In June of 1999, I graduated from Munster High School: excited, enthusiastic and eager to begin the next chapter of my life, in the fall at Indiana University. Heading 209 miles away from the house I grew up in, and looking out the rear-view of my parent’s Pontiac Bonneville, was all I could think about.

What lies ahead. Independence. New people. Freedom. Adulting. And, of course, a healthy dose of fear, alongside a barrel of nerves.

What was I leaving behind?

Never for a second did I imagine that In just five short years, I would return. Buy a home in Munster. Live with my parents (ever again), let alone voluntarily. Talk about the makings of a high school nightmare.

Or, that I would marry my favorite Munster Mustang, that lanky basketball player I met in Mr. Haverstock’s summer school health class.

Flash forward 25 years: never did I envision that our first-born daughter, Grace, would graduate from MHS this past December. Let alone, head to Indiana University herself, just a few short months ago. Or, that her siblings, Caroline and Evan, would be young Mustangs as well.

To the Class of 2024, expect the unexpected. Be bold. Be brave. Be creative. Make mistakes (that’s what a great pink Pearl eraser is for). Write the next chapters of your life with the lead that lifts you up, and erase what doesn’t fill your cup. Fail. Try again. Persevere. Have courage. Challenge yourself. Take risks.

Get uncomfortable, so you have space to grow.

Dorothy Vaughan, esteemed black mathematician showcased in Hidden Figures, declared in the film, “Learn all we can. Make ourselves valuable.” Never underestimate your worth. Your contributions to the workforce, the military, our society, the college or career path ahead of you, matters. The culture and life experience you bring to the table, matters. We need you: to invoke societal change, to help each other, and to evolve our world for the better.

Remember all of the teachers, staff members, family, and friends along the way who helped shape the person you are becoming. Surround yourself with people who reflect your values, who mirror your ideals, and who love and support you.

Victor Hugo, one of the great novelists I studied at IU, once wrote: “Change your opinions; keep to your principles; change your leaves; keep intact your roots.”

You never know when you may be back.