In just eight days, the senior class of 2026 at Chaminade University will graduate. Everything before May 9 will have to somehow prepare us for what’s to come after May 9. That one day is when seniors, like me, have our lives completely changed.
I’m scared. I’m sure most seniors are, but we have learned a lot through all these years of school. If we really look back at it, we are prepared for the future. I’m going to share the ten lessons I’ve learned from kindergarten all the way to this year that have prepared me for life after walking the stage.
Lesson #1: Listen to the people above you
Nearly 17 years ago, I walked into Carver Elementary School in Florence, South Carolina, to begin kindergarten. I was greeted by Mrs. Fortier. Isn’t it crazy that I can’t remember what I did last week, but I can remember that teacher’s name? Anyway, she taught me that rules weren’t optional in her classroom, and that everybody must be paying attention when she is talking. These were the fundamentals for the next 17 years of my life.
Lesson #2: Don’t look down on people or pick on people, no matter what your status is compared to theirs
I looked up to the fourth graders, and I thought, I want to be those kids one day. Well, in the blink of an eye, there I was, the fourth grader running the elementary hallways and looking at the little kindergarteners fighting over who gets to be line leader. Sometimes my friends and I wanted to pick on them because we were the oldest kids at the school, until our teacher told us to stop before she called our parents. I quickly learned that looking down on people only harms.
Lesson #3: Don’t ever think you’re too important or too cool for somebody or something
Fifth and sixth grade came and went quickly. I loved those years because “I was too cool for school,” at least that’s what I felt like. Apparently, nobody else liked that, though, and that’s where I learned lesson number three. You never know what door a person may be able to open for you and what could come out of a place, so be open to everything.
Lesson #4: There are always going to be decisions in life; some will be easy, others will be hard, but it’s important to remember who you are and who you want to be when making the final decision
Before I knew it, I was in middle school. High school is coming up, which means I had to decide what sport I want to stick with. Is it going to be soccer or baseball? Also, do I really want to keep playing the piano, or would that make me weird in high school? All these decisions of who I want to be and what I want to do were so hard at the time, but directly taught me lesson #4. I wish I had known this lesson back then because I definitely would have kept playing the piano.
Lesson #5: Jealousy and lust are two very dangerous things; it’s important to have goals, but don’t base those goals on things other people have and do
Ninth grade came and went. There were so many awkward moments as a freshman, like getting confused about where to go or which friends to talk to. Also, trying to do anything to impress the seniors was a must. I mean, these guys could drive, and a couple even had tattoos. I was so impressed as a 14-year-old that I wanted all those things and more. It’s important to have your own goals that aren’t from lust or jealousy.
Lesson #6: Be comfortable with yourself
Sophomore and junior years of high school were weird because of that super long spring break in 2020 when school got canceled for a couple of weeks, and then we just never went back for the rest of the school year because a virus took over the world for a little bit. Everybody’s experience was different during this time, especially depending on where you lived. In South Carolina, by May, we were back to business as usual. Still, it had its effects and took away some important memories, like my school’s junior year prom. Don’t worry, our rival school did, and I was sure to be in attendance. Like during quarantine, there are going to be times after college when it’s just going to be just you some days, so be comfortable being alone and enjoying that time you get to yourself.
Lesson #7: Enjoy the good moments and celebrate the wins
All that built up to the senior year of high school. Looking back on it now, being a senior in high school was the best. I was now that tatted senior with a car, and I was committed to a college for soccer. I was ready to leave my small town and see the world. If you don’t fully enjoy those amazing moments, then you’re not fully enjoying life.
Lesson #8: Always strive for more and keep reaching for the stars
My first two years of college in Tennessee were amazing, like most people’s freshman and sophomore years are. There really wasn’t much to worry about; everything was predictable. Soccer was going well, too, so there were no complaints to be had.
However, I’ve never been one to stay in one place for too long, so I decided to check out the beautiful new shiny toy for all NCAA athletes called the transfer portal. Somehow, that sent me all the way out to Hawaii, literally the farthest I could be from South Carolina while still being in America. I didn’t mind, though; the last thing I wanted to do at the time was be near home. My decision to leave my first college taught me that when things start getting too easy, it’s time to find a new goal to start chasing.
Lesson #9: Don’t ever quit
After two years in paradise at Chaminade University, I’m now a senior in college. On the soccer field, I’m no longer just that hungry young freshman who wants to play, but I’m a leader for the young guys. In the classroom, I’m signing up for internships and building my professional portfolio. I was doing all of this while trying to enjoy Hawaii and work a job. During these last two years, I’ve learned how important it is to always stick to what you said you were going to do, and no matter how hard it gets, finish it.
Lesson #10: Your mindset is everything
Now it’s 12 days before graduation, the last 17 years of my life were spent in school, and now it’s all over. Not only is school over, but so is soccer. I’m no longer a student athlete; now I’m the guy on LinkedIn with the “open to work” banner across his profile. The fun of all those years I described was over; I have to be an adult now. I have to budget, do taxes, pay bills, and work 40 hours a week. I guess it’s nice to get one more celebration before real life begins.
Life is all about how you set your mind, because I can’t wait to graduate. In less than two weeks, I’m going to have no more random schoolwork to do. Now I have to work a lot, but I get to earn money that I can save and spend on things like traveling the world with my girlfriend and getting a dog. I mean, come on, I can finally get a dog. I couldn’t do that while being a student athlete with all the traveling. I’m also moving back to the South, so I can go back to my roots and be around the culture I love.
If you really zoom out on everything, it all comes around full circle from kindergarten to senior year of college. It’s a beautiful circle that is the end of one part of life, but the beginning of a whole new journey that has so many opportunities. Hopefully, all the seniors joining me this year can also join me in jumping into the world headfirst to start this new adventure with all the lessons we’ve learned along the way.