Dear Class of 2020 Graduate,

I’m sure you’ve been hearing this from everyone but let me congratulate you on this huge accomplishment! Congratulations on graduating! This is no small feat and I want you to know that despite everything going on in the world, graduating is a monumental moment in your life. 

I stood in your shoes eight and four years ago and I want to share with you a quote I used in my own speech to the graduating class of 2012. This quote is especially relevant for the class of 2020.

Deepak Chopra once said, “All great changes are preceded by chaos.” 

The moments preceding your graduation is the chaos before your future endeavors. Before you step into your future endeavors, I have a few pieces of advice that I wish someone told me after I graduated.

Take a chance and say yes to opportunities. You never know where it will take you.

One day I was searching through job listings because I was in need of something new, I came across a job listing at Born This Way Foundation. The first thing I noticed is that the job listing was two weeks old. Usually that’s something I would shy away from because those jobs are already in the process of being filled. But I decided to take a chance and send over my resume and cover letter. Fast forward one year later I am still proudly working at Born This Way Foundation. You truly never know what will happen when you take a chance and I encourage you to do the same when opportunities present itself.

Remember your values and it’s OK to stand by them.

This is a huge lesson I learned in my career but I realized this is also true in your relationships as well. If there are things happening in the workplace that you find unethical, it is absolutely okay to remove yourself from that situation. 

If you find yourself in a relationship (friend, partner, or family member) where they are doing immoral things, it is alright to take the time to reevaluate your relationship.

Keep a journal, you want to remember this time.

I started journaling every day halfway through college and I’m extremely glad that I did! I use the app Day One, it’s easy to use and I highly recommend it. When I’m journaling, I don’t write a detailed account of my day but I stick to the highlights and I add a picture if I took any that day. I’ve been able to look back at the past five years and see how I’ve grown over the years.

I wish you all the best, class of 2020; I believe in you!