Every year, our school has a thanksgiving service to commemorate the efforts and achievements of students and staff alike. It’s a great time in the school community to look back at the year and see how far everyone has come.

Each year I go to these things, and get a little emotional. Last year I had this whole ‘there is no room in the world for me anymore’ moment, probably contributed to by a complete lack of life direction at the time.

This year, I’m in a different place. Don’t get me wrong, seeing all those year twelves on stage made me feel like an old, fat woman, but there was also a calm acceptance.

I had such beautiful memories of school. Wonderful friends, great school activities, and when I finished, I honestly was ready to change the world.

Now I sit here on the couch, on the cusp of thirty, whilst my effervescent two year old asks me ‘when you’re all done, you push me on the swings?’ and I’m doing nothing I thought I would, and everything that I actually should.

It’s taken me a long time to get to this place. Despite being a mum for 9 and a half years (as was pointed out to me this morning), it’s only now that I’m truly comfortable in my role, and in my self.

In being me.

As part of the service at the school, there was reflections on the class of 2012’s years at high school, and then a prayer of encouragement after they received their certificates. I was so inspired at that moment, it was all I could do not to launch myself out of the balcony, on to the stage, and ask to say a few words.

I couldn’t, so I didn’t, but it’s been in my mind ever since; thousands of students finishing school, moving into the world, on the cusp of something grand. And me, that fat, old lady, with a hundred things I wanted to tell them.

 Follow your dreams- Don’t just do what you think is required of you. Do what you love.

Don’t chase money; that will come easier and much more abundant when you’re doing the thing you were made to do.

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Don’t get distracted- When you leave school, everything changes. There are so many open doors, and opportunities and unbridled freedom. Don’t let it distract you from where you’re going. There is time to have fun, but don’t make mistakes that can’t be undone.

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Make a difference- Every single one of the teachers that has invested in you over the thirteen years of your schooling has done so because you have the potential the make the world a better place. Show their devotion some respect.

Go out and be awesome.

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Don’t lose this feeling- When you finish school, it’s a milestone. It’s huge and the world is full of so many opportunities. Soon you will be absorbed by jobs and degrees and boyfriends or girlfriends pressuring you to become serious. It will be easy to forget that you ever thought you can be extraordinary, but you can be.

You already are.

Don’t lose that belief.

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I’m naive enough to believe that my well meaning non-speech could have changed their futures for them that day. That one of them would have listened and remembered that the world can be theirs; not just on the day you leave school, but every day after.

I’m also naive enough to believe that there a few people reading this that could choose to be reminded of this. That although being a SAHM or a WAHM or a full time working woman who comes home to little children at the end of a long day, seems very ordinary, it does not mean you are.

You’re just as awesome as you were back then.

When you were that year 12 student, holding your certificate.

Proud, relieved, excited, and ready to take on the world.

On Sunday afternoon,  I sat in that auditorium, feeling, for a little while, like an old fat woman who was past her used by date. And then I realised that is unequivocally untrue.

I’m not a fat, old woman.

I’m still that 17 year old girl ready to change the world.

I’m still awesome, extraordinary and with something to offer.

I’m still on the cusp.

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If you’re looking for positive Christian based camps to send your school aged children to over the summer, Crusaders has some fabulous suggestions from horse riding on outback trails, sailing, and even band camps. 

This is a sponsored post for Crusader Union