"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value," Albert Einstein once said.
High school graduation is indeed an intimidating moment in one's life; a brand new chapter waiting to be written. One morning you wake up, feeling utterly grateful for you can still live your high school moments, yet the next morning, you wake up with this surreal feeling, wishing that high school graduation was unreal, that high school graduation was just a figment of your imagination.
Then you realize that life is not going to be the same anymore. The ever beautiful, warming high school moments have slipped away. You dearly miss those heartfelt moments, and you ask yourself, "Where are those moments?"
High school is a time when you are utterly blessed with good, caring friends. High school is a time when your friendships are as pure as winter snow, as sincere as sunlight.
High school is a time when you are shielded from the insolence and mischief of the outside world, comforted by the kind-heartedness of your friends. High school is a time that shines with second chances. High school is the best time of your life.
Stepping out of high school is a big leap. It's the real world that we are talking about right now; the real world with the good guys and the bad ones. There are the good guys - whose companionship could bestow you with incessant self-development. Nevertheless, there are the "bad guys" - who are yet to realize their wrongdoings - that could trap you within their ignorance.
Yet, think for yourself. Life is supposed to be treated as utterly precious; each and every single day lived with good and holy purposes. Why waste your time having fun partying each and every single day when you can opt for more meaningful things, such as charitable organizations? Why waste your time living a materialistic, hedonistic lifestyle when you can opt for a life dedicated to love and compassion for others?
After all, Albert Einstein aptly mused, "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile".
Nonetheless, I am scared. I am scared of life beyond high school. I am scared the inhuman, horrendous peer pressure will turn that nice fine young lady into a despicable individual.
I am scared the fallacious new environment will turn a group of down-to-earth young men into a bunch of obnoxious individuals. The impacts life beyond high school can bring about are indeed discomforting. People can change indeed, for the better or for the worse.
Thus, a heartfelt message to all my friends and high school graduates out there, believe in yourself. Never change your colors just to fit in the crowd, to blend in among your new peers.
You need to be loved, to be accepted for who you are. If your new peers demand you to change for a so-called "friendship", then they are not your real friends. You deserve better. Stand up for what you believe in - your values, your morals. Do not simply follow the crowd; stand out among all the others with your pure heart and be the odd one out. The key is integrity.
What a wonderful world - if life beyond high school could be utterly meaningful! How wonderful it would be if each and every single high school graduate could differentiate what is good from what is bad! How wonderful it would be if high school graduates stuck to their principles, their values!
I hope the nice young lady, whose love for others never fails to inspire me, will still be the same compassionate, young lady in a decade's time. I wish the diligent, motivated young boy who has never missed a single day's homework will still be the same inspiring individual even in years' time. What a wonderful world that would be!
Yes, I am intimidated by life beyond high school; yet, my unshakeable faith assures me that I will always stay true to myself. It is my faith that comforts me. It is my faith that keeps me moving forward. It is the faith that you - my dear friends, and all high school graduates - should have.
"Don't try to be different. Just be good. To be good is different enough," Alfred Freed once remarked.
Yes, very true indeed. Just be a good guy, and everything shall be good, life shall be wonderful.
- Steven Tannason
