I’ve been seeing lots of pictures from high school graduations being celebrated recently. ‘Tis the season. It makes me think of my graduation. It was such a big day for me at the time, yet so insignificant to me now. I do not say that to minimize the excitement for those going through it right now. It IS a big moment and it should be celebrated with big smiles on your face. However, in retrospect, here are a few things I would tell my 18 year old self:
1. The biggest and steepest learning curve of your life is ahead of you, not behind you. Little did I know how much I would grow and change over the next 17 years (and will continue to do so throughout my life). Be willing to let yourself evolve. Explore new things, new people, new scenes, and get to know the world outside of your family and hometown.
2. At the same time, don’t forget where you came from. For some, that is a good memory, for others not so much. But either way, the roots planted there were what helped you grow your wings. I absolutely want young people to continue the ranching industry, which often means moving back to the family ranch. However, I believe it is very important to ONLY do this if you absolutely want to, not because you feel pressured to. I also believe that it is important to spend at least three years after college somewhere else. If you don’t go to college, then at least five years somewhere else. I know different circumstances create unique situations, but as a rule of thumb, I think this is very important.
3. Have fun, but not too much fun. Believe me when I tell you that I know the consequences of “too much fun” first hand. Make smart decisions, even when they are hard and you feel like you might miss out. Know your core values and make decisions that align with those values. You don’t have to be perfect or never get a little wild, just do it within the boundaries of your values.
4. It’s okay to change your mind. If you would have asked me if I would be a full time rancher at the age of 30, I would have laughed at you. I had a BS and Masters degree in math education. I was all-in to the teaching profession. I didn’t hate it, but to be honest, I didn’t love it. However, I didn’t figure that out until several years into teaching. A catalystic event changed everything for me in a hurry, but had that event not occurred, I would probably still be teaching and still not loving it. Now, here I am a rancher, and I’ve never been more peaceful or content in my life. I LOVE what I do. So it is okay to change your mind.
5. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Join a club, study abroad, take a dance class, run for an office. Do things that will allow you to meet different people, people who might be outside of your typical circle. I think I might have already said this one, but just making sure the message is clear.
Good luck to you all. I am very excited for you to do big things with your life.
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