Kelly Corrigan’s Advice to the Class of 2019: You Are Your Own Good News

By: Grown and Flown

An open letter to every high school senior waiting to hear back from college admissions:

There’s a story about a farmer that’s been circulating for thousands of years that’s worth considering as you react to whatever news you get this week.

So there’s a farmer, let’s call him Joe. Joe had a horse, let’s call the horse Big Red. One morning, Big Red ran away. Word spread and all his neighbors said something like: OMG that sux! to which Joe said: We’ll see, and went back to tending his crops, best he could.

The next day, who turns up in the farmer’s field but Big Red, and he’s brought with him with two more horses and all his neighbors said: Dude you’re so lucky! And Joe said: We’ll see, and went back to tending his crops, best he could.

The next day, Joe’s son, Joey, tried to ride one of the new horses and was thrown. He broke his leg and the neighbors said: Totally brutal, so sorry! And Joe said: We’ll see, and went back to tending his crops, best he could.

The next day, the army came through village, drafting young men for war. Joey was disqualified from serving–thanks to that brutal broken leg–and all the neighbors said: that’s amazing! And Farmer Joe said: We’ll see, and went back to tending his crops, best he could.

Point is, it is impossible to predict whether getting exactly what we want at any given moment will end up being a good thing, a bad thing or a sometimes good/sometimes bad thing, and the single biggest determinant is you.

Personally, I got 1090 on my SATs and was accepted to one college. I cried for days after I was shot down by my first choice. I let it change the way I thought of myself. I acted like the guy who signed the rejection letter knew me, like the whole grim process has spit out a fair judgment of me and my value and it wasn’t pretty.

Many months later, I settled in at the only school that would take me, jumped into every club, project and class, and became more me than I had ever been. In other words, what began as “brutal” became “amazing.”

There are so many kids I love in the class of 2019, my oldest daughter chief among them. I have been rooting for you all for so long. What I’m rooting for is your daily well being, grounded in a sense of your goodness and capacity that is impervious to both recognition or rejection.

So whatever happens, remember this: You are your own good news. You can create a future for yourself, full of connection and purpose. Beneath the fear of inadequacy and the self-consciousness that suffuses public evaluation, you’re in there. You have gifts and power and will develop more of both. Tend your crops, best you can, and that will be enough. I promise.

We love you,
Kelly

Kelly Corrigan is New York Times best-selling author of The Middle Place, Lift, and Glitter and Glue. Her most recent book is Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I’m Learning to Say .

Kelly is also the creative director of The Nantucket Project and lives with her husband and two daughters in Oakland, California. Photo credit: Mellie T. Williams

Source: https://grownandflown.com/kelly-corrigan-advice-high-school-senior/

The content is owned by Grown and Flown. Visit site here for other valuable articles.

Share Us Your Thought!

You are invited to share your thought related to the post above in the comment box. You can share about your tips/experiences as parent or as a kid (if you're in that position).

Would You Share The Post?

And if you find it's interesting post and have a value for others, please share it to your friends. Thank you.