Calling all Seniors! The time draws near to the end of your halcyon school days. And while I wouldn’t have taken advice from me at your age, here is a list of some things I wish someone had told me:
1. Slow down
2. Its okay to not have it all figured out right now
3. Investigate, ask questions. My life would be different if I had of trusted someone
or had a mentor. I would be a research assistant or librarian now.
4. Don’t act like every move is forever. I lugged every bit of my junk across the US
about seven times before settling down. Put your stuff in storage, leave it at your
parents house but lighten your load until you make some decisions. This makes
it easier to change your mind if you grand plan isn’t the right fit.
5. Its okay to change your mind just be cognizant of the cost to your parents.
6. Don’t rush into anything, if it’s meant to be it will still be there in the morning,
Be proactive in situations and not reactive.
7. Its never too late unless someone dies, until that occurs you get second chances,
take them when you need them. Don’t take people for granted
8. Get as much formal education as you can as early as you can. Homework sucks
but it sucks more when you are 40 and have a kid and a mortgage. Trust me on
this one.
- Learn a skill that you can actually apply and take anywhere: typing/data entry, can cover a lot of rent checks
- Check into alternative avenues for old jobs. I know a woman who is a traveling nurse. She gets gigs in some of the coolest places: Manhattan, Hawaii and Cali. She works for hospitals that are shorthanded and most of her expenses are paid.
- The blame stops here. Whatever your parents/childhood weren’t, your life starts now. Whatever you make of it now is on you. If you need help resolving an old issue, get it and move on. Turns out, life is really short and its exhausting to tote around old baggage.
- Travel as much as your budget and job will allow. This is the freest from obligation you will ever be. It doesn’t have to be four star to be fun, just be safe.
- Practice independence. Challenge yourself to learn to balance a checkbook, boil an egg, sew on a button, stick to a budget while you still have somewhat of a safety net.
- Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of your choices. Make a list of the pro’s and cons of your options. Taking a year off if you can afford it to mature and experience the world as a fledgling adult is great if you use the time productively (Peace Corp vs video games) Scholarships and grant money is more readily accessible to those going straight thru to college.
- Open your arms and embrace your future, it belongs to you.