Dear Graduate,
I know you’re feeling it all right now. Anticipation, trepidation, and then other times, you don’t know what to feel at all.
I know because I once felt the same.
I graduated from high school several years ago, and here’s what I want you to know:
It’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out. Sounds cliché, but it’s true. Whether you plan to attend college, take a gap year, get a job, or you don’t know yet what you want to do, it’s okay.
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. It’s so easy to fall into the comparison trap. At any time, but especially when we’re graduating. Some people seem to have it all figured out, while others are barely holding it together. Just because one person’s path may be more clearly defined doesn’t mean another person is behind if they don’t have all the answers.
Go with God by your side. I know you want to experience everything there is in life. Maybe you grew up knowing Jesus, or maybe you didn’t. If you did, keep walking with Him. Keep pressing into Him. If you didn’t, I pray you will choose to walk with Jesus. Life is hard as it is, and walking with Jesus doesn’t mean everything is easy, but everything has a higher purpose. No one is forcing you. It’s a choice you must make. If your parents have faith, you can’t rely on theirs. You must make your faith your own and truly know Jesus for yourself. I wouldn’t want to do this life without Him, and I pray you want the same.
Learn what it means to surrender. Not everything will go according to plan all the time. The best times of my life come when I am walking with God and surrendering my life and plans to Him even though it’s so hard at times. (I can be a control freak sometimes, I know.)
It’s okay to have big dreams, but don’t forget where we really change the world. I get it. I’m a dreamer and have always had lots of aspirations for the future. But don’t forget what matters most. Our relationships with God and the people around us matter more than whether we land a well-paying job with a title and benefits. Love the people around you. Don’t be too good to serve those around you, those younger, and the elderly. Sit and listen to their stories. You might learn something from them. Spend time with your younger siblings and love them well.
Dreams can start anywhere. Don’t be ashamed if they start in your basement (or bedroom). If you want to change the world, you might think you have to travel far and wide. And maybe God will call you to that. But if He doesn’t right away, don’t be afraid of humble beginnings. Are you gifted at music and want to write songs? Start in your basement or jam with friends. Is your dream to be a bestselling author? Maybe you will, maybe you won’t one day, but regardless, pick up a pen and write. Do you want to make films? Gather your siblings and friends to work on a project. Do you want to be a missionary but don’t have the funds to travel overseas? Don’t be afraid to start locally. The people around us need Jesus too.
You are loved for who you are, not for what you’ve achieved. I’m not sure what kind of home you grew up in. I hope you have family and friends around you who love you for who you are. But if you don’t, I want to remind you that God loves you. He wants a relationship with you, and He will bring you people who are proud of you and who will cheer you on in your journey.
Even if you change your plan 10 years (or one month) down the road, it’s okay. You haven’t failed. Even if your plans have changed and caught you off guard, know that the path you will traverse is no surprise to God. It’s all part of His plan and purpose to draw you to Himself. Nothing is wasted.
Good things lie ahead. Some are just around the corner, others are in the distance like a glimmering shimmer of light, beckoning you like a lighthouse and reminding you to keep going.
And even if you don’t know what the future holds?
It’s going to be okay.
Sincerely,
A former graduate still figuring things out
by Her View From Home 
by Brenda Seefeldt Amodea 
