Last night I attended a very special ceremony, a place where people were recognized for their achievements, where the environment was positive, and people cheered each other on for overcoming their obstacles. It had been a long road for many and as I sat there in the audience listening to speeches and watching people cross the stage it brought back memories of where I was years ago, and how far you can come in life with hard work and dedication. The ceremony was a high school graduation. My son and his girlfriend both were graduating and it was an accomplishment for both that marks the era of growth and moving forward. They are only a few years behind the norm but there was a variety of people that crossed the stage, some had been trying to achieve that goal for over 30 years, others were young mothers that have made it through hard times, and some were from other countries that moved here and were able to finish an education that is normally frowned upon. It didn’t matter if you were twenty or sixty last night, you were cheered on for your accomplishment by family, friends, and teachers. I was in that boat myself and today life is good with many things in the wings to help take life higher. I wonder where those people will be in a few years if they dedicate themselves to the process of learning and achieving their dreams.

Some times it takes maturity to become a good learner and realize that education is everywhere. I love learning today, but it took me a while to understand how I learned. I find I learn best from reading, I like different view points on the same subject to help me make an informed decision. You can’t get much of that through school because often the viewpoint is given to you instead from the instructor’s opinion. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a young person looking for a career, or someone wanting to get your high school diploma figuring out the way that you like to learn, what interests you, and how you can best get that information can go a long way to getting you to the career of your dreams. No matter how young or old you are, it is never too late to start the education road. It will never be a waste of time even if you are 80.

I was proud of everyone last night, you can tell that many of them had gone over huge obstacles to achieve their goal. I ask you, what are you doing to achieve your goals? If the answer is nothing then you may want get started before you are left behind, it’s never too late to get started.

About the Author

Bruce Outridge is an author, artist, consultant, and speaker. For more information visit his website at www.outridge.ca