Seek / Accept job offers that teach you something valuable. Now isn’t the time in your life to worry about the money or status. Get experience! Have fun, learn, grow, challenge yourself and try new things.


15-20



Never consent to a search. Ask if it’s required. If not, no search. If yes, ask for your lawyer.


17, 21



You’ll be finished with school soon. The most important thing I hope you learned is that there is still so much yet to learn.


21



“All the best things in life live on the other side of fear.” - Will Smith’s grandmother.


20



Be on the lookout for people who are not included and reach out. There was a girl in my 8th grade class who was pregnant. Nobody talked to her, including me. Looking back, I regret that deeply. How scared and alone she must have been. She could have used a friend. I wish I would have asked her to sit by me at lunch or talked to her about homework or something.


11-13



Struggle is just part of the process. It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong or you’re dumb. It’s a key element of how we all learn.


11



If you sleep with a girl, always call or text the next day. Don't be a d-bag.


18



Netflix “Who Was?” A biography show for kids.


6-8



Doing something you don’t want to do just to look cool is the opposite of cool.


9, 11, 14, 15, 19, 21



I heard a song today, “I love you to the bone” by Sammy Copley. It’s a beautiful story of a lifelong love. It’s my prayer for you that your spouse will have that song played at your funeral after you shared a 75 year- long happy marriage. It’s my prayer that your life is filled with love and laughter, and most importantly a partner who grows with you in all good things. And that you love each other to the bone.


21



Highly recommend book about math and multiplication techniques:“The Best of Times” by Greg Tang.


10



“Fitting in” requires that we change who we are to fit someone else’s idea. True “belonging” never asks us to change who we are, it demands that we be who we are. - Brene Brown


12, 17



Change is scary. But scary doesn’t equal bad. I don’t know what it’s going to look like but I know you will figure it out. You’re going to be okay no matter what curveballs you’re faced with. Stay calm. Be kind and respectful to everyone and every thing, including (especially) yourself. xoxo


5, 10, 15, 20, 21



“Tell me the story of your day.” (Works better than “how was your day?”


5, 6, 10



Three things you cannot change: The past, the truth, someone else.


18



Your intuition speaks in statements


17, 19, 21



My favorite version of myself is when I’m not worried about what others think of me. I


11, 13, 15, 17, 21



Read Admiral William McRaven’s autobiography Sea Stories.


17



No one knows what they’re doing. Just be kind and brave and curious. You don’t have to have it figured out.


17



People are insecure. Be mindful of fragile egos (we all have them to a degree.) Avoid implying that people aren't doing a good job.


20



Go as a family to local high school musical productions.


7-18



Introduction to 70’s Southern Rock. Skynyrd, Allman Bros, etc.


14



Watch documentary The Rescue together.


15



Sometimes, no matter how great a thing is it can’t make up for what it’s not.


14, 19, 21



The Paradoxical Commandments by Keith Kent: 1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centred. Love them anyway. 2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. 3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. 4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. 5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. 6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway. 7. People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway. 8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. 9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway. 10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.


14, 17, 21



Fact: when you drink to excess you are significantly more likely to cause harm to someone or be harmed yourself. Being drunk means surrendering your ability to keep yourself and others safe.


12, 15, 18



Poems are great tools to help them to read, recite, practice handwriting, and illustrate.


7



My favorite Chinese food order is chicken Kung Pao, shrimp fried rice and beef lo mein. That way we all get a little of each meat.


16



There is a cost and a duty to everything we own. Rachel Maddow


16



Surprise! You’re not perfect. No one is. Do your best, but don’t expect perfection from yourself or any other human, young or old. Have compassion...We’re all in this together and we need each other to be kind and encouraging.


17, 21