Dear Graduates,

As your undergraduate college career has come to a close, I want to personally congratulate you on what you achieved. This is a great honor and you should be very proud of yourself. Some are now going to go on and pursue a masters degree. Others are going to go do what their hearts desire by working their dream job, travel, move or get married and have kids. Some graduates will move home to their parents and hope for the best. I want to commend you on ending a special chapter of your life and starting a brand new one. All I ask is that you do these 5 things:

1. Don't move home.

Your parents have been empty nesters for 4 years, why would you want to ruin that for them? Moving home does sound like the best and cheapest option but it's really not. If you have to, don't do it for long. Just long enough to get your feet under you and move along. This is your chance to live the life you've always wanted, so if it has to take a detour, fine but find a way to make it work. Momma and daddy won't be there to help forever. Take the few moments away from school and a busy life to enjoy what you've always wanted.... FREEDOM!

2. Travel the world, your own state or country... whatever, just go away.

I repeat, go away. If you have a passport, use it. If you need money, find it. Leave and don't return until you're tanner than you left, your hair has beads and your body has some new ink. Traveling teaches you about a whole different side of yourself that you never knew. Allow these trips to change you from the moment you walk onto the plane until you're sitting in a hut with a family, eating something that you think is one thing but you really don't want to know what it is. Go find yourself in another land, allow yourself to be changed. It's amazing what you can learn in a day compared to 18 weeks in a classroom.

3. Take risks.

Life is short and if you don't take risks then you're asking for a very boring life. These risks can vary from applying for a job you know you can't get, to cliff diving in Santorini, Greece yet, you did it anyway. Taking risks can and will teach you many lessons. Ladies, if there is a guy that you had your eye on for ages, go talk to him. The worst he could say is "not interested". He might not be interested now but could be the next time. Take the risk and don't stop. Gentlemen, if you are wanting to try something new in the gym but aren't sure, do it anyway. Okay, yes, people might stare and think you're crazy but last time I checked you were in the gym for you, not for a show. Take the risk and don't stop.

4. Stay humble.

This new transition in life is going to be hard. It's going to stretch you to your breaking point if not further. Allow yourself to acknowledge blessings and where you are today. This is a time to be thankful and spend time with people who matter most. It allows you to step back and realize what you have and how far you have come. Michael Wade said, "Be humble enough to know that you are not better than anyone else yet wise enough to be different from the rest."

5. Be you.

Through all the excitement and changes, don't change you who you really are. Let all the traveling and new adventures enhance you but not change you. Being a college graduate is the moment in your life where you are set free to be whoever you desire. Go and make something of yourself and be proud.

"Promise me you'll always remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and twice as beautiful as you ever imagined." - Christopher Robin