Ken Graham: FROM THE PUBLISHER

On that warm June evening in 1973 when I graduated from high school, I can still remember experiencing feelings of anticipation and excitement for the future.

In my case I was mostly looking forward to the near future: I had a party to go to later that night, and I couldn’t wait. (And, just for the record, it wasn’t at my parents’ house.)

After high school, and the big party, I went on to college for several years, with a break or two mixed in. The thing that surprised me most about college was how much fun it was.

Yes, of course there was more partying, but it was more than that. For the first time, I met people and made friends who didn’t happen to grow up near me. And I had to make decisions for myself that I hadn’t ever done before, which was scary but exhilarating. And, yes, I went to class and learned some things there, too. That was mostly fun.

It was with the encouragement of people I met in college that I took up running and re-took up cycling. I had friends who taught me to water ski and snow ski and do crossword puzzles.

As I read through the articles in this week’s paper about recent graduation ceremonies (I’m also the editor, so I have to read them), I noticed a common theme: Don’t be afraid to take risks, and don’t be afraid to fail.

I couldn’t agree more. But let me add one more piece of advice to that list: Don’t be afraid to have fun.

It’s true, now more than ever, that education doesn’t end with high school. Success in today’s economy requires skills that take more than twelve years to build. They may come from college or vocational training.

Either way, the process of all that education brings opportunities to meet new people and learn things about yourself you didn’t know. After high school, most of the decisions you make will be your own. And you have to own them.

It’s easy to become afraid. But it’s less easy to be afraid if you’re enjoying the experience and taking pleasure in the fun stuff.

And who knows, you might become a great water skier.