Graduation, an anticipated moment of joy and pride. “SAY MY NAME AS I CROSS THE STAGE, SHAKE MY HAND, SMILE, TEAR, CLICK A PHOTO and HAND ME THAT BLACK COVER DIPLOMA”. All that hard work, mistakes that I didn’t get punished for, disappointing my parents and siblings, silly friends, study groups, Spring Break, crazy times, hugging my parents in appreciation for them really caring about me, choosing a major that I am actually going to use in the world, kisses in the cafeteria corner, dashing across campus for a final, facts zooming in my head that I hope land on my paper, laundry that never dried, dark nights in the library, lost keys, the best years of my life, well I don’t really know if that is true or not yet. I do know, I feel excited and shaky to leave what I know.
Here is my wisdom to myself as I leave this safe community, routine, deep friendships, and unknown doors:
1. Please let me be creative.
2. Please don’t let me throw all this hard work away because I quit.
3. Please let me fall in love.
4. Please pay me well.
5. Please let me know what I think and not what they think.
6. Please teach me how to find my lost keys.
7. Please let me date a chef.
8. Please don’t let me get obese.
9. Please let my parents live forever.
10. Please let me screw up and not hate myself all week.
11. Please let me remember to open the door for others.
12. Please keep those parking tickets away from my car.
13. Please don’t let me be late.
14. Please just give me two best friends forever.
15. Please make me save money for that rainy day even though I love rain.
OK… so here is my short list of wisdom for my parents, now that I am a graduate:
1. Don’t email me. I don’t read them.
2. Don’t expect me to call Sunday at eight. Not going to happen.
3. Don’t ask, “Am I dating?”
4. Don’t talk so much. My turn.
5. Don’t forget to send a gift for my birthday, money.
6. Don’t wait for me. Go do your own thing.
7. Don’t expect this, that, and the other, and you will be happy with me.
8. Don’t not tell me bad news. I have Kleenex.
9. Don’t friend me on Facebook.
10. Don’t visit without calling first.
11. Don’t forget to remind me everything is going to be all right.
12. Don’t forget, even when I don’t show it or say it, I love you more than the moon.
13. Don’t forget, I am not the same age as you.
14. Don’t forget, I am a good person.
15. Don’t forget, I want to be a good person.
As for my siblings, you will figure it out. You are sillier than me. I am bigger than you. So let’s just stay on the same team. I need you. Now say you need me.
I am on my way. I want the best for me. I want the dreams I haven’t even dreamed to come true for me. I want to be proud of myself. I want to be a giver. I want you to like me, so if you don’t, just don’t tell me. I haven’t grown up that much. I need support and I need mentors. I need you to know, I will be OK. Thank you for being on my side.
I DID IT. THANKS FOR THE CELEBRATIONS ALL WEEK LONG. Now I have to clean out my storage unit.
APPRECIATE YOUR DAYS and NIGHTS, GRADUATES….
Thinking of you, Natalie
Natalie Caine M.A.
Life In Transition, What’s Next?
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