Attention high school graduates

   I thought the following letter might interest all high school graduates and their parents as well so I am passing it on.

“Sunday, May 30, 2004

Dearest Granddaughter,

   Your Grandmother and I usually give our grandchildren a little advice when they graduate from high school. You don’t need much advice and besides free advice is usually worth what you pay for it. Nonetheless, wisdom should not be rejected merely because it is late in coming.
   You are too young to know it but the best years of your life are now. You are free to do what you want to, go where you want to, anytime you want to with no constraints, no one to worry about but you, and no big responsibilities. This is the only time, ever, in your lifetime that you will enjoy such freedoms. Repeat, now and the next five or six years will be the best years of your life so plan very, very carefully.
   Soon you will be thinking about what you are going to take in college and what you want to do to make a living. This is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Education, journalism, business courses are all good. Medicine, engineering etc. are equally good; it just depends upon what you like. You may not know what you want to concentrate in at college now but you can start with general courses and then you can always change your major at any time.
   Another observation is that there is no success without sacrifice. You have to spend four or five hours every day studying in addition to your class work. It is all right to memorize a lot of things but you have to understand "why" if you really want to know more than the next person and become an original thinker.
  I used to say, “Give me a man that knows “how” and I will put him to work for a man that knows “why” .
  With all the girls in every profession now, I have to say, "give me a man that knows how and I will put him to work for a woman that knows “why”.
  You also need to be widely read. Therefore read everything you can related to your subject matter including other books or papers. Also read current events as reported in daily newspapers. No matter what you decide to do after college, the ability to communicate both orally and in writing is very, very important so take as many courses as you can in correspondence and speech.
   You are in college only a short time. Before you know it you will be graduating. So while you are in school you might as well spend your time studying. Many of your friends may never finish college because they don’t realize what they are going to college for until it is too late.
   Grades are not the only measuring stick of course; it’s the knowledge you gain that really counts. That is why a lot of C students go on and do extremely well. Nonetheless grades indicate to prospective employers and others that you paid the price and have a good education. It is also a source of pride for you.
  If you don’t know what you want to do when you get out of college, don’t worry about it. Most students have no idea what they want to do to make a living when they first enter college. A lot of people can’t get a very good job when they get out of school so just a college degree doesn’t mean too much anymore. Plan to get a master’s degree if possible.
You have to like what you do but you also have to be able to make enough money to support the lifestyle you want to lead. It cost money for everything you want to do. The more money you make the more you can do the things you want to do. A college education will cost about $60,000 to $100,000. A new car will cost about $25,000. A three bedroom house will cost about $275,000 or more. Married couples with two children need to make about $40,000 to $50,000 a year to just be comfortable. A small rent house or apartment rents for a minimum of $750 to $1,000 a month. Groceries, medicine, doctors, utilities, insurance, car expenses etc. are expensive. Money may not bring you health and happiness but it sure makes it easier to be miserable.
  The average per capita income is about $17,000 a year in the state. So you can see how important a good education is in terms of being able to make more money than the average person. You sure can’t be comfortable making $17,000 a year especially if you get married and have a few children.
  Unless you want to lose your freedom and be tied down, don’t plan to get married until you are at least out of college. Once you get married you are no longer free to do exactly what you want to do. One out of two marriages end in divorce and usually after two or three children. The biggest problem in marriage is concern over money.
   The great majority of boys and girls do not marry their first love or childhood sweethearts. The reason for this is that both change as they get older and more mature. Their interests change, their horizons change and their perspective of what they want in a lifetime mate changes.
In the meantime, you are free to enjoy being young and to do all the things you want to do without the worry and responsibilities of a husband and children. That comes later when you are ready to settle down and give up your freedom.
   Think things through very carefully, know the long term ramifications of what you do, set long term goals and work toward them. But first of all, get the best possible education. If you know a little more than the next person about whatever you are in, you’ll always do well.
Plan ahead and work your plan. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.
   Perhaps more important than anything else, you should always be your own person. Never let peer pressure dictate your conduct or actions. Learn to say no. If you never go where you have no business being, the chances are you won’t get in trouble. Always do what is right as your Mom and Dad have taught you.
   We are very proud of you and we love you very, very much,
   Your loving grandparents.”

I think this is sage counsel for all graduates. Good luck and best wishes for a long and successful career.
Milo A. Nickel

  Milo A. Nickel is the former President and COO of Louisiana State Newspapers.