Best wishes to all 2017 grads

After listening to the speeches at three separate graduation ceremonies there isn’t much new that I can add to what has already been said, but I can repeat some of it.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes — as long as you try again, it’s not a failure.

Edison tried 6,000 times before finding a way to make a better light bulb and looked at his failures as just one more step along the way.

Be open to new experiences along the way and if somebody offers you an opportunity along the way to try something new, try it, unless of course it’s illegal.

Whether you opt for higher education at university or college or you opt for the apprenticeship track (which will see you in college at least part of the time anyway), you will meet people who have seen things and done things you haven’t dreamed of.

Learn from them — whether from their failures or their successes — as much as possible.

Whatever your field of study, give it your all and be the best student you can be.

Even if you later decide it’s not the field for you, you will have learned a lot you can take into other fields of study.

From my own, many years of study I can tell you you will meet many people and have a lot of positive experiences — the more effort you put into your education, the more you will get out of it, both from an educational and a personal point of view.

I don’t mean you should turn into somebody whose total focus is on their education, because life requires balance, but do finish those assignments, do turn up for lectures and if the instructor offers extra points for something, it’s because he or she thinks it is something of value.

Participate in social events, play drop-in sports and when Friday rolls around spend some time with your friends — but remember to keep up with your work.

I never tried the apprenticeship route — one of my few regrets — but you can’t be in two places at once.

I’m sure there are similar opportunities when it comes to training and socializing — at least there are at Fairview College, so if you are an apprentice, keep your eyes open for some fun and new friends.