It’s graduation season, which means celebrities are once again telling graduates how to solve all of society’s problems before lunch.
So, let me offer something different. Five things every graduate really needs to know:
- 1. Think for yourself
Have your own opinions.
Just make sure they’re based on facts and research — not a 22-second TikTok posted by someone whose primary qualification is owning a ring light.
- 2. Understand the journey
Most successful people I know didn’t end up where they planned. They got there because they worked hard, learned from failure, built relationships and stubbornly refused to quit.
In other words, very few career paths are linear. Most look like a squirrel had access to a GPS. That’s OK. It’s actually a good thing.
- 3. Learn to communicate
If you’re headed to college, remember — the goal isn’t just to get a degree; it’s to grow up.
Learn how to think. Learn how to communicate. Learn how to deal with people. Because eventually, every job becomes a people job. Even rocket scientists have meetings.
- 4. The real worth of college
Twenty years from now, you probably won’t be staring at your diploma. You’ll be looking at old photos. Remembering late nights. Laughing about things that seemed like life-or-death issues at the time.
You’ll remember the people. Because in the end, it turns out the best part of school wasn’t the classes. It was the characters. So, enjoy the journey.
- 5. The next chapter
Work hard. Take chances. Ask questions. Laugh often.
And remember: It’s rarely the job you’ll remember most. It’s the people you met along the way who made the adventure worthwhile.
Ken Newman is the VP of Marketing at Zebra Pen Corp, an author — and a heck of a good basketball coach
