there? Do you care whether you’re living a life of purpose?
At the end of the day, everyone on this earth was born for a reason, what’s yours? So find your passion, be courageous, and live with honor. Congratulations on your graduation. Good luck!
What’s Your Advice?
Additional Reading:
Critical Lessons That They Fail to Teach You In School
Promise Yourself
Make Every Moment Matter
9 Powerful Reasons Why Your Moral Character Matters
50 Things that Money Can’t Buy
A Message to Graduates: Here’s the Best-Kept Secret
The Facts of Life — Grown-up Version
If you like this article, subscribe to our blog so that you don’t miss a single post. Get future posts by RSS feed, email or Facebook. It’s FREE.
Frank
This should not only be read by those who are graduating but by those who feel stuck – in life and at work.
Thanks again for another inspiring and important article.
I am going to share it with those who need to read this. – who? Everyone!
Lolly
Thanks so much Lolly
The truth is, I learned a ton about myself from writing this piece. I challenged myself to answer the question, “What’s your best advice for young adults?” I started out with over fifty points. I found it very difficult to whittle down the items. This piece says a lot about my beliefs and priorities. I challenge everyone to go through the same exercise. What’s your best advice?
Frank
Great advice, Frank. Thank you (again).
Hi Bob
Thanks SOOO much for your encouragement and support. I appreciate it.
Best,
Frank
I would love to use a lot of this in a graduation speech I need to make. May I have permission to do so.
Joe
River Edge, NJ
Hi Joe
I’m flattered that you want to incorporate some of my thinking in your graduation speech. Please feel free to do so, but make sure to give proper attribution.
Best,
Frank
“Hit Lots of Singles” – I LOVE THIS!!!
(so does Pete Rose)
Great advice in just the right sized dose. I’m looking forward to sharing this with young and old alike. Although we always look at graduation occasions to bestow this sort of messages every year – the truth is it’s universal at any age, year-round.
I personally love these nuggets – they are nostalgic and remind me of that stage of my life. But life is full of ‘graduations’ where this is aptly appropriate. I just graduated from knee surgery to walking again – a big deal. And although I would love nothing more than to get out and run miles and miles – I need to hit some singles first before that home run. Gotta believe. I also just graduated into a very well-fitting, challenging new job and I want to give it all I got and make a difference – just as much if not more than I did when I donned the cap and gown.
Thanks for another great read Frank!
(shared & liked!)
Hi Marc
I’m so glad that you’re able to apply these lessons to specific areas of your life. The reason I had a hard time narrowing my list to nine items is because I wanted these guiding principles to be critical and universal truths –– apply to most situations in life. As I like to say, although times may change, your core values don’t.
Have an awesome day!
Best,
Frank
Frank, another absolutely wonderful article. This is stunning advice for anyone, not just hopeful graduates. You’ve nailed several of the most important points in life, the little things that make a big difference. Thank you so much for this superb advice, I’m sharing it with all of my followers because I know it will add value to each one of them. Keep up the fantastic work – John Spence
You’re the best, John!
The truth is, if it wasn’t for people like you who share my posts, I’d be talking to myself 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement and for helping to spread the word.
Best,
Frank
Frank, my take away is that every day and every challenging situation can be a graduation day of new opportunity, learning and change.
You’re absolutely right, Felix. Every day offers a new opportunity to learn and grow. One of the things that I’ve learned about you is that you have a wonderful outlook. That may explain, in part, why you’re so successful. Have an awesome day!
Best,
Frank
I will most certainly attribute credit.
Thanks Joe. Good luck with the speech.
Best,
Frank
Frank, Im so glad I met you online (thanks to Augie). I hope to meet you one day, you are spot on. Then I see Lolly Daskal posting here too (another thanks to Augie) … WOW! I think I have met three great souls in cyber space and maybe one day in real life. L’Shalom, David.
Hi David
It’s great meeting you. I too am blessed with many wonderful people whom I’ve met in cyberspace –– Lolly and Augie, among them. They have so much to offer 🙂
Have a terrific weekend!
Best,
Frank
Dear Frank!
Thank you for sharing another piece of content so relevant for young(er) graduates, as well as for every fellow human being yearning for a life marked by Value-Based Congruency and Authenticity!
~ IMHO, your carefully selected Collection of Key Facets jointly hold the Actionable Insight that forges Harmony and Life Satisfaction between ourselves and; “the man or woman in the mirror” – on a daily basis!
~ I enjoy your presentation of the fact that you choose to “be your own audience” as well; while developing (and narrowing down) your list of core “Graduate Focal Points”!
~ As mentioned by several of the fine Commenters above too, each Point – and the Collective Value of them all – sure do apply to people of all ages! ● Anyone (at any age) desiring either a New Beginning or a transformation “From Merely Existing to Fully Living” … will greatly benefit from your caring advice and encouragement. The latter, sprinkled with thought-provoking questions, is an integral part of the Sharing & Caring Equation we’re privileged enough to partake in!
~ Thanks again, and all the best to you and your loved ones as you continue to serve individuals and businesses with “your pen and your heart”, Frank!
~ I look forward to sharing this article both far and wide too – knowing that so many of our readers (knowingly and unknowingly!) long for a stronger Sense of Coherence (SoC), Self-Efficacy; as well as Meaning that trumps shortsightedness and mindless wandering! ~ I join you in your desire for Purposeful Living; with an unyielding belief in the all-encompassing Endeavor I describe as follows:
● “Building a Legacy that Empowers Your Life, AND … Outlives You when Your Passingday Arrives!” ●
Warmest,
Kristen
Hi Kristen
Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate it more than words can express.
The truth is, I don’t consider myself a writer. I know people who write elegant prose without even trying. That’s not me. I labor over it. But, I’m very passionate about the topics that I discuss.
I carefully choose a topic and select a few people to serve as my audience. (That makes the conversation more real.) In fact, one time I thought I needed to hear the message. So, I became both the writer as well as one of the audience members.
When I cover a topic, my goal isn’t to convince people that my way of thinking is correct. Rather, I seek to encourage the reader to contemplate his or her own beliefs and values. My hope is that we don’t look back one day and say, “I wish I took the time to choose a different path.”
Thanks again for taking the time to write. Have a great weekend!
Best,
Frank
Best advice I would give to a graduate? Three points:
1. Be kind
2. Tell the truth
3. Remember to say thank you.
Good points, Gary. Thanks for sharing.
Best,
Frank
Thank you so much for this wonderful website. It really help me to get a real perspective of life.
My pleasure, Kitbok. I’m glad you find it meaningful 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to write!
Best,
Frank
Frank,
A very out of the box graduation speech which needs to be enacted by all graduates.
Thanks so much, Al. I’m glad you like it 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
Hi Frank,
Thank you so much for sharing this wisdom!! May I use a few of your points, with public acknowledgment of the source, in my upcoming graduation speeches?? I’m speaking briefly at 8th grade promotion and I especially want to mention make a difference and believe if it’s ok with you!
Mike
I’d be honored, Mike. Please send my very best to the graduates.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank