I want to congratulate you on your accomplishment of graduating from high school. Given some of the obstacles you’ve faced this far, you’ve done well to navigate them and put yourself in a position to succeed. Whether you choose to go to college or get some kind of technical degree, remember that your success is not determined by how much you make. It is determined by how you face adversity and how much effort you put forward. I wish you nothing but happiness and success as you take on your next major adventure (wherever that may be).

Since we’re not too far off in age I’d like, if you’re willing, to instill some knowledge in you so you can continue to be successful in whatever life brings across your path. They are:

1. This is just the beginning, so put yourself in positions to succeed and don’t forget about the small stuff.

Life has just begun for you and while that may be hard to grasp now, understand that the actions you take now will greatly impact your short and long term goals and future self. 

I know I didn’t really have an idea on what I wanted to do when I was your age, and that’s something that I’m still trying to figure out. But what you should keep mindful of is what kind of lifestyle you want, and what your interests and strengths are so that you can work to incorporate that in whatever you choose.

For instance, don’t want health problems? Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep, exercise, maintain your hygiene, give the girls/boys and the booze a rest, and eat healthy. It doesn’t sound sexy, and at times it can be difficult to self-discipline yourself (especially the fun ones), but it will go a long way in helping you be happy. 

Wanting to be successful? Work hard, be on time, bring your best attitude, always be willing to learn, and most importantly admit when you’re wrong or don’t know something. These simple actions will take you a long way and will separate you from the rest in a positive light.

2. Life isn’t going to get easier so don’t be afraid to ask for help or guidance. 

When I left high school I thought things would continue as is. But what I didn’t realize is that I had become an adult in the eyes of others and found myself responsible for things I never had to do before. When life throws you a curve ball or you find yourself stuck, remember that your parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and the rest of your family only want you to succeed. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, as we all have and still do when we come across things that are difficult. This isn’t just limited to financial situations but also personal ones like relationships, emotions, work, etc. This resource base is and will be one of your greatest sources for knowledge and experience as we’ve all experienced different things in life, and our collective stories can create a better whole picture then they can individually.

Recognize that even if someone gives you an answer or shared something, it may not be accurate or applicable so always cross reference the information you receive and make the best informed decision you can.

No one will think less of you if you ask a question, regardless of how simple, how many times you ask, or embarrassing it may seem and the people who do probably aren’t people who have your best interest in mind. This leads to me to my next point:

3. Friends will come and go.

When you’re young, you’re constantly being subjected to different environments where you’re engaging with new people and making lots of friends. As you get older, people will begin to change and figure out who they are and what they want to be and you’re free time will begin to dwindle. 

This is normal, but with it comes less chances to be introduced to new people. You may feel like at times you don’t have as many friends as you use to. Some ways to meet new people include going to parties, taking up a course about a subject that interests you (like welding), volunteering, or even just playing a sport through a public league.

You may find that some people who you thought were friends weren’t actually as they didn’t have your best intentions in mind. The sooner you weed out the people who aren’t in your corner or aren’t aspiring to be whom you want to be, the more successful you’ll become.

There is a saying that you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with. So if you want to go to school but you’re surrounded by a bunch of people who just want to be couch potatoes you’ll have a hard time finding support within that group and accomplishing your goals. 

If you want to be fiscally well off, surround yourself with people who have similar aspirations, work hard, and have a thirst for knowledge.

Understand that not all friends are equal and that can be used in different scenarios. For instance, I have some friends I only party with, some friends I work on entrepreneurial things with, and some friends I play sports with. Everyone isn’t perfect and the sooner you identify and utilize people’s strengths to your advantage, the better off you’ll be.

4. Don’t be afraid to be who you are.

Life is really too short to be someone you aren’t and fake it to others. According to the CDC, the average life expectancy in our country is 78 and the truth of the matter is you aren’t guaranteed to get to that either. Life is fragile, exciting, scary, tiring, challenging, and rewarding so it’s important to not only celebrate it but also to take grasp of the reigns and be active in it. Do not let it pass bye. 

Want to travel the world? Do it. Want to try a business idea? Do it. Want to start a rock band? Do it. Want to try a ridiculous hair cut? Do it. Want to wear all black or pink? Do it (but understand it might be a phase so don’t dye all your things a single color 😉). 

My point is that in this stage of your life you’re still figuring things out and that’s more than ok. So don’t be afraid to try new things out in any aspect of life. Just remember that in moderation things are always better. This applies to work, sex, booze, politics, etc.

By being yourself, you’ll have confidence in yourself which, will only make you happier and result in others gravitating towards you.

5. Don’t compare yourself and your accomplishments to others. 

In today’s day and age it’s easy to peer into other people’s lives via social media. And while it may seem like friend xyz might have it all going for them, understand that just because they have something doesn’t mean you can’t or that you won’t. If I’ve learned anything this far in life it is that some people are just in the right place at the right time despite how hard you may be working. 

Following some of the tips I laid out above will help increase your chances at being in the right place at the right time so don’t get upset or anxious if they haven’t happened yet for you. This is something I struggle with and I suspect you will too since we have been spoiled with fast internet and devices in our pockets that can give us an answer in the blink of an eye. 

Know that just because someone shares something online, it doesn’t actually mean they are happy and it doesn’t actually mean they have everything they claim to. If you can focus on being the best you can be, everything else will fall into place and you’ll be the guy people will look to in envy.

TLDR: Life is just beginning so buckle up and enjoy the ride/challenge. Happiness and success comes from within and your family and true friends will help you accomplish anything you put your mind to.

Good luck and much love,

Jonathan