Graduates deserve their moment

I’ve been to four graduations this spring and enjoyed attending every single one of them. What is better than the excitement and happiness of a new beginning whether it is pre-school, kindergarten, fifth grade, high school, college or adult education trade classes? It makes no difference. There’s a great sense of accomplishment and joy as proud family members look on.

A lot of work, suffering, pain and sometimes the student’s own personal money is wrapped up in getting a diploma. These people deserve all the recognition and love they can get at an official graduation ceremony.

At some ceremonies, I’ve attended there is one thing I don’t like. It’s when family and friends are asked to hold their applause until the end. This happened at one of the smallest ceremonies I attended.

This is ridiculous. Let people show their love. Let people get the recognition they deserve.

Of course, they didn’t say not to yell, so these enthusiastic family and friends yelled crazily and a few clapped illegally. Let these families have their moment. So, what if the ceremony is increased by five or 10 or more minutes – cut something else.

Since COVID, I’ve noticed at the graduations I’ve attended, the typical graduation guest speech has gone by the wayside. Use this time to applaud the graduates. Sometimes a brief speech of a few minutes is given. This is probably better.

I’ll help fill in the gap with some graduation advice. When I young and stupid, I knew for a fact that I wasn’t going to have any regrets in my life. Life was going to go perfectly, just the way I thought it would. (Pause here for sinister laughter.)

Life isn’t going to let you off that easily. Sorry to give you the bad news, but you’re going to have regrets no matter what. These regrets might be your fault, or they might not be your fault. Could you have made a better decision on something? Don’t be hard on yourself, just do your best and carry on.

I knew I’d be able to do whatever I wanted in my adult life. It would be fun. Then something as simple as two events that you want to attend are going to inevitably be held on the same day at the same time. You can only go to one. It’s small, but regret sets in.

My biggest regret was not finishing college before I got married, because after that happened, college was harder. But now that I look back at it, maybe that was what was supposed to happen. Now, it doesn’t make a difference, so it’s the early marriage for the win.

Sometimes things are meant to happen whether you want them to or not.

One of the best things you can do in life is to be open to opportunities you haven’t even considered. Nearly three decades ago, that happened to me. The Tuscarawas Bargain Hunter was looking for a part-time writer. I had always wanted to be a writer since fifth grade. I thought I’d be writing novels but haven’t written a novel yet. Maybe that’s a regret, maybe not. Maybe it’s not supposed to happen.

I also fell into a full-time job I loved working with people with disabilities. I could see the difference I was making every day. Once, after leading exercise classes for nine months, one man, who had just sat there watching the class but not participating, began to move his arms and legs. After that day, he participated in every class. Patience makes perfect.

Gather in close – I’m going to tell you the meaning of life – it’s helping others. My mother taught us this when we were young. We held backyard carnivals to raise money for charitable organizations and even went door to door.

Do what you can for others and the beneficial organizations in our community and you’ll have the most happy and meaningful life possible no matter what else life may hand you.

Congratulations to the 2026 graduates of all ages. You are going to make the world a better place.