A letter to my recent-graduate self
Dear Me,
It’s 2009, and you just graduated from Brigham Young University. At the old age of (mid-twenties, to protect my current feelings), you accomplished one of life’s great goals.
So now what?
Now, you have a lot of decisions to make. New (first-time) job? Journalism? Graduate school? Maybe a vacation jaunt to Europe or a backpacking trip around the Caribbean?
OK, I know you have that job offer in three weeks, and you probably need to be ready for that. Besides, you’ll get to those other things in time.
But before you look forward, let’s look back at the past.
These are three things to remember as you press on in life — you aren’t thinking about any of them right now — but trust me: one day, you will.
- Look back on your college experience with fondness, even if it wasn’t always fond. In the end, all you have are the memories — of quirky dates, eccentric professors and seemingly outdated university policies that nobody actually follows but we all know by heart and pretend the rest of the world does. Enjoy them, because you’ll miss them one day. Yes, even the quirky dating part.
- Speaking of dating, soak up your college social life as much as possible. I know it seems like more “yada yada” talk from Mom and Dad, who are always pressuring your to date more than you should. But once “the real world” comes and you start living the 40-hour-week life, it becomes nearly impossible to enjoy good activities with likeminded friends and individuals (especially without going to a bar with co-workers … which only sometimes counts). I’m not saying getting married in college is the only way to go (I know you didn’t do that, unlike many of your friends at BYU). But college should be the most sociable time of your life. Live it up; make new friends; go to a party or two. You can do all these things without getting drunk, and still remaining faithful to your religious convictions. Don’t forget the latter; when life throws you into treacherous waters (don’t worry; it will), your faith will be what carries you through them.
- Keep in touch with your friends. And I’m not just talking about “we’ve connected on Facebook” or “I sent them a LinkedIn request.” Treat your friends differently than someone who can help you get a job down the road, or be a useful source for a story or project in later lives. Send them letters. Make a phone call (or at least a text) with nothing to say. Along with memories, friends last forever. Or at least, they should.
In the end, friends, family and memories are all you will have left. Did you stockpile now while you have the chance?
All the best (and good luck in Las Vegas),
Your 31-year-old older self
