Jonathan Vickery
Dear Class of 2025,
There are approximately 300 of you in Barnwell and Allendale counties. You join approximately 3.9 million high school graduates this year across the country.
Each of you is unique. Each of you has overcome your own challenges and celebrated your own achievements.
Despite those differences, each of you share one commonality – you made it! Twelve years of hard work has paid off!
As you step into the next phase of life, you’ll face new challenges and opportunities. This will bring fun, heartbreak, stress, frustration and joy.
Whether you are going to college, joining the military, or starting in the workforce, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Honor your past. Remember where you come from and the lessons you learned. Be proud of your Southern roots. You may move thousands of miles away, but you’ll always have a home here. Stay in touch with your hometown.
- Think. Never rush into making a decision. It’s always better to pause and reflect on your options. Seek guidance from a trusted individual if you need a second opinion.
- Have fun. Life is short and gets harder as you get older. Enjoy each day.
- Work hard. While you should enjoy life, it’s also important to work hard.
- Travel. South Carolina is great, but there’s a big, beautiful world out there to explore. Experience life beyond South Carolina — and then come back and make it better.
- Get back up. You will experience failure at times. But don’t let that stop you. Learn from that experience and then get back up.
- Listen. Slow down and really hear what other people say. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn — and grow — just by listening.
- Use common sense. Listen to your gut and ask for advice.
- Laugh. Enjoy life. Laugh at it and yourself. A good sense of humor will take you a long way. Plus, people don’t like being around people who are negative and too serious all the time.
- Cultivate deep friendships. Find good people from diverse backgrounds and learn from their perspectives. Make sure to keep up with them.
- Seek truth and justice. People and our country are at their best when they pursue truth and justice. Incorporate those values into your daily living. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, including of those in positions of authority.
- Read. TV and social media can be great, but don’t overindulge. Reading is a better alternative. As Dr. Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.”
- Keep learning. You are never too old to stop learning. Knowledge is power. You never know when something you’ve learned could come in handy.
- Faith. Believing and trusting in God’s plan for your life will take you far. His plan is far better than the one we can formulate.
- Do good. There’s too much bad in this world. Make a difference. Help others. Remember your Southern roots by being polite to others.
Life can be hard. Life can be scary. Life can be stressful.
But life can also be fulfilling and rewarding.
If you remember these core values, then you have the tools to be successful.
Congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished. We can’t wait to see what’s in store. Make us proud!
Jonathan Vickery,
Publisher
