{"id":39476,"date":"2013-05-01T08:02:59","date_gmt":"2013-05-01T13:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=39476"},"modified":"2013-05-01T09:42:45","modified_gmt":"2013-05-01T14:42:45","slug":"letter-to-a-college-graduate-5-thoughts-for-anyone-wtrying-to-figure-out-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/05\/letter-to-a-college-graduate-5-thoughts-for-anyone-wtrying-to-figure-out-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter to a College Graduate (5 thoughts for anyone trying to figure out life)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"letter-to-a-college-grad\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I recently had a conversation with a young friend at a party. Sitting at a table outside, sharing a tray of veggies and dip, I asked her about her plans after graduation. She told me that she wasn\u2019t sure – she was looking at options, didn\u2019t know if she could find a job she\u2019d like, one that would be \u2018right\u2019 for her. As the sun set, several of us shared ideas and advice: resume writing pointers, interview tips, contacts for job recruiters, job-search websites, etc\u2026. \u00a0Finally, at one point she looked down at her hands folded in her lap and said in shocking sincerity, \u201cWell, I think it really just comes down to the fact that I\u2019m just afraid to be a grown-up. I\u2019m just not sure I can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ah, yes. \u201cAfraid to be a grown-up.\u201d<\/i> At least she\u2019s honest, right?<\/p>\n

Some of us more seasoned folk might have words of advice for this young lady. \u201cWell, buck up lassie, that\u2019s what life is about!\u201d Or, \u201cOh hun, you\u2019ll be juuuuust fine. Just be sure you\u2019re making a competitive salary, with a solid career track and great benefits. You know, my friend Sally’s daughter got a job in Houston and bought her own condo right after graduation.\u2026\u201d Or, \u201cEh, it doesn\u2019t matter. Just go find something that pays the bills and get yourself through the day. Everyone hates work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Right.<\/p>\n

Well, my dear. Here\u2019s what I<\/i><\/b> have to say to you, but I\u2019m not sure it will help much:<\/p>\n

I\u2019m pretty much afraid of being a grown-up, too. And I\u2019m 37.<\/p>\n

I remember a moment in time, back when my oldest were very small \u2013 2 years and 6 months or so. I was standing in my kitchen, staring at a pile of bills. My clothes disheveled, my children pleading for some lunch, and I thought, \u201cWhat in the world does God think He\u2019s DOING?! Why does he think I can handle all this? Because I can\u2019t. I feel like I\u2019m 17!\u201d<\/p>\n

All of us have a little wonderment in the back of our minds and hearts, sometimes a whisper, sometimes a scream: \u201cI wonder if I had done this instead of that. I wonder if I had taken that job, moved to that town, married that guy, made that choice\u2026 What would have happened THEN, God?!<\/p>\n

So, the real questions are these: How do we know if we\u2019re doing the RIGHT thing? How do we know if our work is what God wants us to do with our lives?<\/p>\n

When it comes to the bright future of any young person, all I can say is:<\/p>\n

1. Try to find something you love to do. Always do your very best work.<\/b> Don’t just go after the job position that pays the most, offers the best benefits or nicest year-end bonus. Find a balance between the practical need to work and your personal need for happiness. You have responsibilities to take care of – loans, payments, rent. So you might have to take a job that is not your ideal position at first, but that’s okay! There is still time, keep dreaming and planning but be thankful for what you have today. It is a privilege to work and contribute to society, to finally be doing something on your own and take care of yourself.\u00a0 Start at the very beginning, striving for excellence in all you do.\u00a0 You may never know how your hard work and contentiousness will benefit those you are with.<\/p>\n

There is always nobility is a job well-done. Even if no one notices.<\/p>\n

\u201cDear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things!\u201d Pope Francis @pontifex<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Always be prepared to learn<\/b>. Have an open mind, and be willing to learn something new, even if your job is just a \u201cholding pattern\u201d till you land your dream gig. My husband worked for a printing company in Amarillo as a high school and college student. He was shy and lanky and scared to death. His boss, a friend of his father’s, was easily displeased. Among other things, he had to coordinate printing runs for Amarillo Junior League ladies with VERY high standards. But, he stuck it out, has many hilarious stories and eventually learned how to communicate and work with people he never thought could. Skills he still uses today. When he left for college, the boss gave him a cutting edge phone with a BUILT-IN dual cassette-tape message recorder (yes, that\u2019s how old we are) so that they could be sure to reach him anytime, day or night. They weren\u2019t sure how they could go on without him\u2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it’s flipping hamburgers at McDonald’s, be the best hamburger flipper in the world. Whatever it is you do you have to master your craft.\u201d\u00a0 Snoop Dogg<\/em><\/p>\n

3. Be a good person.\u00a0 <\/b>You probably can\u2019t fathom the thought now, but someday you may find it hard to just be yourself out there in the world.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to be kind. Be helpful beyond expectation. Do things without desiring anything in return. Welcome newcomers, stifle gossip, be quick to praise. Smile. Remember that you are not your job.<\/p>\n

Some with bitter hearts might say, \u201cWell the only way to get anywhere in this world is to just look out for #1, no matter what!\u201d And, they might be right. If they’re all about ‘getting somewhere’. But at the end of their time in this world, that person might be very sad at who they\u2019ve become.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?<\/i>\u201d Matt 16:26<\/i><\/p>\n

4. Be prepared for God to use your challenges for your own good.<\/b> \u00a0There will be times that are hard. You might work for a horrible person. You might be given tasks that suck the life out of you. You might be treated unfairly, or even fired unjustly and then struggle to find work. But God can work good out of anything. It might sound clich\u00e9 when people say, \u201cWhere God closes a door, He opens a window.\u201d Well, it DOES sound clich\u00e9\u2026 but it\u2019s true! In my very own life, I\u2019ve seen people become wiser and more faithful after going through great adversity. We can grow in astounding ways when we’re dealing with challenges. And that growth might be the very trait that will be needed of you in the future.<\/p>\n

There requires a certain \u2018holy detachment\u2019 for us to step back and see God\u2019s hand in our struggles. And sometimes it takes several years to pass by before we can see the good He has done. But be sure, God is there.<\/p>\n

\u201cPurity of heart is what enables us to see.\u201d Pope Benedict XVI<\/em><\/p>\n

5. You are not big enough to mess up God\u2019s plans.\u00a0 <\/b>There is nothing you can do to mess up God\u2019s plan. You are not big enough. Now, I\u2019m not saying that we believe all our actions and choices are predestined – we are not acting out a grand chess game written out long ago in heaven. No, we have free will! Our actions matter and have consequences. But, if we are faithful and love God and truly seek His will in our lives, even if we do something incredibly stupid that veers us way from God\u2019s path, He can bend the path to meet us. Or make a completely new one. God can make everything work for good, if we are willing to give it to him. So, take a deep breath and relax in that hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cBehold, I make all things new\u201d Revelation 21:1 <\/i><\/p>\n

I once gave a talk at our church on discernment. In a room full of college students, a dark haired girl in the back raised her hand. “Why does it seem that I keep praying and do not hear a clear answer from God? I ask Him sincerely, because I want to do His will. Why won’t He show me a clear answer?” Her voice was full of pleading. I understood. I thought of certain issues in my own life that I have fervently prayed about for years. And I still seem to get no clear directive from heaven. Yes, I completely understood\u00a0 her question, and wasn’t sure what to say.<\/p>\n

After a few seconds of thought, I told her the following: I realize that if God gave me His answer to my pleading question, written in stone, clear as day, then I would pick that answer up and run with it. And, knowing me and my busy, distracted heart, I’d probably never pray about it again.<\/p>\n

Maybe the reason he doesn’t give us a clear answer, is because He doesn’t want us to stop praying. He IS answering. But He doesn’t want us to stop praying.<\/p>\n

So, my young friend, after all this, I don’t really have any clear answers. I’m not any more sure of what you are going to ‘do with your life’ than you are. Sorry! But do not be afraid. Keep praying and seeking. All will go well. It is hard, and new and uncomfortable. But be assured, there are good things waiting for you around the bend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I recently had a conversation with a young friend at a party. Sitting at a table outside, sharing a tray of veggies and dip, I asked her about her plans after graduation. She told me that she wasn\u2019t sure – she was looking at options, didn\u2019t know if she could find a job she\u2019d like,… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-39476","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-blog","7":"entry","8":"has-post-thumbnail"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22022,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/08\/gods-calling-to-the-underemployed-63\/","url_meta":{"origin":39476,"position":0},"title":"God’s Calling to the Underemployed 63%","author":"Elizabeth","date":"August 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"An article published in Market Watch states that \"while 63% of \"Generation Y\" workers - those age 18-29 - have a bachelor's degree, the majority of the jobs taken by graduates don't require one.\" In another survey by Rutgers University, \"half of graduates in the past five years say their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Stjosemariaprayercard.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":39791,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/05\/open-letter-to-graduating-high-school-seniors\/","url_meta":{"origin":39476,"position":1},"title":"Open Letter to Graduating High School Seniors","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"May 22, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve spent the last 4 years as a catechist to high school seniors. Before that I spent 4 years with confirmation classes and middle school students, but focusing on sending students out to college and beyond high school has been some of my most fruitful experiences. I would like to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Youth"","block_context":{"text":"Youth","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/youth\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"graduate","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/graduate-525x700.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24503,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/10\/the-small-much-needed-signs-that-god-is-always-there\/","url_meta":{"origin":39476,"position":2},"title":"The (Small & Much Needed) Signs That God Is Always There","author":"Elizabeth","date":"October 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I don't like guess work. I like to see where I've come from and where I'm going with a single glance. I like to have a plan. 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