Dear Graduates…

I was you, 365 days ago. Excited — thrilled — to be exiting high school once and for all and entering into this new, independent season. New friends, new school, new opportunities!

Its the best 4 years of your life, they say.

Oh, you’ll love college, they say.

That’s all they really said — after all, big things were ahead for me!

I had done it. I had graduated, conquering that Mount Everest. Every letter came with cash and the phrase, “We’re so proud of you.”

Well, a few weeks ago, I finished my freshman year of college, and there are a couple things I wish people had told me.

I wish they had told me how proud they were of me — not just for this single moment in my life, but all the moments leading up to graduation.

The moments I displayed generosity, joy, true friendship, diligence, or honesty.

I wish they had told me they were proud of me in my perfections and imperfections (because, hey, no one’s perfect).

Secondly, I wish someone had told me that college being the best four years of your life is a lie.

Because if it was, everyone and everything beyond college would be a huge disappointment.

Don’t place all your hope in college, just like you shouldn’t place all your hope in a person.

College is just a season, just like high school was just a season. It may be a great season where you form lifelong friends, or it may be a hard season.

But this is the truth: you’re going to struggle some — and I want to encourage you to struggle well. No matter how you feel — if you’re lonely, satisfied, depressed, happy, can’t stop crying, anxious, or confident — seek Jesus. He will be the greatest reward of this new season.

He will be the diamond that is birthed out of the refining fire — and what a precious gift He is!

Love,

McKenzie