No amount of education can fully prepare us for the world ahead. Because it presents many unknowns, it is exciting but scary at the same time. I know that there are still many things that can only be learned through experience; a challenge that we will all soon have to face. I would like to read a letter written by a woman named Avril Johannes, published in the book "Chicken Soup For the Soul". She writes this letter to the world after her son and his classmates graduate and shares some of these same ideas. "Dear world: Our children finish school today. It will all be rather strange for them for a while, and I hope you will treat them kindly. They are starting a new adventure. It is an adventure that may include war, tragedy and pain. For they will need a great deal of faith, love, tolerance and understanding to make their way. I would like you to take care of them. Take them by the hand and teach them the things they will need to know, but please, world, do it gently if you can They will have to learn that not all people are right, that not all people are right and not all are true also teaches them that for every villain there is a hero, that for every dishonest politician there is a great and devoted leader and that for every enemy there is a good friend. It will take time, world, but teach them that a penny earned is worth more than a dollar found. Teach them to lose gracefully so they have much more fun winning teach them the secret of silent laughter. Teach them to be at peace with their God. Teach them to be strong inside so that they can endure the pain of failure and maintain the desire to try again until they succeed. Teach them to be kind to kind people and to be tough on tough people. Teach them to follow their own judgment and not the crowd. Teach them to listen to all people, but to filter everything they hear through a screen of truth. Teach them to laugh when they are sad, but also teach them that there is no shame in shedding tears.