#6

As a last entry in my series of posts to the 2012 grads, I want to share some of the best advice I have ever come across. Those faithful readers who have also read my "Blogger Profile" will recognize them. But for those just tuning in, I hope you can use them.
In a few years I expect you will have learned and come across plenty of your own, so feel free to share yours with those around you as well! To my brother who inspired this seriers with his own high school graduation this year, I love you and good luck with whatever you choose to do with your life!!

º Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
º Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
º Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
º When you say, "I love you," mean it.
º When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
º In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
º Talk slowly but think quickly.
º When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
º Spend some time alone.

#5 Recognize Good and Evil, and Know What You Want

Not every person at college will have the right mindset or goals or even be there because they want to be. Manipulation and split personalities are trained skills. Not easily detected, but there are red flags. If a girl does not have a lot of girl friends, it means other girls don’t like her and there’s probably a good reason for that. If a is a senior and interested in you, don’t be flattered, there’s probably a good reason they're dipping into the Freshman pool. Desperate or a player. Be with someone you genuinely love to be around, someone smart and witty not someone who will go along with everything you say or do. Someone who takes care of themself and will take care of you too. Someone you are comfortable talking to about anything. You want someone not afraid to say exactly what they want and feel. Fighting is normal, it’s passion and as long as you’re both still talking, even fighting, and there’s communication, it means there’s still caring and feelings. Don’t shut down on someone you love. If you have to walk away for a minute that’s different, that’s mature, but don’t shut them out completely.

#4 Enjoy Every Moment

In part I am jealous of everyone graduating. You get to go to a new place, be surrounded by people your own age with the same enthusiasm and excitement for whatever life has. The mindset that you’re in control and that, “you have the world at your feet”. Hang onto that feeling as long as you can. This is an exciting time and you don’t want to get so serious that you lose that. Yes, obviously you’re there to learn, but learning is not hard. With a little effort and time, it’s basically memorization on speed. Retain as much as you can, learn as much as you can, take opportunities for extra credit but take time to break away and enjoy where you are and the new friends you will make.