With graduation season upon us, many high school seniors are looking to their teachers, some of whom have become mentors, for advice to carry them through the next chapter in their lives. Whether it鈥檚 a job, moving away to college, joining the military, or anything else, 鈥渢he real world鈥� looks a lot different than the familiar halls of one鈥檚 high school.
If it鈥檚 good advice, it will outlive controversies rippling around the nation now over what students can or cannot wear to receive their diploma. Students in several states are currently challenging restrictive dress code laws that would prevent them from wearing items of cultural significance to graduation.
Clothing aside, though, Education Week asked teachers on and for their best advice for graduating seniors. Here鈥檚 what they said.
Do Your Best
Being obsessed with perfection is something many people struggle with in their adult lives. These teachers share that your best is always good enough and that striving for perfection can be dangerous.
鈥淧erfectionism is abusive and addictive and practice saying sometimes 鈥榞ood enough is good enough.鈥欌��
鈥淎lways do the best you can 鈥榰nder the circumstances.鈥� Perfection will eat you up.鈥�
鈥淟earn to accept your self strengths &weaknesses. Accept others at the stages they are in with their strengths and weaknesses.鈥�
鈥淲ork hard for what you want to achieve no one owes you anything. You have to earn it.鈥�
College Isn鈥檛 for Everyone
While college might seem like an obvious choice for many students post-high school, it is certainly not the only one. These teachers advise students who are unsure of going to college to save their money by starting off with community college while also giving alternative suggestions.
鈥淲hen in doubt about a career, consider what is/will be in demand and be open to trades, civil service or even the military. Not all well paying careers require college, even if they require their own kind of training.鈥�
鈥淕o to trade school if college is not for you.鈥�
鈥淢y advice to my students is always the same: if you鈥檙e not going right to college, consider working a seasonal job in a national park or tourism somewhere. Meet a lot of people from different countries and get to know yourself while working/traveling. Don鈥檛 jump right into marriage or debt. Just explore. Read a ton of books and then decide what you really want to study in college. Continue networking and find a place where you can make the world a better place by serving others.鈥�
Embrace Change
Graduating from high school is a huge life change. However, even after graduating from high school, the changes keep coming. These teachers tell students to go with the flow and embrace change as it happens.
鈥淭he advice to give graduating seniors is keeping an open mind. For an example trying some new ideas. This lets the peers know, it鈥檚 ok to change your major in college. This helps graduate students figure out things they do like via things don鈥檛.鈥�
鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to change your mind.鈥�
鈥淏e open to opportunities you may not have expected, because a new direction may lie just ahead.鈥�
You Don鈥檛 Have to Have It All Figured Out
Students may be feeling the pressure to plan the rest of their lives once they receive their high school diplomas. Below, teachers reassure graduating seniors that everything does not need to be figured out right now, and that changing your mind now or later in life is okay.
鈥淚t is ok and normal to not yet know what you want to do next.鈥�
Keep Learning
Even if graduating seniors decide against going to college, learning never stops. These quotes are from teachers who encourage students to embrace it.
鈥淜eep learning鈥t is the only fountain of youth!鈥�
鈥淣ever stop learning.鈥�
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鈥淨uestion, research, and think for yourself!鈥�
鈥淚f you are going to college, pursue a double major and start your master鈥檚 degree right away. Momentum is important.鈥�
Treat People with Kindness
Regardless of where you may end up after graduating high school, human connections are important. All of these teachers believe in the value of kindness and investing in relationships with those around you.
鈥淚nvest in your human capital. Cultivate kindness. Both are immensely possible.鈥�
鈥淐ultivate kindness 鈥�
鈥淏e coachable. Be kind and compassionate. Work harder than others expect. Expect to fail so learn to fail and learn to get back up.鈥�
鈥淒o good because good is good to do.鈥�
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