OUR TURN: A new day beckons for area graduates

Hundreds of graduating seniors across the Highland Lakes are now taking the first step of their journey into a new life.

Hopefully they are armed with all the benefits a good education can bring them. The lessons taught to them by family, school and church should also go a long way to prepare them for what’s ahead.

And with any luck, they will listen to the dictates of their own conscience and steer a path straight to success.

Some will go on to higher education. Some will take a little time off. And some will start working immediately, training in a needed vocation or continuing with what they have already learned while working after school.

We wish all of them the best of luck.

Seniors, a great adventure awaits you. Your departure into a new life is part of a cycle that goes all the way back to when the first child left the cave or village to seek his or her own destiny.

This ritual has become so firmly entrenched in our culture that Shakespeare remarked upon it in “Hamlet Prince of Denmark” more than five centuries ago.

In the famous play, Polonius is giving his son Laertes plenty of advice before the young man takes off for Paris, spinning off aphorisms such as “to thine own self be true” and “neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

Many scholars opine that Shakespeare was only satirizing pompous old windbags who think they know everything. That may be true. And yet, there is a kernel of truth to his advice.

So, in keeping with established custom, here’s some advice this newspaper offers each year for graduating seniors on the cusp of their greatest adventure:

1. Life is not fair, but you have the power to make it bearable. Build on that foundation. Eventually you can find true happiness.

2. It’s OK to make lots of money. It’s even better when you share that money. Create the wealth. Spread the wealth.

3. You are not the center of the universe. More often than not, your existential crisis, meltdown or breakup cannot begin to compare to the travails faced by people your age in Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti or any of the other trouble spots dotting this planet.

4. Be your own best friend. There are going to be plenty of times when that friendship’s all you’ve got.

5. Learn the art of compromise — and soon. Very rarely will you get everything you want.

6. Steer clear of discussing religion and politics, unless you are among very tolerant friends — no two topics have started more wars and led to more butchery than these.

7. If you marry, marry your best friend. Looks and passion fade with age, but true friendship lasts forever.

8. Travel; broaden yourself. Meet new people, appreciate different cultures and learn to be open-minded.

9. Stop whining. It makes you sound like needy kid. Chin up, face the adversity and get the job done. It’s that simple. Then move on.

10. And finally, don’t take life too seriously. You’re never going to get out alive anyway.

So there you have it — a few bon mots for the trip into adulthood.

Take it or leave it. You’ll learn soon enough if the advice is valid.