This month, thousands of young adults in Ireland and millions more around the world are taking their end of year exams before stepping out into the big wide world of work. We asked Ireland Calling readers what advice they would like to offer these youngsters as they begin their journeys into adulthood.
The response was overwhelming, with well-wishers and wise old heads passing on their words of wisdom on how to deal with whatever surprises life can throw at us. The advice seemed to generally fall into three main categories; make sure you enjoy life, be patient in your career, and save money when you can.
Here are a selection of some of the best posts from our readers. Hopefully some of the world’s youth will put their iPads down long enough to absorb some of them.
Elizabeth Trotter: “Be yourself. Hold your head high but never forget from where you came.”
Jim Cridge: “Toe the line, learn, have fun, meet and be with as many friends you can, respect and learn from your elders.”
Grace Eddy: “Live your dream, laugh more, and speak freely.”
Linda Arrasmith: “Be honest.”
Mary Nordmeyer: “It is a good idea to take ten percent of everything you make and put it in savings…if you start doing that you will never miss it. And don’t touch the savings!”
Elizabeth Trotter: “Live life to the fullest as nobody gets out alive.”
Mary Nordmeyer: “I would say, work hard, but don’t live to work! Work to live! You need a balance in life.”
Linda L. Ankney Myers: “All of the above and don’t forget to dance like no one is watching!”
Susan Caprella: “Make sure you save for retirement as soon as you can. Pay cash when you can.”
Tom Mulhern: “Always be truthful, kind and courteous and treat others the way that you want to be treated.”
John Porter: “Work, rest & play but………ENJOY!”
Judy Merriman Burris: “Realize you will most likely be starting at the bottom, and your first job will not be your career. Dress appropriately, and keep your eyes and ears open. Go the extra mile, but stay humble. If you are miserable, start looking for something that is closer to what you want your career to be. But don’t quit one job until you have another. Try not to take things personally, and learn from your mistakes, but don’t wallow…we all make them, learn and move on!”
Sound advice and thanks to all our readers who took the time to help the millions of young hopefuls around the world. Fingers crossed that some of these words will be taken on board and help to guide the next generation through happy and healthy lives. Good luck to all.
A few of the Ireland Calling readers did offer comments that can’t really be regarded as advice, but did make us laugh. Many adults will understand the sentiment behind the next couple of comments. Most of us remember our youth as a care-free time that flew by oh so quickly. To be replaced by a forty-year grind of work, mortgages, bills, bosses and in-laws.
It’s not all that bad really, although we do know how Marni and Debby were feeling when they posted these comments, desperate to warn these innocent youngsters of what awaits them in the big wide world:
Debby Murphy Bostwick: “Don’t do it! It’s a trap!”
Marni McMillan: “My condolences.”
