Congratulations, high school graduates. You did it. You closed the door on one chapter of life and as you enter the next phase, I wish you all the best.

Forgive me if that sounded too cliche, but I couldn’t come up with anything else. I suppose I could say “you’re about to embark upon the most exciting journey of your life,” but that probably wouldn’t be applicable to everyone. So I’ll just leave you with this: Buckle up. The ride might get bumpy.

Thirty-nine years ago this month, I donned a cap and gown and walked across the floor of the Seminole High School gymnasium and received my diploma. I don’t recall a whole lot about it, other than how it was. There was no air conditioning in the gym (or anywhere else in the high school, for that matter), and when you have a gown over your dress clothes in the middle of May, it’s more than hot. It’s downright miserable.

Notwithstanding the less than ideal conditions, it was a monumental occasion. Being a member of the band throughout my junior high and high school career, I had participated in several graduation ceremonies. But this time, the band was playing “Pomp and Circumstance” for me. That was a good feeling.

I remember the warm, fuzzy feeling that came over me as my friends and family clapped and cheered as I made my way to the front when my name was called. I remember the celebratory hugs and high-fives when the ceremony was over. I may be wrong on this part, but it seems like we collectively threw our graduation caps into the air before we exited the gym.

It’s hard to believe that was nearly 40 years ago, but as the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun. I can’t say that every single moment has been a hysterical blast, but overall, life’s been good to me.

When I graduated, I didn’t really have any firm plans. I had been playing in a rock and roll band and I was naive enough to think that some talent scout would come hear us at the roller rink and make us superstars. (It’s okay if you laugh, but hey, I was only 17 with big hair and big dreams).

As fate would have it, I didn’t become a rock star, but I did get to meet a few of them. About two weeks after I graduated, it was time to figure out how to make money. I had already planned on attending Seminole Junior College that fall, but I needed to make some dough. I had been working in some form or fashion since I was 12, but I didn’t have a steady job after I graduated high school.

One day my dad suggested that I load the lawnmower up and find some yards to mow. I took his advice and walked into the studios of KSLE-FM and asked if I could mow the lawn. I was told no on the mowing, but the manager invited me to apply for a job as a disc jockey.

About three weeks after that cold call on the radio station, I was on the air. My first show was a disaster, as I ended up chewing my sweet mother out on the phone, which somehow went out over the air. Evidently, I gave the wrong time when I opened the mic for the first time and she called to tell me about it. Unbeknownst to me, the phone was patched into the broadcast console, and I got a bit cross with mom when she called to correct me. After I hung up with mom, my brother called to tell me that he heard the whole thing. I managed to get the problem fixed, but that’s not how I had envisioned my first ever air show going.

It may have been a disastrous start, but I managed to stay in the radio business for almost 20 years. My career took me to Albuquerque and I’ve done everything from sweeping the floors to putting brand new stations on the air. And along the way, I got to meet several great artists, most notably Tommy Shaw (of Styx) and Joan Baez. I also kept one foot in the music business and was fortunate to open shows for a handful of major acts, including country star Mark Chesnutt.

Despite a lack of planning on the front end, my post high school career turned out just fine. I spent nearly two decades in the broadcast industry then lucked out and had a nice corporate job in Houston for a few years. Now, I basically write stories for a living. It doesn’t get much better than that, at least for me.

I don’t know if there’s any particular wisdom in what I’ve written, but I’m living proof that you don’t have to have everything mapped out before you graduate. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have a plan (in fact I highly recommend that you do), I’m just saying you should relax. Take your time, follow your heart and remember to have fun. Life is way too short to not enjoy it. One day you’re an energetic teenager with huge hopes and dreams and the next you’re a senior citizen (at least that’s what I’m called) with an achy back and sore feet. Happy graduation.