Congrats, Amelia, and the entire MHHS Class of '14

It seems like just yesterday we saw Amelia off to kindergarten, a bright-faced little girl all excited to start her new adventure. Now, she’s graduating high school.

It’s graduation day as I write this, and Amelia is at practice for the big ceremony. Kim and I are getting ready to go watch the commencement as she and all the rest of the Class of 2014 walk at Bomber Stadium.

This is one of those bittersweet moments, when we’re proud of Amelia and happy for her, yet it means our little girl is one step closer to adulthood and setting out on her own. Oh, she’ll still be here as she starts college but it’ll be a little different than it has been.

Who could imagine time would pass so fast? Our children seem to grow so fast in this world that seems to change even faster. From crayons and construction paper, Amelia’s moved on to cars and iPhones —as have her classmates. I suppose this has been the experience of every previous generation of parents, except for the iPhones.

That’s the way of the world, however; we raise our children, and they come of age and take their first steps into the real world, and away from us parents and the safe cocoon we’ve built around them. Someday, it will be their turn to go through this from the parents’ side.

We’re supposed to have wise advice for our children at this point, counsel we can share with them. I’m not sure how wise my advice may be, but there are a few things I’d recommend for Amelia and her classmates.

First, always be true to yourself, and don’t let other people define who you are. Be yourself, no matter what. Don’t try to shape yourself into what they say you should be or spend your time trying to be what you’re not just to satisfy others. Sometimes it might take a little while for you to discover who you are, but you’ll find yourself, your true self.

In other words, always be yourself, don’t put on different faces or put up different fronts for the people around you just to “fit in.” Let people accept you for who you are, the real you.

Along those lines, remember not everyone will like you, nor will you like everyone else. Not everyone likes the same things, nor believes the same way, nor lives the same way as you. It doesn’t necessarily make them wrong, or you wrong. That’s just the way folks are. It’s our differences that make each of us unique individuals, and we should recognize that, celebrate it.

By that token, always be respectful. Respect people, even those you don’t like or don’t agree with. We don’t have to like or agree with everyone and everything, but we don’t have to disrespect them. There’s too much disrespect in the world today, and that’s bringing us down, as individuals and as a society. No matter how much you may disagree with an idea, a belief or a person, do it respectfully because just as you are they’re entitled to their own ideas and beliefs.

Help others. I don’t agree with the “I’ve got mine, forget about you” philosophy. There’s nothing wrong with thinking about yourself, or even sometimes being selfish about your own needs, just remember you’re not the center of the universe (even though you are at the center of ours). We’re all in this world together and sometimes all of us need help. Be there to give it, and don’t be afraid to accept.

Be faithful. Be faithful to your family, your friends, your community near and far, to your ideals and beliefs, and be faithful to yourself. Having faith and loyalty in anything seems to be in short supply these days. And I don’t necessarily mean religious or spiritual faith; even folks who don’t believe in those place faith in something, be it science or mankind or whatever. While some may lose faith, it’s some we all innately crave in some form or fashion.

Remember, though, it’s not wrong to question your faith, your beliefs, or your community —locally, nationally, globally. Especially if you question what’s wrong, unfair, or what should be changed or improved, or even why something should be changed. Raising questions help us learn and become better people, Challenging what is wrong helps us become a better society and world.

Amelia, I wish I could give you a better world, but I know you make it a better world for Mom and me by being in it. I know, in your own way, you will make make it better for others, too.

Although there have been occasions when it seemed a school year, or even a semester, would never end, these past few years have whizzed by incredibly fast. We’ve watched you grow from that little girl in kindergarten into a beautiful young lady with such a bright future. We’ve seen so many of your friends make this same journey, too —Jack, Megan, Maddie, Bobbi and so many others —and watched in awe your metamorphosis. Mom and I are proud of you all.

Just know this, Amelia: Mom and I always are here for you, no matter what. We always will be, offering you support, encouragement and love. And as the graduating senior setting forth on a whole new adventure, always know, too, that you’ll always be our little girl.

Congratulations, Sweetie Pie, we love you.