The Cullman Times
CULLMAN —
Are you cherishing your high school or college diploma today?
Congratulations or lamentations may be in order, depending on how you view the world that awaits you.
Earning a diploma is by no means a small achievement. Years of hard work and building social skills are about to pay off, in one form or another.
Everyone knows the highly driven students who stand up and declare intent to become surgeons, lawyers and engineers. And we’ll always need a healthy crop of those talented individuals with exceptional abilities.
But what of those with abilities that crest a little later in time? What will you find after graduation?
On a practical level, the job market is showing some improvements. Jobs will remain competitive for quite a long time. Pay may not amount to your high expectations right out of the gate, but don’t despair. Hard work and a willingness to learn are ingredients that never fail. You can find success.
And remember that the education you have gained is not just about dollars and cents. Society needs leaders as much as it needs technicians, doctors, lawyers and electricians.
A town or city is a hollow place without citizens who give back through leadership in government and in charities. If you have received the gift of education — the diploma you cherish today — give a portion of your time back to some portion of community life that has meaning for others. In your success, you will always see others who are struggling and could use the blessing of your talents and your compassion.
Remember, too, that education is a lifelong gift. You can read and write, and more importantly you have learned creativity and problem-solving abilities. Wherever you roam or settle, someone can find hope in what you have gained.
