The five things I wish I was told at the graduation I never attended.

1. The first thing is your life isn't a one act play. You probably feel a lot of pressure right now. To make the right decisions about your career. It might feel like those decisons are permanent. They are not. What you do tomorrow or even for the next ten years, does not have to be what you do forever. When I left school, I thought I would work up for Microsoft for the rest of my life. Today, I still love my part time work on software, but philanthropy(慈善事業(yè)）is my full time job. I get to spend my days working with others to create innovations to fight climate change and reduce inqualities around the world, including in health and education. I feel lucky that the Gates Foundation gets to support amazing institutions like NAU, even if it's not what I imagined I'd be when I was 22. Not only it is okay to change your mind of have a second career, it can be a very good thing.
2. The second piece of advice I wish I'd heard at my graduation is that you're never too smart to be confused. I thought that everything I needed to know when I left college, but the first step to learn something new is embracing what you don't know instead of focuing on what you do know. At some points in your career, you'll find yourself facing a problem you cannot solve on your own. When that happens don't panic, take a breath, forcing yourself to think things through and then find smart people to learn from. It could be a colleague with more experience, it could be one of your fellow graduates who has perspectives and will push you to think differently. It might be an expert in the field who's willing to reply to your questions over DM. Everything I have accomplished, included seeking knowledge from others who knew more. People want to help you, the key is to not be afraid to ask. You maybe dumbed at school, but you can and should see the rest of your life as an education.