Overview:
Graduating high school can feel like stepping into the unknown—and that’s okay. In this article, former graduates share the advice they wish they’d known at 18. From navigating career uncertainty to learning through failure, each insight offers encouragement and direction for young people just starting out. Whether you're job hunting, testing out your first side hustle, or exploring new paths entirely, these real-world perspectives remind us that there’s no single "right" way—only the courage to start.
Graduating high school marks a significant turning point, often accompanied by uncertainty about the future. This article presents valuable advice from those who have walked this path before. It offers insights on embracing change, overcoming setbacks, and discovering one’s true calling. Drawing from expert perspectives, readers will learn how to approach their first job strategically. They will also gain diverse experiences that can shape their career trajectory.
- Embrace Uncertainty and Explore Various Paths
- Persevere Through Failures in Entrepreneurship
- View Your First Job as a Launchpad
- Gain Diverse Experiences to Discover Your Passion
Embrace Uncertainty and Explore Various Paths
One piece of advice I wish I had known when graduating from high school is that it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away. I spent so much time stressing over picking the “perfect” career path that I overlooked opportunities to explore, fail, and learn along the way. Knowing earlier that career journeys aren’t linear would have relieved a lot of pressure. It would have opened me up to trying different fields without fear of wasting time. It’s valuable because life and interests evolve, and being flexible allows you to adapt and grow in ways a rigid plan never could. Embracing curiosity over certainty builds resilience. It often leads to more fulfilling and unexpected opportunities than a straight line ever would.
Georgi Petrov, CMO, Entrepreneur, and Content Creator, AIG MARKETER
Persevere Through Failures in Entrepreneurship
Looking back to my high school days, I wish someone had told me that entrepreneurship isn’t just about having great ideas. It’s about perseverance through the inevitable failures.
As a D1 wrestler at UVA, I learned discipline and resilience on the mat. However, I had to learn the business equivalent through trial and error. I’ve now founded four companies with two successful exits, but the journey wasn’t linear.
With my board game business and early eCommerce ventures, I spent countless hours researching logistics partners. I called warehouses and negotiated rates. I’d call fifteen 3PLs just to find three that might work with my products. Most entrepreneurs don’t realize that fulfillment challenges can sink an otherwise promising business.
Had I understood earlier that failure is part of the process — not a reflection of personal worth — I would have moved faster. I would have taken more calculated risks and worried less about perfection. The most valuable growth happens when you’re pushed outside your comfort zone.
I see this daily at Fulfill.com when working with eCommerce founders. Those who embrace the learning process and adapt quickly are the ones who succeed. The ones who get paralyzed by fear of making mistakes often miss critical growth opportunities.
My advice? Start something. Anything. The skills you develop through launching a project — even if it fails — are transferable across industries and careers. My journey from wrestler to board game creator to founder of a logistics marketplace wasn’t planned. However, each experience built on the last.
Don’t wait until you feel “ready” because that moment rarely comes. Instead, focus on building your resilience muscle. In business, as in wrestling, sometimes you get pinned — but it’s getting back on the mat that defines your success.
Whatever path you choose, remember that your first attempt doesn’t have to be your masterpiece. It just needs to be your start.
Joe Spisak, CEO, Fulfill.com
View Your First Job as a Launchpad
I wish someone had told me that your first career move isn’t a life sentence — it’s just a launchpad. In high school, I felt pressure to pick the “right” path immediately. Nonetheless, the truth is, careers evolve with every experience. That advice would have saved me from overthinking early decisions. It would have helped me focus more on learning and less on labels. Your twenties should be about trying things, not proving things.
Eugene Leow Zhao Wei, Director, Marketing Agency Singapore
Gain Diverse Experiences to Discover Your Passion
I wish someone had told me that your first job doesn’t define your entire career trajectory — it’s just the starting point for learning what you actually enjoy doing. I spent too much time stressing about finding the “perfect” entry-level position instead of focusing on gaining diverse experiences. These experiences would help me discover my passions.
Working part-time while finishing college taught me more about meaningful work than any classroom ever could. The nonprofit sector showed me how professional skills can directly impact communities, which completely shifted my perspective on what success looks like.
Don’t be afraid to take on roles that seem “small” or temporary — some of my most valuable skills came from volunteer coordination and event planning. Initially, I thought these were just resume fillers. The key is staying curious and saying yes to opportunities that align with your values, even if they don’t fit your original plan. That’s how impactful grants fuel mission success.
Ydette Macaraeg, Part-time Marketing Coordinator, ERI Grants
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