English Professor Hands Out 10 Life Lessons On The Last Day Of Class

On the last day of school, most teachers are just as excited as the students to start their summer vacation. But some professors use those last few moments to impart something special. Like this letter Zubatmobile posted on Reddit.

There are 10 life lessons for the students to take with them in their future ventures, something the person who posted the letter claims to have kept ever since. Some of the advice might seem like hopeful wishes: Do what you love, never give up, find your place in the world. Some might be difficult for students to accept at his point of their lives: You don’t know everything yet, take personal responsibility, there’s a difference between interest and commitment. Here are four that really stood out:

1. Don’t Live Your Life For Others

The professor’s explanation of this lesson was that you can’t please everyone, so make decisions that make the most sense for you. It is considerate to think of others and to make decisions that are made with the intent of others in mind, but when it comes down to it, not everyone is going to be happy with your decisions. Do what you feel is best in your opinion, because in the grand scheme of things, “the only person you have to live with is yourself.”

2. There’s More To Life Than Just Money

Money is important. It gets you through life, provides for the essentials, and without it you most likely wouldn’t have a roof over your head. But, the other variables of life, such as family, relationships, and your well being (physically and mentally) are also key to a successful life. Don’t let money stand in the way of keeping these important aspects of life in mind.

3. Life Is About Trade Offs

To be successful in life, sacrifices must be made that may seem too difficult. You can’t do everything you want while also doing what you need to achieve a certain level of success. Every challenge in life comes with obstacles, so the main message in this lesson is to act mature and prioritize what needs to be done over other decisions and activities.

4. Choose Your Friends Closely

We are all influenced by those who surround us. Parents, extended family, friends, co-workers, and many others we interact with have an affect on how we go about our lives whether we like to admit it or not. And our actions will affect them regardless of what we believe. The key is to surround yourself with people who will support the decisions you make, help you through difficult challenges, or simply improve your quality of life through their actions and attitude.

He closes the letter with this:

Remember all the times I lectured you about getting your stuff done, and wouldn’t take your late work, and talked about responsibility? Sometimes the ones who are the hardest on us are the ones who care the most. Come back and let me know when you’re rich and famous (or even if you’re not).

We have no idea when this letter was handed out; we like to think it’s something hundreds of students currently have with them to stay focused through the trying times in their lives. It's also a helpful reminder for adults too.

[via Reddit]