⭕️ Dear Class of 2025

Hey friend,

Alot of people in our community are graduating this year. For this week, I am writing 20 things I would say to my younger self when he was graduating.

And even if you're not graduating this year, you might want to keep reading too.

There’s something special about the transition moments. You’re closing one chapter, opening another. So before you jump into your next big thing, here are 20 lessons I wish someone told me when I finished school:

read time: 3 mins

Okay so two really cool opportunities I highly recommend you check out this week:

1,000 AI Hackathon – 7 Jun
Description: As part of NY Tech Week, TKS and GenZTea are hosting an AI hackathon for the most curious and driven young people to learn and build using the world’s most powerful AI tools.
Link: Apply here

10,000 Eureka Fellowship for Changemakers – 8 Jun
Description: Astrazeneca and Plan Canada are giving youth changemakers making the world a healthier, more sustainable and equitable place funding, mentorship, community and more through the Eureka Fellowship
Link: Apply here

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

20 things for my Graduating self

1. This is a long game. You don’t need to have it all figured out. The best things take time. Think long term. Build for your future self.
   

2. Nothing matters more than your wellbeing. Not the awards. Not the job. Not the prestige. If you’re not okay, nothing else is.
   

3. Say thank you. To your family, your teachers, your mentors, your friends. Write them handwritten notes. Call them. Let them know they mattered.
   

4. Maintain your relationships. Meeting new people is great. But maintaining existing ones is magic. Send updates. Check in. Remember the little things.
   

5. Brush your teeth at night. You know you get lazy. Just do it.
   

6. Get your 8 hours of sleep. Seriously. You're not productive at 2am. Sleep is the cheat code.
   

7. If it takes 5 minutes, do it now.
   

8. Stop comparing yourself to people online. Most of what you see is curated. You’re doing just fine.
   

9. Say sorry. If you hurt someone, apologize. Say it while you still can.
   

10. Forgive yourself. You were young. You made mistakes. Let them go.
    

11. Create content. Your voice matters. Share your story. The internet is your resume.
    

12. Journal. One day, your future self will want to remember how this all felt.
    

13. Read. If books aren’t your thing, get audiobooks. There’s a world waiting for you.
    

14. Eat healthy. That piece of chocolate after dinner every night? It adds up. Trust me.
    

15. Be kind. Always. Everyone is fighting a battle you can’t see.
    

16. Ask for help. Someone out there has done what you want to do. Reach out.
    

17. Give value first. When you meet someone new, think: How can I help them?
    

18. Build a reputation for getting sh*t done.
    

19. Remember names. Remember birthdays.
    

20. You're doing better than you think. Be proud of how far you’ve come. This is only the beginning.

My friend, whether or not you’re graduating this year. Hope this was of some value. Honestly, writing this was as much a reminder for my current self (especially brushing my teeth).

Also quick one, just wanted to remind you of my goal of having my TEDx talk viral (see last week’s newsletter for context). We are now 12 days from launch date and almost 200 people from our community have joined the inner circle. It would mean the world to have you join as well (our goal is to hit 1000 people by launch date).

Love from Toronto my friend,

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