Published: April 20, 2008 01:44 am            

DODD: Words of advice for new graduates this spring

Proms and graduations signal that it’s time for my annual advice to graduates column. Here are some things to think about or to discard — your choice. Congratulations and good luck!

There are no regular report cards in real life; you just have to kind of use your own criteria for passing or failing.

“I’m sorry” and “I’m wrong” are two of the most underused and most often appropriate words in the English language.

Everybody will offer you ideas and opinions; it’s up to you to figure out the good ones from the bad ones.

Everyone knows a plumber who makes good money and a college graduate who can’t find a job.

Graduating from high school or college today is a lot like graduating from prekindergarten; the first step for future success is to learn to pull your pants up.

Helping someone anonymously is the best feeling in the world.

Stay away from negative people — they are contagious and you cannot become immune.

Many people who espouse their principles generally don’t care if the workers are illegal immigrants as long as they get a good price on their roof.

If you regularly smoke and drink alcohol past the age of 40 you will look 10 years older than your contemporary friends who didn’t at 50.

The next 10 years should be the most carefree of your life.

There are currently over 1,500 identifiable Christian faith groups in North America — pray that you choose the right one for you.

Childhood friends are your personal living history books.

You will know within five years many people whose lives peaked in high school.

Plan for tomorrow but live for today.

Jif peanut butter cannot be improved upon.

Life is full of bad choices, bad breaks, bad mistakes, and bad days; not just for you, but everyone else has to overcome these things as well.

Life’s greatest gift is good health.

Your favorite music you listen to now will be your favorite music forever.

If you only seek happiness with money you will never know true happiness.

Young is a state of mind but old is a feeling deep within your bones.

It’s hard to explain the principle of universality, but even in the most eclectic public gathering everyone will know the chorus and the choreography to the song YMCA.

Clean living keeps you healthy, love keeps you happy, and laughter keeps you sane.

Crying is one of life’s most underrated miracle cures.

Chances are you won’t find love but that love will find you.

If you take yourself too seriously, nobody else will.

Lindon Dodd is an Otisco resident who is a freelance writer, 4-H School Enrichment Program Assistant and Realtor who can be reached at lindon.dodd@hotmail.com.

        

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