Over the years, I’ve gotten to know many of you quite well, and all of you on a level that is just not possible in a different school, and it is a privilege and an honor to be a part of your lives in this way. Over the last four years, I’ve tried to keep track of the specific advice I’ve given to you, so that I could summarize the more important pieces on this day.
Here are 10 of the most important things I know:
Art is really important. Whether or not you actually end up making it, you have a responsibility to support it, with both your time and your money. For months, the media has been telling us what we need to do in order to live. Art is an important reason why we want to live.
Community is also really important, and it’s almost certain that you will never find a community like this one again. That’s okay—you shouldn’t just be looking for communities any more, your job is to build them.
If you can’t coherently defend the opinion of someone you disagree with, then you probably don’t really understand your own opinions. If that’s the case, don’t post stupid crap online. You’re just making noise, and people like me find that stuff when you’re trying to get a job.
The more you get, the more you want. But, if you think you’ll be happier when you “have more” of something — more money, more stuff, more power, more success — you’re never going to have enough. “More” becomes “normal” shockingly fast, and when the novelty wears off, you feel exactly the same as you felt before
Instant gratification is not the same as happiness. Your phone, your vape, your credit card — they’re all designed to trick you into thinking they’re making you happy. They’re really just stealing your time and your money.
There’s an old joke that you should take to heart: How did the artist end up with a million dollars? They started with $2 million. Become an expert with money. Start today. It is not hard to be the smartest person in the room about money, and Google will teach you — for free — how to do it. (Keep in mind, though, that money and happiness are pretty much unrelated. If you’re miserable when you’re broke, you’re still going to be miserable when you’re not.)
Be sober. The more you believe that alcohol and drugs “help” you do anything, the more it means you have work to do when you’re sober. Sooner or later, we all have to operate in reality, and living cleanly will illuminate paths for you that will take you anywhere worth going.
Whether they were really high, or really low, no one will ever again care what grades you got in high school. Most of your college professors are going to be so terrified of social media attacks and helicopter parents they won’t give you anything less than a ‘B’, regardless of what you actually deserve. So, decide right now to hold yourself to a standard—a much higher standard—that’s not related to letter grades, praise, or recognition. Demand more from yourself than anyone else could ever expect, embrace criticism, and don’t expect anyone to care about your feelings.
Develop the courage to be disliked. Have high expectations for the people around you. Think for yourself and don’t be afraid to express unpopular opinions. Have uncomfortable conversations. Don’t be an asshole, but also don’t be a clone, and don’t be a pushover.
Reject mediocrity. If you haven’t already, you’re going to discover that other people get uncomfortable when you set big goals and work incredibly hard to reach them. Don’t let those people slow you down, even when they’re your friends. Most of what you think are the limits of your potential are illusions, so never, ever, apologize for aggressively pursuing your dreams.