Best Graduation Advice Ever!

I had the honor to celebrate my son's graduation from high school with 65 other kids & their families/friends.   After an emotionally and physically grueling day, filled with an Honor's ceremony, dinner with family, a beautiful baccalaureate mass, a touching graduation ceremony, and ending with an all "Knight" party we chaperoned, I was able to reflect on what an honor it has been to witness my son's past 18 years of life.  I feel blessed to say I not only "love" my son, I really "like" the young man he has grown into being.There are so many things, as parents, we want to teach and tell and instill and drill into our kids.  How many times when they are really young do we find ourselves saying the following?

• Wash your hands.
• Say your prayers.
• Brush your teeth.
• Look both ways before you cross the road.
• Wear a helmet.
• Say please and thank you.
• Eat your veggies & Yes, I know they don't taste like chocolate .
• Don't text and drive.

We all want them to study hard.  Play hard.  Push themselves without overdoing it.  We all want them to, on some level I think, be more than we are.  To achieve more.  As much as we try, our own doubts and insecurities and regrets someone seep into our parenting, and without checking....we can place our own "wants" onto our kids without really allowing them one huge lesson we all NEED them to learn.....To make the best life decisions for their life.  For their own happiness.  For their own path. It's a struggle, to trust they were listening all those times we thought they were tuning us out.So I was reflecting on the "advice" I still want to give my son before he leaves for college in less than 2 months.  Then, a dear friend of mine shared this song.  And it clicked.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAclx7OuuiQ Humble and Kind.  That is the BEST graduation advice (and life advice) EVER!   Isn't this what we really want for our kids? We all really know they are GREAT!  And they're probably capable of WAY more than we or they can even see at this point.  But more than anything, what really matters is our character- and I so want my sons to remember these words....always...always be humble and kind.Sure....son/s, I want you to

• Study really really hard because this is your "job" for the next 4+ years.
• Eat healthy because I'm paying for you to have access to really healthy and somewhat decent food.
• Make friends who invest in you as much as you do in them.
• Exercise, because college and transitions of any type can be stressful and exercise is PROVEN to help release that energy.  And no, I didn't make that up...it really really does just what I'm saying and YES, I can show you the research if needed.
• Go to CHURCH.  13 years of Catholic schools, and now a Catholic university, Yes, faith is important to me and I want you to go while you are away.  And if you stray from your faith, know I will pray God helps guide you back....... gently or not so gently. Hey, it's important!
• Be careful and thoughtful in your decisions.  "what would mom do?" might help guide you.  Just saying.... 
• Visit.
• Grow.
• Travel.
• Pay your bills.
• Volunteer.
• Love until it hurts.
• Study poetry & literature.  Just because it's awesome!
• Facetime your mom, just so I can see you are ok.

And probably countless others tidbits, but really....if you practice being humble and kind, I am sure all of the others will fall into place naturally.Watching these 66 kids together after graduation, this is EXACTLY what I saw.  Humble and kind.  Sure, some are uber athletic, while others are almost freakishly smart & academically off the charts.....some are talented musicians and singers and dancers and actors, while others are gifted artists.  Some are shy, some are gregarious.  Some are funny, while some are serious.  But for the past 13 years, and in witnessing the 6 hours of the All "Knight" Party...with all of their differences, they were truly one big group of humble and kind young adults.  And I hope they never forget that is part of who you are.Many are sooooooo ready to leave for college.  Many are going far far away and some have said they won't come back.  Maybe?  But this bond that they have all created is something that can transcend time and space.I graduated from college (I went to 3 different highschools so this is the closest frame of reference I have) over 2 decades ago.  Some of my friends I saw every day for nearly 4 years.  Then....we graduated and moved on and went to grad school or med school or got married or had kids or got divorces or..... life happened.  And many of us lost touch.But when needed, these same friends have pulled together to have some somewhat last minute weekends of gabbing and wine, supported each other in the tragic loss of 2 friends,  celebrated in the acceptance of our children to college, listened as some were debating on  switching career paths, cheered on my husband in his first (and only) Ironman competition, sat through cheer competitions even if we didn't have our own kids in the competition....and though time and space for a few moments seemed to separate us....when needed, we pulled together like family.  That friendship that was rooted over 2 decades ago in the countless sorority meetings or volunteer projects or socials or cramming for exams together or late night runs to get shock tarts and diet dr pepper..... bonded us.So my advice.....keep it simple to these two things (to start).....Always.....always be humble and kind.  And if you need a friend.....know you have many, many out there so please...in honor of those who were too afraid or too ashamed or didn't know how or too tired or in pain to ask for help, please do.  Often and much.  The world needs ALL of you to shine in whatever way you are meant to shine.  And if you feel the glitter fading......and you feel you maybe you have lost your way for a moment or two...... remember you have family and friends here for you whether you are the future President of the United States, the doctor who finally finds a cure for cancer, the advocate who finally brings peace to the world or perhaps may be someone may be with less accolades to his/her name....know no matter who you are or who you become....you are loved.  Peace....and congrats to Graduates of 2016!  Go and take on the World!  Or sit and contemplate awhile...it's all good.