20 Inspiring Quotes In Time For Graduation

Whether you’re graduating from high school, college, grad school, or vocational school, you’re probably feeling a whole mess of emotions right now. I know you’re likely excited/terrified/nauseas, so maybe some inspirational graduation quotes will help settle you down before you walk across that stage. Because whatever you’re graduating from, this is a time to celebrate you and your big accomplishment.

There are probably a lot of things you won’t miss about going to school — being broke and doing homework, for a start. And it’ll definitely feel weird for a while that, after 18 years or more, you won’t have to do any more studying or take any more midterms. But post-grad life also includes some pretty harsh realities that you ought to start mentally preparing for now. Take a few deep breaths, and remember that graduation day is a day for celebrating; you’ll have plenty of time to worry afterwards.

To stave off any impending freak-outs, you could try focusing on the fun things about your graduation, like what you’re going to wear, how you can personalize your cap, and how you’re going to fend off boredom during the ceremony. But first, you can start by enjoying some inspirational (and some real talk) quotes to get you focused on killing it when you walk across that stage.

1. "You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world." — Tom Brokaw

2. "You are graduating from college. That means that this is the first day of the last day of your life. No, that's wrong. This is the last day of the first day of school. Nope, that's worse. This is a day." — Andy Samberg

3. "We don't stop going to school when we graduate." — Carol Burnett

4. "A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." — Robert Orben

5. "For many, graduation marks the end of formal student life — the end of long spring breaks and of thinking that a 10 a.m. class is far too early." — Alexa Von Tobel

6. "I learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college, won the case, and got my tuition back." — Fred Allen

7. "I went through withdrawal when I got out of graduate school. It's what you learn, what you think. That's all that counts." — Maya Lin

8. "The college graduate is presented with a sheepskin to cover his intellectual nakedness." — Robert M. Hutchins

9. "At commencement you wear your square-shaped mortarboards. My hope is that from time to time you will let your minds be bold, and wear sombreros." — Paul Freund

10."Graduation is a time of completion, of finishing, of an ending, however, it is also a time of celebration of achievement and a beginning for the new graduate." — Catherine Pulsifer

11. "There is a good reason they call these ceremonies 'commencement exercises.' Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning." — Orrin Hatch

12. "It's not your blue blood, your pedigree or your college degree. It's what you do with your life that counts." — Millard Fuller

13. "The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match, each one of you is a fuse." — Ed Koch

14. "Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference." — Arie Pencovici

15. "Just about a month from now I’m set adrift, with a diploma for a sail and lots of nerve for oars." — Richard Halliburton

16. "Your families are extremely proud of you. You can’t imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing. This would be a most opportune time to ask for money." — Gary Bolding

17. "All that stands between the graduate and the top of the ladder is the ladder." — Author Unknown

18. "Your schooling may be over, but remember that your education still continues." — Author Unknown

19. "If you feel that you have both feet planted on level ground, then the university has failed you." — Robert Goheen, Time

20. "The truth is, I was afraid the day I walked into Stanford. And I was afraid the day I walked out." — Carly Fiorina

Images: Giphy