To my beautiful (high school graduate) daughter and the Class of 2018!

To my beautiful (high school graduate) daughter and the Class of 2018!

You are done with High School.  Now the fun begins. The decisions you make from this day forward will transform your life and the world around you. For what it’s worth, I offer these observations and advice:

  • Fiercely defend underdogs, be intolerant of intolerance, find joy in daily miracles both large and small
  • Revel in your victories, but be thankful for your failures. The sooner you get them out of the way, the quicker you can start using them as lessons to get stronger
  • Spend time outside of your comfort zone. Take classes that sound fun, go to concerts, dance, sing, draw, paint and travel the world.
  • Be brave, and when you just can’t, fake it because no one can tell the difference.
  • Always remember you aren’t just who you are. You are what you can dream for yourself and dreams do become reality through faith and hard work.
  • Open your heart to friends and love.  At times, both will hurt you, but in the long run they will be the greatest and most enduring joy in your life.

As parents, we selfishly wish that this was your kindergarten graduation and that we could do it all over again, but we know it’s time to share you with the world. We are so proud of your accomplishments and for your next adventure we wish you incredible joy, breathtaking experiences, and the beginning of lifelong friendships.

Most importantly, go out into the big world with the confidence of knowing that you will always have a home to return to and a family who loves you more than you could ever imagine.

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