After you walk the stage and throw your cap to the heavens you now 'begin the next chapter in your life', or so you'll be told a hundred times. In reality you now begin your lives, not just a chapter. Everything that you've done up until this point was only a building block, your future begins now, and my advice is to live it.
As a matter of fact "live life" is such a simplistic and cheap way of giving advice, so let me explain a little more ... say yes. Say yes to what life can offer you, and when it's hard, or scary, say yes again. Say yes to that adventure, say yes to that thing that is holding you back, say yes, and then say yes some more, because saying yes becomes your life story.
If you are heading to college, the workforce, or military, you have already said yes to your path. It's frightening, yet exciting. Now, say yes some more. Say yes to taking that extra class that might be harder than you thought. Challenge yourself with what greatness can be inside you, while also knowing that with failure comes knowledge. Say yes to that job that maybe you aren't confident that you are qualified for. Say yes, and learn on the job. Have confidence in yourself and say yes I can do it. Say yes, when your commanding officer needs someone to step up to be a leader, don't wait for someone else to step up and raise their hand, say yes (Sir, in this case).
After a few years, say yes to that impromptu weekend getaway with your best friend. You'll miss them in a few years, so say yes while you can. Say yes to that lunch date with Mom or to watch the game with Dad. Say yes to family get-togethers all the time. It won't be long until that phone won't be ringing and you will need the memories of saying yes to push you through another day of missing them. Say yes to your brother or sister who wants to just talk on the phone, that will bring you closer to what matters most, or even the dog that wants to go for that walk. Keep saying yes.
As you get older, say yes to buying that house that needs some repairs, because those repairs will be a sense of pride once they are completed. Say yes to marrying the one who sweeps you off your feet, because why live another minute without them. Say yes to having a child, even if it might interfere with your career path, because there is nothing you'll ever do in life that will be more important than being a parent. In fact, say yes to more than one kid, because trust me they want a brother or sister, and you'll just keep adding to your own happiness.
Say yes to giving up your Saturdays and Sundays because you are now coaching baseball or cheerleading, because those early mornings will be some of the best moments of your life. Say yes to every vacation and say yes again to going that extra mile during vacations. Your kids will remember that forever. Say yes to a big celebration for your 10th, 20th, 30th or even 50th wedding anniversary, because you made it with someone who said yes with you.
And finally say yes to life. It's a simple phrase that often gets overlooked but as you move through the world don't allow yourself to watch life pass by putting up your own roadblocks. Keep saying yes to life and all that this life has to offer.