Letter to the graduates of the Twitter era

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. 

—

Confucius

The important thing is not to stop questioning. — Albert Einstein

Dear Graduates:

Congratulations. However, graduation is not your achievement; it marks a new beginning in your ex-citing but not trouble-free life journey. Here are a few suggestions, some of which this writer and part-time college teacher tells my students at La Consolacion College Manila:

Never stop studying, because life should be a never-ending quest for self-improvement.

Read often, in order to enrich your mind, expand your thinking and elevate your language.

Education is not only from books or college degrees, but from embracing new experiences, listen, travel often, learn from all people and be open to positive influences from our exciting world.

Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are fun and can be empowering, but those are not all that life and our world has to offer. Play real sports and plant real flowers — not just the ones in online games!

Good manners and correct conduct in the real world should also be our guide on Twitter and the Internet, perhaps more so because online mistakes are often immortalized and can spread virally!

In this era of fast-paced tweets, instant messaging, instant coffee, instant stars from reality TV, let us not forget the virtue of patience and the importance of the long-term.

In this age of an exhilarating and also bewilderingly vast range of mass media and social media choices, do not lose sight of the power of focus and the importance of concentration.

Do not be afraid or too shy to ask questions — often it can save you lots of trouble!

When you want or seek something, ask, or else the answer shall always remain “No.”

Silence sometimes can express more than words can say. Silence is often good for the soul.

Do not be afraid to take risks, for the worst risk in life is not ever taking any risk.

Do not be afraid to lose. There is nothing shameful in loss, but the worst is never trying.

Do not let your youth or inexperience impede your dreams or limit what you can do.

Money is not the most valuable resource we all have, it is time. Avoid frivolous pursuits and vices; make the most of your time.

Instead of wanting to change the world, let us first conquer the self with discipline.

Crisis is like fire, it can either destroy or strengthen us, depending on one’s character and attitude, for the same fire that melts butter can also strengthen steel.

Crisis not only brings us opportunity, according to ancient Chinese wisdom; it can often also help purify, cleanse and purge our lives!

Forgive others, but do not forget their names. Seriously, forgive: life is too short to waste on ill feelings.

Do not take revenge, just remember that the best revenge is success.

Justin Bieber is correct in his song Never Say Never, for we should never, ever give up!

Remember the last Batman movie with the Joker asking “Why so serious?” Let us learn to laugh often and even to laugh at ourselves. Be of good cheer! Smile always!

Perseverance is often more important than talent or intelligence in the quest for success.

There is no substitute for hard work, but we should not only work hard, we should work smart too!

Do not be afraid to dream big, it is more exciting and empowering.

List down your dreams and target deadlines, or else those will remain not dreams but fantasies.

In life, nothing is impossible! Be willing to pay the price with hard work and determination.

Never underestimate the power of prayer. Pray always and not only when we’re in trouble!

Live healthy. Seek not only physical health, but also emotional and spiritual well-being.

Success is not only our destiny, it is our birthright, we just have to struggle and claim it! When my dad died early and we had to live a simple life, every crisis or problem I considered an aberration or temporary — not for one second did I ever doubt that success was my ultimate destiny!

Success is never complete or truly satisfying if we do things just for ourselves or for our family; sincerely think about this and do something for others.

Do not mistake the glitter of money, power or fame as true success, because they do not last, they do not reflect our true worth as humans and they alone do not add meaning to our lives. Look at the East and the West: the greatest person in 5,000 years of Chinese civilization was not an emperor, a business taipan or general, but the teacher and philosopher Confucius; the greatest person in the West was not a king, a tycoon or a celebrity, but a humble carpenter’s son who morally and spiritually changed mankind — Jesus Christ.

Always express gratitude; if possible write old-fashioned thank you letters instead of just texting or tweeting. Let us be thankful to God and learn to count our blessings.

Do not allow others to turn your idealism into cynicism — every one of us can and should change the world for the better!

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Thanks for your letters! Follow WilsonLeeFlores on Twitter, Facebook, e-mail willsoonflourish@gmail.com.