Friday, May 10, 2013

If I Knew Then What I Know Now

 “Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!”
Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
 
Every year at this time the nursing students in the college where I am employed as a counselor graduate. There are many speeches and congratulations, tears and smiles, and promises to stay in touch. This is just the beginning of their careers. There is the encouragement to be life long learners. Also, there is the reminder of the parable of The Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37).

My prayer for our students is that they will remember to show mercy and compassion when they are up
against the day to day difficulties of being a nurse; and I pray they will take care of themselves. I thought about what I would tell them as I sat in the pews with the other faculty and staff of the college in the beautiful cathedral. And then I thought back to what I would have told my graduating self if I knew then what I know now. Things like:

Cincinnati May 2013
  1. Get out of debt as fast as you can and live simply.
  2. Learn how to forgive often and easily.
  3. Pursue those passions you may have given up in order to go to college; you're allowed to have more than one.
  4. Trust yourself, you're smarter than you think.

So what about you? Looking back at your high school or college graduation, what would you tell your graduating self?

Jillian


4 comments:

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Jillian, you hit the nail on the head with your list.

Jillian Kent said...

Thanks Lena! I'm sure we could think of a few more. How about, don't worry about dating too much. It will all work out eventually. :)

Jill

Darrel Nelson said...

Jillian, someone once said that we need to make sure the ladder of success we're attempting to climb is leaning against the right wall. So I would tell myself: never get so focused on pursuing a writing career that you neglect the Lord and your family. Keep things in priority.

Jillian Kent said...

Darrel that is such good advice. I know that when I'm on deadline I can easily fall into that trap and must force myself to step back and look at what I'm doing so I don't go racing headlong in the wrong direction. Thanks for sharing that.