Pause.
Breathe it in, this moment is like none you will ever experience again. Breathe in that uncertainty you feel and release your fear of the uncertain that seems to stand before you.
Take courage, for there is possibility beyond the familiar and hope even in uncertainty. The lessons you’ve learned, the stories you’ve shared and the dreams you’ve built will billow the sails of heart to guide you beyond the familiar into opportunities beyond your wildest dreams. You may encounter stormy seas along your path- but even in those moments, remember to carry on. Use the knowledge you’ve learned to weather those storms and use it to help others weather their storms too.
Keep the memories you’ve collected across these years close to you, let them comfort your soul when it aches for the community you experienced in the well-worn paths of your alma mater. Maintain the relationships carved out during your stay in college: write emails or letters to your professors to let them know what you’re up to and what they’ve meant to your journey, be intentional about meeting up with the friends you’ve made, tell and retell stories about this place with fellow alumni you come across, and visit campus when you can.
The world beyond this day is waiting for for you. Represent your alma mater well with the passions you’ve found and the skills you’ve honed over the past four (or more, or less) years. Use those talents to pursue your calling and as you pursue it, remember to use them to better the world around you.
Congratulations, Class of 2014! Go now, with courage and hope into the possibility and uncertainty that awaits!
ofmatterandmeaning 