To the Graduates… |

Summer marks a significant change in most students’ lives. To the new graduates, this blog post provides some books for encouragement, inspiration, and celebration as you live your life, no matter what you decide to do or where you decide to go.

Your heart beats fast. Your palms are sweaty. Your mouth is dry. You fan your gown to cool down in this packed auditorium. Other students also stand in line, waiting anxiously. Your name is called. You make your way up the steps to the stage, praying that you don’t trip and fall and make a fool out of yourself in front of your family members somewhere in the crowd. After shaking hands with teachers and people you’ve never met, you walk across the stage. You have finally graduated. Congratulations!

Graduating high school, college, or university is a big deal, for some more than others. You may be the first in your family to graduate from school, or you may be joining the rest of your family members who have degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

Nevertheless, it is an exciting time in your life. You may know exactly what you want to do now that you’re done school. Perhaps you’ll be going back for more school. Perhaps you'll start applying for jobs or volunteer opportunities or internships. Perhaps you’ll travel. Maybe you have no idea. Maybe you are terrified of the unknown, terrified of leaving the safety net known as “school.” (For those who are more scared than excited about having graduated, I recommend Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt.)

Here are some titles for the kid in you:

Oh, the Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss
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