Embracing Life's Journey After Graduation

This June was an exciting one, with my niece Samantha and nephew Evan both graduating high school in two different cities. Despite the hectic schedule, I was fortunate to see both of them walk across the stage to receive their diplomas and scholarships, making this auntie very proud.

In the days that followed, I found myself reflecting on my own graduation and the feelings I had about the future. When I received my diploma, I believed I would one day make a difference in the world through one of my many passions. I just didn’t know what that looked like. So I worked three jobs until I decided.

I also remembered Mr. Aylward, the teacher that took notice of me and helped to guide me in a way that no other teacher had. He listened, he saw my potential all while holding me accountable when I was slipping through the cracks thus changing the trajectory of my life. He got me on track and my first, and only, perfect grade. And he was a defining person, that I have referenced a million times in my life as an example of how to support people. One person can make a difference, like Mr. Aylward. A leader, a teacher, a friend.

I didn't expect one of my part-time jobs would be part of the journey of making a difference in the world. I initially felt Walmart helped me develop and grow as a leader, but it turned out to be a place where I could make a meaningful impact to others. Maybe not to the entire world, but to the people I helped along the way.

I hope I've made a positive difference to those I've mentored, those who mentored me, and the amazing friends I've made over the last two decades.

Many of us feel like we're still those teenagers, and I know I do, even at 47. Today, I realized that I'm now the adult, no longer needing to look for grown-ups to advise me. Just like Samantha and Evan, who have their whole lives ahead to decide what they want to be, we all have that sense of wonder about which path to take, who to journey with, and the view from where we eventually arrive.

I am so happy to have been a small part of a day that Samantha and Evan will always remember as a pivotal moment in their lives. It was a day filled with excitement, pride, and anticipation, but also a sense of loss for what they're leaving behind and growing anxiety about the future. Growing up is hard to do, and taking the final step from being a kid to an adult is one of the hardest to take.

For anyone with a loved one graduating or at a turning point in life, I recommend reading Dr. Seuss's "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

"You're off to great places.

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So... get on your way."

I recently revisited this book and found it applicable to all stages of life. Whether you're just starting out, contemplating your next move, or at a transitional point, it speaks to the excitement of choosing your path, the challenge of the waiting place, and the resilience needed when things don't go your way. You'll get mixed up, but things have a way of working out as they're meant to.

To both Samantha and Evan, you deserve to be on that big stage. It's not luck that brought you this far but hard work, ambition, and courage. Not only have you gone through the stages of growing up, but you did this through a pandemic. I'm incredibly proud to be an auntie to such bright and beautiful souls and honoured to be part of their journey in this life.

"KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!"

As Mr Rogers famously said “When I was a boy and would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look for the helpers. You will always find people helping” Look for, or better yet be a “helper” like Mr. Aylward. You can make a difference, without even knowing it.