Go to college, go get some knowledge

And be sure to see it through…

If they can make penicillin out of moldy cheese

They can make something out of you.

— Nipsey Russell

Every year, I try to offer some words of advice to our high school seniors who preparing to take a huge step into reality by graduating. These are words that will hopefully give them some guidance toward navigating this crazy world.

This year, I went to those most respected authorities — otherwise known as my Facebook friends — to help me, and this is what they had to say:

• If the things around you don’t change, then change the things around you.

• Next time try doing what your mom said in the first place.

• Be bold, be brave, be courageous, be prepared, be spontaneous, be afraid, be confident, be involved, be informed, be independent, be a leader, be a questioner, be accepting, be tolerant, be an individual, be unique, but above all always be true to yourself and be YOU.

• Don’t let graduating from high school be your finest day.

• The world or no one in it owes you anything.

• If Donald Trump can do it, you can, too.

• Never sacrifice your long term goals for what you want at the moment.

• Although your life matters, you won’t always feel like you matter, and people won’t always treat you like you matter. However, if your value is securely fastened to your faith, you’ll never be without purpose.

• The world is bigger than your front porch, so quit waiting for it to bend to your wants; step off the porch, get your hands dirty, and be willing to change someone else’s world for the better.

• You alone are responsible for your successes and failures.

• Don’t try to prove anyone wrong — only prove that the ones who believe in you are right

• Don’t buy what you don’t need with money you don’t have to impress people you don’t like who don’t care anyway.

• Turn off your phone, go outside, and smell the roses.

• It doesn’t cost a penny to be kind to someone else.

• Sacrifices are easier to make earlier in life than later.

• Only by failing do you ever appreciate success.

• Love God, love your family, and serve your fellow man: three keys to success.

• Grow through what you go through.

Now some from me: I’ve found in this life that you will get out of something pretty much what you put into it, be it a job, relationship, hobby, whatever. But don’t try to fool yourself (or others) into believing you’re “giving it your all” when you know you aren’t. The world will normally reward sincere effort, not half-hearted acting.

You are just as important as anyone else, and so is your opinion. But  remember the same is true of everyone else, too.

Opinions are like rear ends — everybody has one, and in spite of how much you like yours someone is going to think it stinks.

Things have a way of getting better when you make yourself better.

Never be afraid to stand up for that which you know is right. As a wise man once told me, right will always be right and wrong will always be wrong — there ain’t no in-between.

Always, always attach your name to those things you stand up for — that’s how you will earn respect from others. If you believe it, then be it, and do so unashamedly.

Like it or not, the company you keep absolutely does matter, and ultimately reflects on who and what you are. You can’t hang out in a cesspool and not expect to smell like one.

Take some time to hunt for four-leaf clovers. But even if you don’t find one, make sure you aren’t stepping on someone else’s good luck in the process.

Listen to old people every chance you get. Believe it or not, they were once just like you, and somehow lived to tell about it in spite of it. You don’t get to be old by being stupid.

Be fair and decent to everyone you encounter, because you never know who you’ll need or when. Trust me — the janitor in your building will probably come closer to stopping to help when you’re broke down on the side of the road than the CEO will. And remember that a single spoonful of honey will get you a lot further with folks than a whole washtub of vinegar.

Never judge anyone until you really get to know them, mainly because you’d want that done for you … because even though first-impressions do matter, they are often wrong — including those you make on others.

Swing for the fences every chance you get — this is the only at-bat you have.

And finally, never, ever forget that every moment is just as important as any other, and just as valuable. You simply don’t have enough time to waste time. Your time here is a gift from God … but what you do with it will ultimately be your gift to God.

Congratulations, class of 2017. Good luck, and may God bless you in all you choose to do.