Graduation is usually a time when we contemplate our future and purpose. It can be both a time of great excitement and, what I like to call, preventative worry. I certainly remember the anxiousness I felt after each graduation. Whether you or your child are graduating Kindergarten, middle school, high school, or college, or just know a graduate, take note of the 11 lessons author, Jon Gordon, shares from his book, The Seed. 
May they empower you and your child on the next steps of the journey forward:
1. You are here for a reason and the most important thing you can do in life is to find, live, and share your purpose. It’s the one thing in life that truly matters; if you don’t pursue it, everything else is meaningless.
2. Follow your passion; it often leads you to your purpose. You may not know what your passion is right now. That’s ok. To help find your passion, seek out learning experiences or jobs allowing you to use your strengths and gifts.
3. Beware of hobbies. Just because you enJOY social media doesn’t mean you would enjoy working for Twitter. Just because you love to cook doesn’t mean you would enjoy owning a restaurant. What aspects of the hobby do you love and work from them.
4. When you quit, quit for the right reasons. Don’t quit because work is hard or you’re experiencing challenges. Quit because in your heart you know there is something else for you to do.
5. Learn from every experience. Every job, good or bad, prepares you for the work you were ultimately born to do.
6.Your current situation may not be your ultimate purpose but it can serve as a vehicle to live and share your purpose.
7. Whatever job(s) you take after graduation, decide to simply serve. When you serve in small ways you’ll get more opportunities to serve in bigger ways.
8. Your dream job is likely not the one you dreamed about. So often we end up in amazing careers that have nothing to do with our college degree or childhood dreams.
9. The quest for your purpose is not a straight line. It is filled with mystery, signs, obstacles, victories, dead ends, delays and detours. Your job is to stay optimistic and faithful on your quest. Teachers are the best at knowing learning does not come in a straight line; there are many curves on the road to success.
10. Don’t rush the future. There is a process all seeds must go through in order to become all they are destined to become, and you must go through this same process to become the person you are meant to be and do the work you are meant to do.
11. Be the Seed. Seeds surrender themselves to the ground so they can be used for a greater purpose. Wherever you are, decide to plant yourself where you are and allow yourself to be used for a greater purpose. When you plant yourself and make a difference, you grow into the person you were born to be and produce a harvest that will benefit others and change the world.
Here’s hoping our planted seeds of this school year truly change the world! 🙂
Van Am Gram 
Weed & Feed
Plant the Seed
Fill the Need
Follow the Lead
Complete the Deed
Live your Creed.