Good News Tucson - A Family Values Publication

Graduation Celebration

Recently, hundreds of students graduated from Tucson-area high schools. I sat down with a graduating senior and asked her to dispense with some sage advice to those coming into high school. I'll call her "Jill." This is her advice:

"First of all, just remember that people aren't always nice and they can be very judgmental about you. But, that doesn't mean that you have to allow their judgments to get you down. All of us need to remember that it is who we are that counts. I would say to focus on becoming a good and kind person; one who is fair in dealing with others and who gives to other people what you would want from them."

I asked Jill if freshman should make any particular contacts early on in the year. Jill said, "The school staff is really there to help the students. I wish I would have trusted them from the start and let them help me. Many times I would be in trouble with my grades or a project but I would not talk to anyone about it. Now I know that the school staff would have gladly helped me be successful."

Jill did not have the best grades. In fact, she had to postpone graduation because she did not have enough credits. She made them up and will walk the stage at her school's ceremony this year. She gives some great advice on dealing with the academic work of high school. Jill says, "Just do it! You can't get past the fact that you have to pass in order to graduate. I never took that seriously enough, and I paid for it. If I could do it over, I would study every day and focus my attention on my school work rather than my social life"

High school can be the place where people first start to date and experience being with "that special person." Jill gives us some insights on that, too.

"Having a boyfriend was always fun, but there was always drama, too! It felt like I was on a rollercoaster a lot of the time. Too many of my friends (and me) got too serious with people and it hurt our relationship with our families and other friends. When I was dating a guy, it was like I dropped all my other friends. I know that was wrong, but I thought it had to be one way or the other. Dating in high school actually hurt my ability to have good friendships. I wish I would have done that differently."

Thanks, Jill! Best of success to all our students!

Keith Powell is Pastor of LifePoint Church, a personal coach, Realtor and mortgage loan officer. Keith can be reached by calling 981-5242 or, keithepowell@hotmail.com.