During the last week or two, I’ve gotten to speak with some pretty outstanding kids.

Again this year, I asked administrators at all of the schools we cover at Leader Publications to choose one student who is representative of the school’s mission — who stands out academically, invests time in his or her community and is an all around good person.

Like last year, stories about each student will run in our Horizons edition, which distributes all over Michiana — and in your newspaper — on Feb. 26.

It has been so refreshing to talk with such mature goal-driven individuals who are so excited to embark on the next chapter of their lives. I think a lot of times when we look back at our own high school experiences, we feel like we were very young and had so much to learn (which we did), but after talking to some of these students, I realized maybe we don’t give younger generations enough credit.

During one of the interviews, a “Shining Star” surprised me by turning the interview around on me. After I’d finished asking my questions, he asked if I could give one piece of advice to him, what would that advice be?

I’ve given that question a lot of thought since our interview, and I think I have a better answer now.

These students are leaps and bounds ahead of where I was when I graduated high school; they’re confident young men and women full of hopes and goals, eager to move on and start making their dreams come true. When I graduated high school, of course I had goals, but I had no idea how to accomplish them or what steps needed to be taken.

Luckily, I had a knack for meeting people. While I was very shy in high school, I never had much trouble talking to adults. I was always more comfortable in a room full of my parents’ friends or at a board meeting among adult peers than in a classroom with people my own age.

Although this social flaw did not help much in the way of making friends, it taught me the value of networking and the importance of finding mentors. This is where my advice comes in.

I encourage graduating seniors (and people of all ages, really), to remember that there is always something to be learned from every person that you meet. Even the most taxing and frustrating conversations have something to teach us, even if it’s just how to hold our tempers.

Adding to that, I would encourage students to try to meet people from all walks of life — all backgrounds and ages. Some of the strongest relationships I’ve ever made have been with professors and supervisors. I was constantly asking those mentors for advice and memories of their own life experience to help me solve my own problems. Nearly two years out of college, I still meet up with some of my professors to shoot the breeze and work through dilemmas I’m facing.

Like I said, so many students I’ve talked to (for the Shining Stars feature and otherwise) are well on their way to very bright futures. To the Shining Star who stumped me, I hope this answers your question. I can’t wait to share all of your stories.

 

Ambrosia Neldon is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached at (269) 687-7713, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com