Here is some advice to those that are graduating from Northern

• Take the time to thank the people who have helped you to get to this point in life.

• Appreciate the path you have taken to get where you are right now. Life is a journey not a destination and everyone has their own journey.

• Tell your loved ones that you love them. Tell them often, show it and mean it. You just never know when that last time will be.

• Always keep learning and moving forward. Life will throw things at you, but keep moving forward and learning. Not everyone will take the same path and that is ok.

• Do not let arguments and disagreements ruin friendships. You are not always going to agree with others and others are not always going to agree with you and that is also ok. That is what makes us all unique.

• Be open to criticism, put your ego aside and take the time to listen and actually hear what they are saying. You may actually learn something. To many times people are listening to respond and do not actually hear the message.

• For the love of everything that is good in this world, do not argue on Facebook or other social media sites. If you do, do not take it personally.

• Always work on communicating. One of the single biggest issues in the world is not being able to communicate effectively. This, includes your jobs, families, friends and social activities.

• Remember no job is too small. That beginning job may be the key to the door that will open to that life-long career.

• Never quit a job, unless you have another job to go to. It is much easier to get a job, when you have a job.

• Keep in touch with the friends you made here at Northern. You may think, oh I will, but trust me on this, you will need to work on this, life simply gets in the way.

• As you move on in life and no matter where you go, give back to your community, I guarantee you will get more out of it than you put into it.

• Be proud of your degree(s) from Northern. Northern is proud of you for earning that degree(s).

• Keep in touch with Northern, because Northern wants to hear from you and hear about journeys and your successes. Your successes are also Northers successes. Came back and visit the campus and stop by the Northern Alumni Foundation Office, to keep in touch with your alma mater

Congratulations on your achievements, and remember WE ARE NORTHERN!

William “Bill” Lanier

Proud Northern Alumnus

1985, 1987 and 1989