On Saturday I received an email from a reader:
Last night I attended Parkside High School’s graduation. During the 2+ hour event I could not help but think about the future of all of Wicomico County’s graduating seniors. What advice would I give our child and all graduates regarding their future. I think it would be interesting if SBYNews posted a topic asking what advice your readers would offer all Mardela, Wicomico, Bennett, and Parkside graduating seniors.
These young people are our future. It’s an interesting idea, so here goes:
What advice would you give to our county’s graduating seniors about their individual and collective futures?
19 comments:
Dream big without fearing failure, never close doors or burn bridges, and plan ahead knowing things usually don't go as planned.
Don't sell out. Live by your principles and don't pander to those that have. Be independent thinkers and stand up for what is right. Travel your own road, be responsible and teach your children values. Put family first.
You are not entitled to help from anyone, but help anyone you can.
First of all, get out of Salisbury and Wicomico County - there is no future here. No businesses, no prospect of new business, no one hiring.
Live life to its fullest and always think for yourself. Believe all that you see and half of what you hear because there are far too many people who can not think for themselves.
Read the book "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman and all of Dale Carnegie's books or atleast his best seller "How to Win Friends and Influence People."
One Word: Plastics
Get your guns now and buy as much ammo as you can.
leave maryland!
9:13 its sad to say you are correct the best advice for our young grads is to leave Salisbury so they can reach their full potential. Good luck to all of them.
Totally agree with 9:13 and 11:27. I grew up on the Shore, and will always consider it home. But the economic reality is, that to move up in life, I had to leave(like many others). Don't think of it as a bad thing to leave, the world is a big place outside of the Shore. Attain a marketable skill, and don't worry about what's in the rear view mirror.
live within your means.
Support yourself and any other humans you create.
Get ANY job you can; idle time leads to BIG trouble. Save half of every dollar you make, in the bank, and don't touch it, ever. Make yourself better than your parents. Hone your decision making skills. Owe your God and owe yourself. Do better than your best in everything you do, whatever that is. Plan for your own future. Never spend more than you have. Never count on 'Maybe's; always go with the sure bet.
You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.
Seek wisdom and truth. Question EVERYTHING you are told. When you form an opinion or perspective... learn/research dissenting opinions/perspectives so you may better understand your own... and do not be afraid to say "I was wrong"... as there is nothing more empowering than finding the truth.
Do NOT allow people to tell you what is right or what is wrong, or what is the right perspective or what is the wrong perspective... investigate... and decide for yourself... but do not be so closed minded that you will not change your mind when compelling evidence is given to the contrary.
Do not allow your college professors, nor your clergy, to form your opinions... form them on your own... based on the facts.. and do not be afraid to change your mind/opinion when faced with new and compelling information.
Strive for excellence... understand that hardship is part of growth process...
Don't do "things" because you think you are supposed to... do them because they are the right thing for you to do..
Happiness cannot be quantified by monetary value. Live within your means. The BEST things in life are not "things"
Be a burden to your parents and stay home do nothing till your 30
or get a job and move out soon.
Pay the entire balance of your credit card(s) at the end of each month. Nothing, and I mean nothing will ruin you faster than maxing out credit cards and foolishly paying only the minimum payment. Like this once great Country of ours, you can max out your credit cards in the matter of only a few months, but it will take you a lifetime to pay off the debt. I made this mistake when I was 26 when I got my first credit card (now 50). I blindly paid the minimum payment while continuing to send like crazy. One day I decided to really look at my credit card statement and was horrified to see that my $140 a month minimum payment was only reducing my balance by $10. Paying the bank $130 a month for the privilege of reducing my $5,000+ credit card balance by $10.
1. Learn a major world language (Spanish, Mandarian, Urdu, Arabic).
2. Then, pick up a professional 'job'.
Think about it. Lawyer fluent in Spanish, Dr. fluent in Urdu, Even a police officer fluent in Mandarin...
Priceless skill!
I'd also recommend you plan to leave the Delmarva Peninsula, especially Salisbury and Wicomico County. Unless you plan to work as SU, Perdue, and/or PRMC, there isn't much left in Salisbury other than the food service industry. The revenue cap will strangle Wicomico County to death and there isn't any interest to change that. Each year less and less revenues will continue to erode Wicomico County services including funding for the schools. If the Wicomico County budget is this bad now, wait (or don't wait) until another 10-years from now. I believe there will be a return to the big cities during the next 10-years.
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