This week is not only graduation week, but it is also the week of my birthday. And so I reflect on another year gone by…
This year has been incredibly eventful for me and for all the debs. We have all had to rise to the challenge of debuting our first book (just Kristina left to go—and I can’t wait to see her incredible success!). And at the end of August, we will “graduate,” hang up our tiaras and welcome a new class to the ball. It’s bittersweet, but it’s also a wonderful sign that we have overcome the first hurdle of a published author—the first book.
These are difficult economic times, and the book industry is struggling. Heck, all industries are struggling. I graduated from college during a recession and I remember it well. No one was hiring. There were fewer lay-offs then, but no one was interested in the incredibly talented college graduates pouring into the workplace. So I feel your pain new graduates.
I think the best advice I can offer to any graduate today is to be bold and to try new things, even at the risk of making a mistake. Sometimes the mistakes teach you way more then the safe choices. If everyone is going to law school, or business school, try doing something else—something that intrigues you and/or something that might help change the world for the better. If nothing else, it will give you many great stories to tell and could possibly help launch a future writing career!
So congratulations graduates, and here’s hoping the next year brings good fortune and good news to all of us–to our country and to our world.
Well said, Meredith! I have a cousin who is going straight to graduate school because there aren’t any jobs, anyway. But who knows how grad school could enrich his future life and career? He might end up better off in the end.
I hope your cousin does great–staying in school is probably a great decision in this current economic climate. I just worry about all those students taking on more loans…
I like your message, Meredith, for it’s based on common sense. Simply hope that ’09 graduates have “earned” that practical degree as well.
And Happy New Year to you!
I hope so, Larramie! It’s so funny how it feels to me like a new year starts in September, and in a way in May–but never really in January…
I can’t believe we’re all going to “graduate” in August! I’m looking forward to watching a new group of women on their journeys to launching their first books! Happy Birthday, by the way.
Oh this is so true! And I never thought of myself as a “graduate” now that my first book is out, but I love the analogy! Thanks for being such great Debs!
Thanks for being such a loyal contributor, Rebbie! I’m glad you’ve “graduated” along with us. And it’ll be exciting to see who will be the new debs next year.
I’m so excited to meet the 2010 Debs… fun to think that they’re out there, somewhere!
Happy birthday! It’s my birthday week, too!