“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one”. This is a quote from an unknown source that makes more sense to my 30 year old self than my 20 year old self. Most individuals on average are graduating with college degrees between the ages and 19 and 22, which could be discouraging to young people with less life experience. At the precipice of the next stage in life with a degree in hand, what’s next?! Do I continue my education? Do I choose career A or do I choose career B? Do I move out of mom and dad’s basement? And the list goes on and on for the critical issues that young people are grappling with.

This is not to say that older graduates who are around 30 and above aren’t facing similar issues. However, I would suggest that on average, with age comes more life experience. More life experience sometimes brings greater clarity, and more clarity allows us to face life’s issues with a pinch more certainty. For example, most of the older graduates I’ve been interacting with the past few years have full-time jobs already in a career they have been working in for ten or more years. Furthermore, a copious amount of them are even having their college tenure paid for by their employers so that ultimately, they could add more value to the company in the future.

I personally was nervous after graduating high school, and I was lost for a couple years after that. Then I joined the military for four years and left at 22, which was similar to graduating college because I was totally unsure of my next several moves. WHAT’S NEXT?! Scared and nervous, I continued to move forward and eventually all the wisdom and experiences I’ve gained from great people over the years began to take hold and grow within me.

Now at 30 years of age, degree in hand, I feel I have an advantage over the more uncertain 22 year old me. I face life excited and ready for its challenges. My journey is nowhere near complete, but thanks to my age and life experiences, I can say with more confidence that I know what’s next. I may not know each and every obstacle coming my way, but at least know where my heart and mind are guiding me. I know I was sent here to inspire and cultivate with my hands. For the next several years, I will help build a sustainable village in the beautiful California desert. I hope that everyone will follow us on our journey over next few years as we begin to lead more sustainable lives.

To the younger graduates, stay calm and continue to move forward, you'll figure it out sooner or later, but for now just try and take it all in and enjoy the journey.