A message for The class of '08

(Editor's note: This message to graduates was written 10 years ago by David Cox, who at that time served as publisher of the Cherokee Villager newspaper. His words apply as appropriately to the Class of 2008 as they did to the Class of 1998).

Dear graduates:

The transition can be rather abrupt.

When you leave school -- high school or college -- and enter the "real world" you'll find the road a little bumpy at first. You're going to survive, but here's a tip to help you avoid too much shock to your system.

The cookie jar is closed.

You're about to discover you don't always get rewarded for doing what's expected of you. I know, that's not what you've been taught. But if you don't believe me now, you'll find out soon enough.

The school system and the community have given generously to reward you for staying in school, hitting the books and avoiding drugs. But outside the school building there's no prize for expected behavior.

You won't get a T-shirt for showing up at work every day at your new job. But if you don't show up for work and put in an honest day's work every day, you'll get fired.

If you're going from high school to college you may feel like you've been left to sink or swim. Well, that's because you have.

The professor is too busy to remind you to study for the exam or call to see how you're coming on your term paper. If you think college is one long party, you're going to flunk. (Am I being too blunt here?) A whole lot of kids who enter college, even smart kids who can do the work, drop out when they learn their success depends on their own effort. Don't be among them.

I hope you enjoyed the all-night drug-free graduation party and all the great gifts from the community. But that only happens once. If you continue to stay away from drugs now that you're on your on, here's your reward: you won't go to jail.

Your parents sacrificed their own desires to provide as much for you as they were able. Your teachers have dedicated their careers to helping you and your fellow students. Friends in the community have donated truckloads of prizes and cash as incentive for you to succeed, all because we care about you.

But if we parents and teachers and friends have failed to also prepare you to take responsibility for your own actions, to discipline yourself to delay gratification, to do what's right even when there's no one there to reward you, then we have failed to provide you with perhaps the most important gift of all.

Oh, and here's a little secret. One of the rewards you can still receive for working hard and doing well is personal satisfaction. You'll discover that's much better than a T-shirt.