Tracker Pixel for Entry

Congrats grads!

Editorial | May 22nd, 2019

Photograph by Sabrina Hornung

It’s that time of year again. Recent grads are unleashed and set out to make their mark on the world.

It’s funny how something can be simultaneously liberating and terrifying. If we could spread any pearls of wisdom to these young adults, we’d tell them the world is your oyster. Seize every opportunity. One of the best ways to learn is by making mistakes. It’s okay to make mistakes, but make sure you learn from them.

To quote Albert Einstein, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

Remember that balance is key. Make sure you balance school and work, friends and studies, family time and personal time. Most importantly, take care of yourself and don’t stretch yourself too thin. Know your limits and know your boundaries.

Try everything once -- maybe twice, just to see if you like it. If you’re going to experiment, be safe. Contrary to popular belief, no one is invincible. Even Superman can be done in with enough kryptonite.

You may be a young adult, but don’t suppress that inner child. Keep a childlike sense of wonder intact. Appreciate beauty and understand that it’s okay to be easily amused. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’ve always been told, “You’ll never know if you don’t ask.”

Go to parties, art openings, shows. Experience. Talk to as many people as you can. The more experiences and perspectives that are shared and gathered the better. It helps to develop a better understanding of your fellow human and who knows, it might help you approach an opinion from a different angle.

The moral of the story? Talk to strangers but also understand “stranger danger.” Not everyone has the best intentions.

People find happiness and fulfillment in a variety of ways. Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t fill your head with unrealistic expectations. Take baby steps toward your goals. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was Argusville. Big goals, small goals, they all take time and execution.

Patience really is a virtue. We live in a world of instant everything. Learn to be patient, learn to listen. It’s ok not to respond to an instant message that second. The world will not stop spinning, the birds won’t stop singing. It will be fine.

Pull out those earbuds so you can hear those birds. Be aware of what and who is around you. You’ll be amazed what you offline or even in your own backyard.

It’s okay to not have an exact course of action after graduation. Not everyone knows what to do with their lives the instant they take off their graduation cap. It’s okay to do a bit of soul searching. Some people take time off after graduation, some people try to figure it out as they go and a rare few have it all figured out. Some even take breaks in between. Everything is a learning experience and your experiences will shape you.

Heck, some folks don’t go to college and that’s okay too. Some of us learn best firsthand. It all takes time. Remember, only one person knows what path you should follow and that person is you. You’ll be fine, you’ll figure it out -- you’ve made it this far!

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comDairy Queen restaurants across the country will raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals during Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, July 31. At least one dollar from every Blizzard…

By Michael M. Millermichael.miller@ndsu.edu The Northwest Blade, from Eureka, South Dakota, published a wonderful story in August 2020. It’s called “Granddaughter keeps Grandmother’s precious chamomile seeds,” by Cindy…

October 3-5, 2025Memorial Union at NDSU, 1401 Administrative Ave., Fargo With the theme of “Existence is Resistance: Healing Through Unity,” this year’s summit will kick off with a professional development day followed by a…

By John Strandjas@hpr1.com Yes, we know, everywhere you look, the world situation is mental. It’s almost inescapable just how tenuous life’s circumstances are. And how they are mostly — pretty much entirely — out of our…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhat are the four freedoms of Donald John Trump? Nearly a century ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said every citizen in the United States of America should have four freedoms: Freedom from…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Nichole Hensenrickgion@gmail.com The wait is finally over. Those who have visited Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Cafe lately know about the recent major additions and renovations that have taken place over the past…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Dakotah Faye is a hip-hop artist from Minot, North Dakota, and he’s had a busy year. He’s released two albums. This summer he opened for Tech N9ne in Sturgis and will be opening for Bone…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com As a follow-up to “The Whale,” a raucous adaptation of the first novel in Charlie Huston’s Henry Thompson series was a good choice for eclectic auteur Darren Aronofksy, whose bold visions…

By HPR staffsubmit@hpr1.com Mark the first weekend of October on your calendar. It’s the weekend of the Studio Crawl, which takes us all on a wonderful, metro-wide tour of our talented (and often wacky) arts community. On October…

Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comPenn & Teller are returning to their roots. The legendary magic and comedy duo will appear on the Crown Stage at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, Minnesota, where they first…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com Loneliness is on the rise in North Dakota, where there is one of the highest rates of people living alone. The challenging winter can be a major contributor, yet North Dakota is not alone.…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…