Drink water and make it a habit. Even if you don't 'like' it. It sounds stupid but trust me it's a LOT harder once you're middle-aged and have to learn to do it or suffer a variety of health consequences. Plus it's good for your skin and you won't look like shoe leather once you're 45.
Take the time to learn to cook and bake for yourself. You don't have to become (popular celebrity chef du jour) but please elevate yourself above eating frozen pizza, boxed mac and cheese, and Hostess products - you'll thank me in the future.
If for some odd reason you don't yet have these skills, learn basic bookkeeping (balancing your bank account, making up a household budget, etc). And for Dog's sake learn about how interest rates and loan terms work. Sure, capitalism is stacked against anyone under 45 (in year 2024), but if you have the rare opportunity to buy a house, you don't want to learn these things the hard way and lose it all in 5 years when some predatory balloon loan comes due. Ditto for personal and auto loans.
Write a will, or at least have some kind of written directive regarding your wishes should the worst happen.
And finally, tell the people who matter to you that you love them. The universe is fickle and you do. not. know. how long you have with any of them (this goes both ways - refer to my previous remark) This is not a regret you want to carry for the rest of your life, just... trust me on this one.
Oh, one last thing. Ask permission and pet every doggo you see. Instant endorphins.
Baz Luhrmann really had the best advice: Wear Sunscreen. I would add, and start retinol in your 30s.
Also that the job they have 10 to 20 years from now may not be related to the degree they just got today, but that doesn't make the degree "worthless." Skills and knowledge, in whatever topic, is never worthless.
When searching for that first job out of college, know that your job does not define who you are. How you treat your friends, family and other humans you interact with on a daily basis does.
“It’s all in the queso.” Truer words never spoken, by some “graduating” 9th grader when I was in 8th grade (this school district used to have junior high be 7-8-9).
In all seriousness, run far and fast from any job listings that mention “<corporate entity> is like a family!”
I've been lucky enough to be around some new grads in my field recently and gave a lot of the same advice. Especially the "no one really knows what they're doing" bit and the "you know more than you think" part.
I also like to tell them that they were hired for a reason, so if they have an idea, they should share it. Not necessarily in a "you should do this or you're stupid" way, but in a "hey, have we tried X before?" tone. Ideas can come from anyone, and fresh viewpoints are often helpful in making progress on a problem.
My other favorite thing to do as a millennial is tell the kids that they have value and worth inherently as human beings, and if they're not treated that way at work, they should consider looking for a new gig. If it feels weird or sketchy, get out ASAP. Trust your gut. Don't end up in a footnote in a Wikipedia page because you became a fall guy.
I had the opportunity to write recently for one individual high school graduate, whom I don't really know. Among other things, I encouraged her to go to therapy, meditate, run, stretch, and drink water. I also told her she should avoid being the smartest person in the room.
- Respect your knees, hips, and ankles: joints are hard to fix, so try not to ruin them in the first place, and these are weight-bearing so you'll be especially miserable if/when they go bad.
- Related: stretch. You may not think you need to right away, but get in the habit before you absolutely must and that point will end up further away.
- Although it is uncomfortable, find a way to talk about your approach to money with anyone you are trending towards a long-term relationship. You don't have to have the same approaches, but you should at least know where you disagree so you can sort it out.
HR is there to protect the company, not you (with all due respect to the good HR managers out there). Also, don't be upset if you don't have an idea of where your life is going to go: life will throw you some curveballs and the best you can do is just to be ready to adapt to them
I wish I could share advice, but after watching 4 mins and 18 sec of THE OSU commencement speech my brain shut down. All I can say is if you never come close to the level of arrogance, hubris, shamelessness, and complete lack of self-awareness that is the only explanation for how this person got this gig and delivered what should never have moved from his phone to being uttered publicly you graduates will have led a life of good judgment and moral clarity.
I'm taking this assignment seriously:
Drink water and make it a habit. Even if you don't 'like' it. It sounds stupid but trust me it's a LOT harder once you're middle-aged and have to learn to do it or suffer a variety of health consequences. Plus it's good for your skin and you won't look like shoe leather once you're 45.
Take the time to learn to cook and bake for yourself. You don't have to become (popular celebrity chef du jour) but please elevate yourself above eating frozen pizza, boxed mac and cheese, and Hostess products - you'll thank me in the future.
If for some odd reason you don't yet have these skills, learn basic bookkeeping (balancing your bank account, making up a household budget, etc). And for Dog's sake learn about how interest rates and loan terms work. Sure, capitalism is stacked against anyone under 45 (in year 2024), but if you have the rare opportunity to buy a house, you don't want to learn these things the hard way and lose it all in 5 years when some predatory balloon loan comes due. Ditto for personal and auto loans.
Write a will, or at least have some kind of written directive regarding your wishes should the worst happen.
And finally, tell the people who matter to you that you love them. The universe is fickle and you do. not. know. how long you have with any of them (this goes both ways - refer to my previous remark) This is not a regret you want to carry for the rest of your life, just... trust me on this one.
Oh, one last thing. Ask permission and pet every doggo you see. Instant endorphins.
I love these!
Baz Luhrmann really had the best advice: Wear Sunscreen. I would add, and start retinol in your 30s.
Also that the job they have 10 to 20 years from now may not be related to the degree they just got today, but that doesn't make the degree "worthless." Skills and knowledge, in whatever topic, is never worthless.
it's really hard to top the sunscreen one.
Credit where it's due: Mary Schmich wrote the sunscreen piece
When searching for that first job out of college, know that your job does not define who you are. How you treat your friends, family and other humans you interact with on a daily basis does.
Club soda with lime is the best advice
That line about the you have been shorted by accidents so don’t feel bad when it’s in your favor is one that’s going to stick with me.
“It’s all in the queso.” Truer words never spoken, by some “graduating” 9th grader when I was in 8th grade (this school district used to have junior high be 7-8-9).
In all seriousness, run far and fast from any job listings that mention “<corporate entity> is like a family!”
"looking for a rockstar", too
“Competitive benefits and salary” always means the bog standard thing you’d get anywhere else
Love it.
"That's my time y'all. Tip your bartenders."
I've been lucky enough to be around some new grads in my field recently and gave a lot of the same advice. Especially the "no one really knows what they're doing" bit and the "you know more than you think" part.
I also like to tell them that they were hired for a reason, so if they have an idea, they should share it. Not necessarily in a "you should do this or you're stupid" way, but in a "hey, have we tried X before?" tone. Ideas can come from anyone, and fresh viewpoints are often helpful in making progress on a problem.
My other favorite thing to do as a millennial is tell the kids that they have value and worth inherently as human beings, and if they're not treated that way at work, they should consider looking for a new gig. If it feels weird or sketchy, get out ASAP. Trust your gut. Don't end up in a footnote in a Wikipedia page because you became a fall guy.
I'd throw in something about getting renter's insurance, and making sure the personal property limits are adequate.
I thought of you when I included the renter's insurance ones.
I had the opportunity to write recently for one individual high school graduate, whom I don't really know. Among other things, I encouraged her to go to therapy, meditate, run, stretch, and drink water. I also told her she should avoid being the smartest person in the room.
-It's never to early to start taking a daily fiber supplement
-Be sure to move/exercise regularly
-Drink plenty of water
-People are so wrapped up in their own shit that they probably didn't notice that minor faux pas you made, and if they did, they won't remember it.
Let's see:
- Respect your knees, hips, and ankles: joints are hard to fix, so try not to ruin them in the first place, and these are weight-bearing so you'll be especially miserable if/when they go bad.
- Related: stretch. You may not think you need to right away, but get in the habit before you absolutely must and that point will end up further away.
- Although it is uncomfortable, find a way to talk about your approach to money with anyone you are trending towards a long-term relationship. You don't have to have the same approaches, but you should at least know where you disagree so you can sort it out.
HR is there to protect the company, not you (with all due respect to the good HR managers out there). Also, don't be upset if you don't have an idea of where your life is going to go: life will throw you some curveballs and the best you can do is just to be ready to adapt to them
I *almost* put the HR one in the post. Hard co-sign.
Is the shipwreck book about the Edmund Fitzgerald? IS THERE AN ACCOMPANYING SONG?!
I wish I could share advice, but after watching 4 mins and 18 sec of THE OSU commencement speech my brain shut down. All I can say is if you never come close to the level of arrogance, hubris, shamelessness, and complete lack of self-awareness that is the only explanation for how this person got this gig and delivered what should never have moved from his phone to being uttered publicly you graduates will have led a life of good judgment and moral clarity.
You're gonna buy a car, someone is gonna offer you gap insurance - get the gap insurance.