Graduation is happening across Palau right now. I got an invitation to a graduation for this coming Sunday, which I'm excited to go to because when they call the names I like to wait until the people sitting next to me cheer and then I stand up and cheer with them and yell things like "I knew you would pull through in the end, Tyler!" and then I watch the family wonder for the rest of ceremony how I know their kid and why I would think he was close to not pulling through.

Some of the church kids are graduating this week and we've been having various celebrations for them, which has gotten me thinking about my own graduations over the last ten years or so and how exciting and intimidating it is to move on to the next thing. And I decided that on Stranger today I would share with you some of the things I've learned since my own high school graduation, eleven years ago. Would love to hear some of your nuggets of wisdom, too:

Words of Wisdom to the Children from a Sarcastic and Cranky 29-Year-Old Man﻿
You can stick to a job or area of study and find ways to be successful or you can bounce around from menial task to menial task, dissatisfied with the pace of promotion. Either way, you’ll still be doing the same thing in 10 years.
People who lie to you are not your friends. Unless they are lying to you in order to play an amazing practical joke, in which case, they are your best friends.

Trying to turn a bad friend into a good one is almost always futile.
The less time you spend trying to figure out how you are a victim, the less victimized you will feel.
The happiest people seem to be the ones who know how to be kind.
Eggs are not a dairy product.
When you receive an email or voicemail that makes you upset, wait at least one hour before responding. Get someone who isn’t upset to talk through the most productive reaction with you.
If you want a job, ask for it. If you get an answer other than “yes,” ask for it again.
Study things that you are excited to talk about with others. But also try to find something that society wants you to know.
The world is a big place with a lot of different people and a lot of different interests. You can do the most good by trying to understand as many of these interests as possible, even if you dislike them.
Fulfillment is nothing more than finding ways to be more creative and less destructive.
If you let your happiness depend on the actions of other people, you have no guarantee of happiness.
You will never regret the time you spend listening to the kids in your life tell you stories.
It’s ok to skip play for work sometimes. It’s ok to skip work for play sometimes. You will not be happy if you do either of those things all the time.
Dating only gets harder as you get older. I’m not telling you what to do. I just wanted to you to be aware of this.
Thoroughly interview prospective roommates. Whatever else might be happening in your life is not more important than this.
Talking over someone in an argument is a waste of time. If they won’t let you speak after you’ve listened to them, leave. Walking away is just as productive but way less annoying.
Don’t spend your time with people who constantly complain. Complaining is a contagious disease and it ruins people.
When someone says an unkind thing about you, rather than become angry or vindictive, think about whether you have done anything that might have made that person feel that way. Usually you can find something and learn from it.
When you think a nice thing about someone else, tell them.

Surround yourself with people who make you feel the urge to be kinder to others.

There is no amount of money or attention that is worth your integrity or self-worth.
Snuggies. I'm serious guys. They can change your life.

~It Just Gets Stranger