Letter to my Daughter as She Graduates High School

The Californian has this picture of me that I sent them with my first Community Voice piece. Its me in full goatee looking fine and smiling real big. Well, as big as I am known to smile. It was cropped from a pic of me and a student at the middle school where I used to teach. What I've never told anyone, however, it what I was thinking. It's what I am always thinking about whenever someone asks me to smile for a picture: it's you guys, you and your two brothers.

Well, fast forward 12 years, and you are ready to take your first big step since you actually started taking steps: COLLEGE. You're going to leave and I feel like I didn't get enough time...like I hardly know the beautiful young girl who grew into a beautiful young woman. But I am so very fantastically proud, and I can't imagine being any prouder.

Sis, you have literally the entire world before you. You're so wise for your age but there's still so much I hope I made clear...

Fear nothing but God. He is with you to show you everything He has made and how to delight in it. Take risks. Trust the judgment we've tried to instill in you and the desires He puts in your heart.

Surround yourself with people who desire the same things as you: loving God, being kind, hard work, nerdy stuff, all that rot. It's ok to un-surround yourself with people not like this.

Know the Bible inside and out. It's all the wisdom you'll need. Ignore what everyone tries to teach you about what it says and decide for yourself. God will show you. There's so much in there about Him that He wants to teach you.

Be extraordinarily happy about who you are. God will use both your strengths and your weaknesses to glorify Himself.