You’ve got life ahead of you, live it!

For both students and their parents, this proves a bittersweet time of year. Whether preparing for a small, fifth-grade graduation ceremony, if your high-schooler now faces the summer before college, or whether you’re celebrating the acquisition of that coveted college degree, spring brings not only sunshine but also a lot of reflection and the fears that come with figuring out “what’s next”? It’s graduation season!

Here at Mom Central, we empathize! We’re also feeling the nerves, as many of our interns (myself included!) face college graduation in just one week. Celebrations aside, we also get serious as we plan for our futures. Graduation gifts have been coming in from extended family, cousins I’ve never met, uncles, aunts, and old high school classmates. I’ve received self-help books, photo albums, a total of three copies of Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, the collection of Vonnegut’s commencement speeches, and a whole lot of advice. It has been helpful, overwhelming, and has caused a lot of introspection. When I may not know to whom I’m to turn for a much-needed pep talk, there is only one source of confidence that I need: “Kid President”.

Robby Novak, best known as Kid President online ad on television, produces videos through Soul Pancake, from Pep Talks, his foolproof “Guide to Being Awesome,” or one of my favorites, “Kid President’s 20 Things We Should Say More Often,” (like, “Yes, I would love a corn dog.”) proves a much-needed inspiration, if not a source of comic relief at this very serious time of life.

My favorite inspirational little man just released “Dear Graduates – A Message from Kid President,” which has already put any commencement speaker to shame.

Sometimes, we need the honesty of a goofy kid to ground us, and this video does just that. Perhaps my favorite line, besides the ultimate question of, “Can’t bass and treble be friends?” When a regalia-clad Kid President looks at the camera and says, “If at first you don’t succeed… YOU’RE NORMAL!” – who can’t relate to that?

I have watched this video upwards of five times, and have sent it to all of my roommates, friends, and family, and encourage you to send it to all the graduates in your life! Because Kid President is right, we do need people who care, people who ream, and people who are their own Beyoncé (or Beyoncé Pad Thai – whatever floats your goat).

“You’ve got life ahead of you, live it.”

Congratulations to all of the graduates out there!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Samantha Middleton

My first love is for coffee, and my second for bookstores. I love buying books but not always reading them, identify as a true snow bunny, and find nothing more centering than meditation that seems to always turn into a nap. Writing is a fearful passion of mine but also a source of great joy, especially when that writing involves a delicious recipe or a good pun.