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Graduation is a rite of passage from one part of life to another and a time of celebration. It’s also a time for looking forward to creating a life for oneself and making some of the biggest changes in the 18 or so years of life experience.

Most of you have already graduated from high school, and many from college. As a gift to my cousin and to my nephew, both of whom are graduating from high school this week, I’m asking for your help in compiling life advice to a graduate.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known then? Looking back, what wisdom might have made a difference in your life if you knew it at 18 years of age?

What advice would you give to a high school graduate on how to live a happy, successful and meaningful life?

Screen Shot 2011 06 02 At 9.39.53 AmFeel free to answer the same question for what you would share with a college graduate too, but please specify either high school graduate or college graduate in your answer, if the answers are different. Also, please include the number of years since your graduation (high school or college).

Thank you in advance for your comments and for sharing your wisdom with others. I love our InspireMeToday.com community and I’m grateful that you’re a part of it.

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Gail Lynne Goodwin is the founder of InspireMeToday.com, bringing the best inspiration to the world. InspireMeToday.com provides free inspiration, each day from a new Inspirational Luminary, to a global community of folks from over 150 countries. Gail has interviewed many well-known names including Sir Richard Branson, Guy Laliberte, Seth Godin, Tony Hseih, Gary Vaynerchuk, Michael Gerber, Marci Shimoff, Jack Canfield and hundreds more. According to Mashable, Gail was one of 2009's Top 25 Most Inspirational People on Twitter.

Prior to InspireMeToday.com, Gail spent several years as manager for her recording artist daughter, Carly. As a result of the success of their co-penned song, "Baby Come Back Home", Gail accompanied her daughter to bases in the US and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where Carly performed for our troops. Gail and Carly created the 'World's Longest Letter' of love and support and delivered the 18-mile long scroll on a month-long tour of Iraq and the Persian Gulf in 2006.

Gail is excited to present her latest course, Love in 21 Days, a step-by-step guide to finding love online. Love in 21 Days is founded on a logical process that has been tested - and proven! - by not only Gail, but also by students around the world who too have found love.

Gail is a published author and a regular writer for the Huffington Post. She offers mentoring and mastermind services to clients worldwide from her home in Whitefish, Montana. Follow Gail on Twitter or Google+.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Dream big! And always follow your dreams. Work hard and never give up! It’s been said before and it will be said again, but it’s true!

  2. I would definitely say to listen to the voice inside and follow your dreams. Dreams unfollowed don’t die, They will remind you every day of your life that they are still there, waiting to be expressed in your life. Follow them, live big! It only gets harder to follow them as you get older and take on careers, families, jobs, mortgages…..They will whisper at you until you listen. Follow. If in doubt, ask yourself: will I regret it if I don’t?

    I sometimes remind my friends that whatever else happens in their life, THEY are the person they will sleep with every night of the rest of their life, no matter what happens. That’s the person you have to remain most true to.

    I graduated from HS in 1985, went to college for 4 years , quit, then went back and finished in 1997. I’m now in my mid 40’s and half-way through a masters degree. Thrilled to be doing the degree, wanted to do it 15 years ago but thought I couldn’t. Now am quite busy with a full-time professional career and half time grad school.

    Good luck to each and every one of you! The world is as big and welcoming as you will let it be…..

  3. High School- Do what you’ve always dreamed of. Follow your heart no matter what. Listen to your gut feeling.

    College- Choose a career that you love, not because of the pay. Have fun!

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