Don't become a warning label

So you’re graduating, now what?

If you are graduating high school or college and headed right into the workplace there are a few things you need to realize.

The biggest thing is that you no longer get two or three weeks off at Christmas. My first job out of college I was back to work on Dec. 26. Christmas was on a Tuesday and Wednesday at the Lovell Chronicle was production day so after spending a long weekend with my folks I left Thermopolis on Christmas Day to head back to Lovell to be at work the next day.

I had not earned any vacation days at that point and work was calling.

I miss those long breaks at Christmas. Sure I could take a long vacation but then, unlike when you are in school, work can, and usually does pile up and you are playing catch-up for a while after your vacation.

Some jobs you do not get holidays off. When I worked for the Laramie Boomerang my first year I worked both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. They were only half shifts, but it was still a change.

If you show up late for work or skip a day of work, unlike in class where your absence for the most part only impacts your life, your absence at work impacts the people around you. Remember that and set that alarm a little early to give you that extra time you need to make it to work on time.

You also must realize now, more than ever, the decisions you make are yours. I remember being much younger and relishing that I could blame my parents for making me do things I didn’t want or telling me I could not do things I wanted to do.

You must own your decisions, right or wrong, but I encourage you to make responsible decisions.

Do not be the reason the world has to put odd and obvious warnings on things.

According to an older Forbes article some of those signs include “Do not hold the wrong end of a chainsaw,” on a hair dryer “do not use while sleeping,” on sunshades, “do not drive while sun shield is in place.”

A few more from Reader’s Digest, “Not intended for highway use,” on a wheelbarrow; “remove child before folding” on a baby stroller; “do not eat iPod shuffle” on Apple’s website.

These warnings and many others you know have to be placed there because someone made a bad decision.

So at the end of the day, on your next venture in life, make good decisions.

Congratulations and good luck.