High school is eternal

Congratulations to the Class of 2001. In ceremonies today and Saturday, more than 1,000 of you Rowan-Salisbury seniors will receive diplomas and march off into the future.

You may believe you’re leaving high school behind forever. Physically, you might. But you should hang on to some traditions from your old alma mater. Here are some suggestions:

• Do your homework. Whether you go right to work or into college, life will present you with lots of opportunities to meet new people, explore new places, try new experiences. Don’t stumble into them blindly. Prepare, whether you’re booking a vacation destination or heading to a job interview. That talk about “anything worth doing is worth doing well” applies to much more than term papers.
• Listen to guidance counselors. You won’t have the luxury of finding them down the hall in an office marked “guidance counselor” any more. Instead, you’ll have to seek out professional mentors, level-headed friends, spiritual leaders. A wise man seeks the counsel of many, and a wise woman might talk to even more. Don’t try to go solo, and beware of those who recommend cutting corners or pretending to be something you’re not.
• Check out the cheerleaders. The world is full of cynics and know-it-alls who are all too willing to darken your world. If you can find an upbeat, encouraging person to cheer you on, do a cartwheel and follow along. The world needs optimism and energy.
• Fear and respect strong principles. OK, so it’s not spelled the same as the “principals” who lead schools, but you get the idea. A life lived without principle is a life lived without direction or guidance. Be fair, honest and truthful. Protect the weak. Be willing to stick up for what’s right. Principles will help keep you out of trouble. You might even make the world a better place.
• Keep a good attendance record. If people are counting on you to be somewhere, don’t let them down. Whether it’s work or a family gathering, a person who frequently bails out will soon find people stop looking for him. Who wants to live down to lowered expectations?
• Beware of gossip —receiving it and especially passing it on. This really does not change from high school to adulthood. (Though when it happens later in life, you’ll say, “This is so high school!”) There will always be cliques, trends and favorites. Follow what you believe in and stick to the truth. You’ll find true friends, even if you don’t have any juicy tidbits to share.