Title: Best Advice for Graduates? Here’s What Our Community Had to Say.

“My mom always told me, for whatever you’re doing — whether you’re an English major or a ballerina — know what you’re doing to do with it and have a long-term plan.

What I took from that was that I could do a lot of things and learn everything. I got my real estate license, which taught me how to talk on the phone and present myself. I became a busboy so I could learn the restaurant business. I learned how to run a whole business out of one tent and one table and a cooler. You can learn everything from anything.

No matter what you do, you never fail until you stop trying to learn. You might not be the best this, the best that, but you can be the best learner. 

Keep being a student forever.”

—Huseyin Kaygusuz, who runs Borek-G’s restaurant and stall at the Georgetown farmers market with his mother, Dilek Kaygusuz.  

“My daughter is graduating next year from the School of Nursing & Health Studies. She wants to practice nursing in Japan. She speaks zero Japanese. I told her, take the chance. If that’s what you want to do, take the chance.

In the last few years, I’ve taken a few chances, and it’s refreshing to get out of your comfort zone. I bought a boat. Not just a boat. A sailboat that had been neglected for 10 years. It’s become my new hobby. It’s something I wish I had done earlier in life.

Now is the time to do something unique. Even if taking a chance is a mistake, that’s OK. You can bounce back.

And congrats to my daughter, Morgan, and her roommate, Mary Ellen. One more year to go…”

—Marc Smith, landscape and grounds manager, who has worked 18 Commencements at Georgetown

“I was a business major in college. I wanted to go work on Wall Street. Make all the money. I did all the internships. But the offers didn’t come my way the way I thought they would. I realized it was because I wasn’t really fit for that anyway. I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing. It wasn’t who I am. I wanted to be able to help people and touch their lives.

Growing up, you’re always taught you should have a plan. But as I’ve grown older, life has taught me that those things don’t always happen, and you will drive yourself crazy trying to make those things happen. Having an open mind keeps us from losing our minds.

I recently found a five-year-plan and 10-year-plan from when I graduated. Some of the things didn’t happen, and I’m glad they didn’t.

It’s better to be present in the moment. Just be open to whatever opportunities come your way. Enjoy every moment of your life.”

—Rev. TauVaughn Toney, Georgetown’s Protestant Christian chaplain, who joined the university in March

“I have a daughter who studies at VCU. I always tell her, I don’t believe children are put into the world to destroy the world; I believe children are put into the world to help the world. You need to construct the world to be better. Don’t make the world worse. If you do that, you’re making me happy.

We have a caring side to us. What can we do to make the world better for everyone?”

—Vanussa Mendes, who owns Georgetown Hairstyling and has cut hair for thousands of students for more than 20 years

“In my last job, I gave a seminar for interns. I’ll share the same two pieces of advice and keep it simple.

Number 1: You have to distinguish yourself in whatever you’re doing. Put yourself in a situation that when your name comes up, people say, ‘Boy that person is really sharp. That person does excellent work.’ Because that’s how you’ll advance your career.

Number two: You have to build a good network of people. Every time you meet somebody, send them a follow-up email. Every time you do that, you’re building your network of people who might help you in the future, and you never know who those people are going to be.

If you’ve done number one of distinguishing yourself, that network will always help you. That’s it, that’s the secret if you ask me.

All you can do are those two things. If you do them, you will succeed.”

—Marie Mattson, secretary of the university who reads the charter of Georgetown University at every commencement ceremony

“I’ve been working here for four years, and the advice I give to the kids is to stay strong. Keep your head up. Life can get you down. Especially when you’re fresh out of college and unexpected stuff comes up. 

For me, I pray a lot and eat a lot of junk food — all the stuff I’m not supposed to eat. That calms my nerves. Because our nerves can get away from us really fast. Find a friend you can vent to, who will just listen, because the world will throw curveballs at you at times. 

I love these kids. I do. I’m like a second mom to them, their mom away from mom. I’ve known some of them since they were freshmen, and now they’re graduating.

Congratulations to all the seniors. It’s been a pleasure during these four years I had to share with ya’ll. I wish you best wishes for the next chapter of your life.”

—Stacey Holmes, a barista at Whisk Pastry and Bakeshop at Leo O’Donovan Hall