How To Face Graduation When You Don’t Know What Comes Next

We start with the foundation that matters most: support. Family dynamics and politics can clash, but consistent love and responsibility win over perfect plans. From there, we get specific about money—rent at home as training for real bills, simple budgeting that actually sticks, why credit scores matter, and how to avoid debt traps. We compare college, trades, and going straight to work, highlighting low-cost ways to test options, stack certifications, and raise your earning power fast.

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Transcript

Warm Welcome And Setup

SPEAKER_00 3:54

All right. How y'all doing out there? Okay. How's everybody doing out there? Y'all good? Yes, yes, here we go. Want to welcome y'all to the show. Hope everybody's doing great. Everybody's uh having a good week. This is the month of love. Lord have mercy. Valentine's Day. Wow. Holy crap. I am Icon. The show is called Let's Talk About It. Where we uh take letters that I get from my loyal listeners. They just need some friendly advice or some sarcastic advice or whatever advice I can pretty much come up and give them. But it's all good. So we have a uh a listener. When I read the title, I was thinking this was gonna be his uh dying declaration, but clearly that's not it because he's entitled the letter, My Final Days. I thought he was sick or about to die or something, and then you know, whatever it is, what it is. So but before we get into it, uh just want to say thank you to the listeners that's uh everybody sticking with me. Follow me on my social medias and uh sending me your letters and your thoughts and your negative comments and your whatever. Alright, so without further ado, we're gonna get into this letter. We're gonna see if we can help this young man out. He is experiencing a little bit of I guess he's getting a little bit nervous because he's getting ready to graduate high school. Of course, my daughter, she's getting ready to graduate high school too as well. So in any event, without further ado, hopefully you guys got your tea, coffee, whatever, and your vape. Let's get into it. Alrighty. Sorry y'all caught me in my robe. It's a little bit chilly. Well, it ain't really chilly, I just like the robes. I got like three different kinds of them, but I love them. Alright, so this letter's entitled My Final Days. Hello, Icon. My name is Joseph. I'm from North Dakota. I'm getting ready to graduate high school, and that's the reason for this letter. I'm currently an average student with average grade, and honestly, it scares me that I'm about to face this world because I understand from my parents that it's a lot harder now than what it was back in their day. Ain't that the truth? Icon, we're not a rich family, but a proud family. But my parents have faced hardship over time after time, and I and I can contribute that to politics of the current administration. I know you under I understand that you don't want to talk politics, but if you can allow me the courtesy of just explaining something that has happened to my family. It's weird, icon, because my parents weren't this political until the dumbass, till this dumbass arrived on the scene. I guess they're talking about the current administr administration. Um and I didn't like that my father voted for this guy, but he's still my dad, and I and I honestly love my parents. They've been married for 26 years, and I don't see them slowing down. That's good. Drump Drump has not has not slowed this family down, but has done more harm has harm has done m has done more harm more to harm us as a nation because of the things that he's done. My dad's lost his job due to Drump's dumbass stares. I won't say where my dad works, but let's just say that he's been with this company since he was old enough to work. My mom gave him nothing but comfort even though he voted for the guy, and that that didn't or isn't isn't for the working class. Because my mom voted for change, and even tried to convince my dad why voting for KH Kamala Harris was a better choice. But nevertheless, my dad was not sold on her, even though this idiot is doing everything wrong. So my dad caved after losing his job, and he is now a house husband and completely understands now what is happening with his life at times. He's a bit down depressed, but luckily my mom keeps everything together, as many as many as women should. So he's more confused on us as a family and making he's more focused, not confused, he's more focused on us as a family and making sure that we continue to be the best person that we can be, especially since I'll be graduating soon. Oh, by the way, I have three other siblings, one brother, two sisters. My other sister is a junior in high school, and the other two are still in middle school. Icon, I feel that graduating is good. I'm just confused as to where my life will go from here because I honestly don't know what I want to do after high school. I'm not a popular guy in high school, but I have groups of friends, and I would say half of them already know what they want to do after high school. I do have a job, I've been working at Walmart since my sophomore year, and I enjoy it. My parents are very supportive of me, but they did tell me that after high school I will need to start paying rent because I can't live in the house rent-free. But to me, that's fine. Because I understand I need to start I need to start understanding what I need to do as a young adult. I also have my own vehicle, it's a 2012 Chevy Impala. Hey Impala fam. It's a 2012 Chevy Impala. I bought and paid in cash after working and saving it up for it. I bought it just for I bought it just for my junior year of high school. Icon. I think I'm scared because this world is so different than what my parents are used to. But they have said, but they said I have everything at my disposal as far as endless opportunities. My parents would talk to me about the past and the days that they spent doing in the summer, and how finding a job was a lot easier now, was a lot easier now, was a lot easier than it is now. They would often talk about how back in the day how they wouldn't have to worry so much about life because I heard back then food was a lot cheaper and that it is than it was now. Gas is like 75 cents. I can attest to that because I remember that gas was 75 cents when I was growing up. Going to the movies was the best time for them. I am proud of my parents, even though the life they gave me wasn't the best, but they continue to provide the best for us. One of my friends that I stopped being friends with was because just the worst. I was always bragging about what he had and what his parents would let him do. But he would come to my house and he would low-key ditch me and talk talk and talk about how things that I didn't have, that I didn't have, he had, was just a complete sack of shit. My sister heard him say those things about our family and she punched them the shit out of him, and I felt happy. Because he used to date my sister for a very short period of time. But Icon, I'm just looking for some advice on what to do, what I can do after high school. I also heard you talk about your kids and that you have a daughter that will be graduating as well. So I'm curious if you can give me the advice that you're giving your to your daughter, even though I'm sure I heard it before. But it's okay. I just feel nervous, so I need more positive encouragement if that's okay. I enjoy the show when I can, because I'm sure you hear this all the time, but there's not a lot of podcasts like yours. Signed a nervous scared senior. Well, Mr. Joseph, I appreciate the letter. I do. Um what I can read, sound like a very bright and intelligent young man. Um letters written really well. So I would first like to say, I think that you have described that your parents are doing like really well and that they are really like invested in you and your siblings and your future. Now, I know that your dad voted for the idiot in the White House, but that's not that's not a bad thing. As long as he's not trying to project those policies onto you or the rest of his family. I just say let bygones be bygones. I mean, your mom voted for somebody who she thought would change that that as many as as many as other Americans would voted for, and that would have been change. Change would have been good to have somebody decent in the White House instead of this dumbass we have now. But that's neither here nor there. I don't think necessarily to say that we're gonna be stuck with this guy, but I do think his time is gonna come where he's gonna have to answer to any and everything. So I think what you I think what you're going what's going on with your parents and with your family, I think it's a good thing. And you said you're not a uh rich family. I'm not a rich family neither. I am just an average guy who likes to take care of his kids, and I want the same thing that your parents want for you, and that is for you guys to be the best that you can be. Um, I hope that this letter will somehow inspire you, and this letter that will I can give you some kind of encouragement, and then I I can offer you all the advice that I can offer you. Give me just a second here, just take a little okay. So I also want to say is that I commend you because you seem I know it's gonna be nervous because this world was a lot different than what we grew up with back in the day. Back in the day we grew up with um, as I said before, we didn't know that this world was gonna turn out the way it turned out. When social media exploded, when the hell we got the internet, I think that was the best thing ever, and we didn't know that the internet was gonna go the way it was gonna go, but it went the way it went, and I mean, as every day, every minute on the hour, we've been shown and been proven that technology changes every minute of the hour, so it's something new that's coming up with. So I think you're headed in the right direction as far as you know, because let's be honest, you know, I have kids that graduate and they still didn't know what they wanted to do after high school, and they're still trying to figure themselves out. That's the beauty of figuring out life. Now, I can say back in my day when I graduated, I wasn't so certain on what I wanted to do with my life because I didn't know if I wanted to go to college, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I think the day after I graduated, I actually went back up to the high school and I got kicked out because why I could no longer attend there, so I had no business being there, so it was kind of scary, it's it's very scary, but that's a part of life. Um and I think your parents have prepared you for what's to come and how they're raising you to the best that they can do because again, even though no parent is perfect, it sounds like you have the perfect parents, and I, even though I'm a single parent doing this with my three remaining kids, and I'll have two more kids um coming up, but that's that's a different time. But I feel that your parents are doing everything they possibly can for you to make sure that this world is going to be something that you can experience. And don't get me wrong, you're gonna jump into this world. You sound like you have everything. I mean, you already have a job at Walmart. Now, Walmart we know um is a good job, and depends on how you want to fire, you want to go with Walmart, or if you want to do something different. So, you have already started to do everything right, you bought your first car uh just before you were starting your junior year, and you saved up for it. That's a good accomplishment. Take that accomplishment because there's not a lot of people that can do that. I mean, I remember my first car was a was a Lincoln. Oh man, it was a yellow Lincoln. I love I love that car. Um, I bought it from off my uncle, and it was a Lincoln Continental. I think it was roughly around 1980 or 90. I'm not sure, but I love that Lincoln. I drove it to school, um, even though it wasn't tagged, but I still drove it to school. But you sound like you have everything that's together with you already. You're just missing, not really missing anything. I think you're just a little bit nervous of what this world is gonna come to. Because let's face it, this world is a lot different than what it was back in our day. You know, your parents talk about the good old days, I talk about the good old days with my kids. How I wish that we can go back to simpler times, times of you know, cheaper groceries, cheaper gas. Because let's face it, as the years go by or the days go by, everything gets a lot more expensive. We don't even understand why. And I mean, I have a pretty good idea of why they're getting it so expensive. That's because we have a dumbass in the White House who is clearly making life a lot harder for us, but at the same time enriching himself and his friends. So, I don't like to say use the phrase the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, but I kind of believe that because as of right now, I struggle to pay my rent, I struggle to pay my bills, and that's holding down two jobs and still trying to take care of my kids. And let's just face it, um, I think what you're doing is smart. Your parents are setting you up for responsibilities to say that you have to pay rent after high school, and let's be honest. Now, I know there's a lot of parents out here that be like, Well, my kids are not gonna have to pay rent, they're living with me. Well, some of you guys might be well off with money, I'm not. I'm not, but I think it's just the responsibility of your kids just taking ownership and responsibility so when they get their own place, they understand they gotta pay rent every month. Now everybody parents differently. Everybody doesn't parent the same. But I think what these parents are doing uh to their son is admirable because they want to show him responsibility, they want him to show that in life you have to pay your way. And when you pay your way in life, and if you keep paying your way in life, good things will come to you and good things will start happening. So I don't think it's I don't think it's bad what they're doing. Now some parents might disagree with me on this, but it's all a part of life. And even if you do have money, if your kids are still wanting to pay, and if you still make your kids pay rent, well that's the beauty of it, because I'm sure some parents will say, Well, my money's not their money, and it's true it's not, because they have to earn their way in life. So I think what your parents are doing is admirable, and I think what they're doing is just trying to show you the right way that you know in life we all have to pay our way in life. So there's nothing wrong with that. Um You said your parents have been married for 26 years. I was married for 26 years before my wife passed on. The best years ever. And you said you don't see them slowing down, the signs are slowing down. That's good. I think what you can take from your parents is that the lessons that they're giving you now is just something that they're preparing you for in the future. Because if anything, take the relationship. You have one who voted for a Democrat and one who voted for Republican, but they still love each other, and your mother stepped in to console your dad when he lost his job, even though it wasn't your dad's fault that he lost his job. But she could have rubbed it in his face, she could have been like, Well, I told you so, this is what happens when you guys vote for an idiot. But she didn't. So I think the life lessons here that you can take from your parents is just being honorable, being humble, being respectful to one another, and being knowing that these two are just so much in love. Now, you didn't say that you had a girlfriend or whatever, and that's probably a good thing. It's probably fine because after high school, there's so many things that we have to look forward to, and there's so many things that we want to do. I'm not saying that having a girlfriend would further complicate that thing, will complicate things with you on your journey, but this is a journey that you want to take by yourself, and I respect that. You say you have a huge social circle of friends, that's good. And let's be honest, after high school, you're not gonna be the only one that's gonna be nervous because some of your friends you will keep in contact with, some of your friends you won't even see anymore. I mean, I know when I left high school, I didn't keep in contact with none of them because it's not the fact that I didn't want to, it's just that I didn't really need to. So depending on how close you are with your friends and the circle of friends that you have, maybe. Maybe. But it sounds like, Mr. Joseph, that you have a good head on your shoulders, you have a good Upbringing, and you don't have to be rich to be a parent, you don't have to have money to be a parent. All you need is just the love of the people that are raising you, and that would be your parents. So be proud of what you're doing, be proud of how this life is going to embrace you. You know, every ending is a new beginning. Graduation is just the first chapter. So remember that. You know, it's and I'm gonna be throwing you quotes out here all the all through this podcast because I get it, I understand. I mean, I was you, I just thought that you know, after high school, I mean, things didn't really get that bad for me, they were a lot easier. I mean, I married my high school sweetheart, we didn't have any kids until after we were married and had our first place. By then we were working. Now, could I have done things a little bit differently back then? Yeah, I could probably say I could have wished I would have saved money better um than what I do now. Um, because let's be honest. After high school, I got married, and though I loved my excuse me, though I loved my wife, and I loved everything that she stood for and everything that she was about, I don't regret any of that. I don't. I just loved her and I knew I wanted to be with her, but we built a life together, you know. We both worked, we both faced hardship, and that's what life is. You are going to face hardship in life. Nobody said life is going to be easy, it's how you deal with the hardship that's gonna make it easier. So I think that excuse me, give me a second, let me get something to drink. I think that you have every reason to be scared, every reason to be nervous. It's natural. It's nobody leaves high school and just automatically assumes that the world is theirs and they're gonna own it and make it their and make it theirs. There are steps in this world that you have to there are things in this world that you have to adapt to, there are things in this world that you have to get used to. So you don't sound like you come from a small town, but then again, I could be wrong. Um, I think small town living is a little bit not too bad per se, but small town living is just that you're you're a little bit more sheltered in your community because when you come from a small town, well, even though we see the world on TV or YouTube or on social media, we don't really know how to experience this world. So I would say to you that embrace these final days, these final few chapters of high school. You know, soak up what you can do, continue to progress on as yourself. Don't think that just because you're gonna graduate, things are gonna get harder. You sound like a very, very, very intelligent young man. You sound like you have everything that you want to do. You've been at Walmart, I think you said you've been at Walmart for since since what sophomore? Since you were a sophomore. That's good, that's really good. So if Walmart's not the thing that you want to do, then find something that you want to do. And don't get me wrong, you're going to experience a lot of a lot of things that you may want to do. A lot of things that maybe you that maybe Walmart's not the job for you, but only you can find that out for yourself, only you can make that determination, only you can make that decision. So I think that you're you're right to feel nervous, but it's just butterflies, my friend. It's just butterflies, it's gonna be okay. Because, like I said before, you have a great upbringing, you have great parents that support you and your other three siblings, and I'm pretty sure they just want the best for you. And I'm not saying that they struggled in life, but we all struggle in life. How we struggle in life is how we come ahead and how we how we know that we're gonna be humble in life, and that we know we gotta do what we gotta do to get where we need to go. So it's not a bad thing, just take everything as a as a positive thing. So, and if you hear your parents talk about the good old days, that's because, like your parents, I wish that we can get back to the good old days. I mean, the days of just things were a lot more simpler, you know. We didn't have idiots for presidents, you know, we had the world was collectively as as one unit, you know. But these are things you're gonna face in life, you're gonna face criticism, you're gonna face people that don't like you, and the way you deal with that is just not giving the attention that they want, you know. So I think that everything that you're you're doing is just the best, and I think that you are the first, it sounds like you're the first one to graduate uh among your siblings, because your sister, which is probably coming behind you, well, she's gonna need that guidance too. So, depending if you stay there with your parents, which I'm sure you sound like you're going to, until you figure out if you want to move on and move out or whatever, that's completely fine too. I think being there for your younger siblings to show them that their bigger brother is going to be strong no matter what. Because let's be honest, as the oldest, you feel some kind of way because you feel that when you're graduating and you're the first one to graduate of the siblings, it's kind of a weight on your shoulder, but not really, but you're kind of there to lead by example. So you're graduating, and then your sister's gonna be coming out next year. Now, I know that you're just going to have some positive, kind words to say about her and some and the positive thing that she's doing because it doesn't even sound like you guys are a troubled family. Judging by this letter, it sounds like you guys really are a close, tight-knit family, and that's what a lot of kids are missing these days. You know, there are a lot of kids out here that just want that family structure, that family uh bond to say, Well, hey, can you show me the way? And that's what I do with my daughter. You know, my oldest, my second to my oldest son, he graduated. Um, he didn't get to walk the stage because at that time we had lost his mother, but he still graduated. So he is still trying to navigate this thing he called life. He's been in between some jobs, he wants to start doing real estate, and he's he hasn't given up on it, he's just getting trying to get the money for. So, right now he has his own place, he lives with his cousin, but he has his own place, and though he lives with his cousin, he's still you know managing to make his way. He doesn't have none of my kids have any kids, uh, thank God, but they want to wait for that because they want to develop their life, they want to get their life on track, they want to see what they can do or what this life has to offer. And let's be honest, it hasn't been the best for my son. You know, he's finding out that you know things cost money, you know, you gotta pay bills, you know, you gotta stay on top of things because you can't let these things fall or slide because they fall and slide. Well, then you're gonna dig yourself into a deeper hole and you're gonna try to and you're gonna try to get out that hole, but it seems like you're gonna dig yourself deeper into that hole. So what I tell my son is that I'm proud of all my kids. Um, I have two kids that didn't graduate, but one of them works and one of them stays home with me. Um, well, not stays home with me, but one of them still lives here. He's still trying to find his way in life. I pray for my kids every day that they find that their way in life, that they find um that they find their way in life. And the only thing I can do as a parent is to be there for them. Because when they fall, I want to be there to pick them up, and I want to be there to encourage them. And when I encourage them to do better, then they're going to continue to do better. Now, like I said before, nobody's perfect, even as a parent, I'm not perfect, but I try to do what is best for my kids and try to instill it in them that hey, this is what me and your mom wanted for you guys. Me and your mom wanted you to have a good life, and so far my kids are doing just that. You know, there are obstacles in their way, but they're just trying to navigate this thing called life, and they're trying to be productive in a way. You know, my youngest son, who wants to be an attorney, who is doing debate, he went out for basketball, he didn't make the basketball team, but he tried to bait, so he's been really good at debate, and that's the kind of encouragement. I want to encourage my kids to do. My kids are free to do whatever they want to do within reason, you know. If it's if it's good for them, it's good for them. If it's bad for them, of course I'm gonna tell them if it's bad, but they're gonna probably try it anyways. Because why I've somehow been through the things they've been through. Behind you are your memories, before you are all your dreams, around you are all who love you, within you is all you need. I'm just saying, so my daughter who is getting ready to graduate this year, she's kind of feeling the effects, but at the same time, maybe she is, maybe she isn't. I think as the day gets closer and closer, and I'm pretty sure everybody's like this, well, majority of the people that's getting ready to graduate, because I know that after when people talk about, oh, I'm gonna graduate, I'm gonna do this, that, and the other. Well, some do and some don't, because some don't have an idea of where they're gonna go with their life, but some do. And even though some that do know what they want to do with their life, they're still a starting point, so it's still kind of scary to them. And my daughter, which is currently looking for employment, because let's face it, um, back in our day, as I said before, we didn't know the world was gonna turn out the way it turned out. We had a job, I had a job out right in high school, my wife had a job right out of high school, and we just weren't. We didn't know that technology and everything was gonna be so advanced. I mean, and a lot of people say, Well, do you think if you know near what you know now, would you do things differently? Maybe a little bit differently. Like I said, I wish I could have a better hold of my finances than what I'm doing now because I'm still kind of in the red, and I'm not ashamed to admit that. You know, I'm only human, but I'm trying to make sure my kids don't make the same mistakes I did when it comes to money. Now, I didn't know a lot about credit when I was coming up. I didn't know that you had a credit score, credit number. I didn't know about none of that shit, none of it. So, of course, when I started getting like all these this credit, and I started you know, just taking shit here, taking shit there, not even paying for it. I would start to pay for it, but then the payments would just go downhill. Two years ago, I paid off my first car because I would just get a car and not understanding that if you don't pay the note, well, they're gonna repossess the damn thing, and I would just let the cars go back and you know not think anything, and then I would go to the next dealership like uh like oh it's not gonna go in your credit report. Well, it turns out it did, it did, so I'm not afraid to admit that. I'm not afraid to admit that I have flaws, but and this is what I'm trying to teach my kids that in life everything you do is all upon you. So either you're gonna be that person's gonna pay your bills, or you're gonna be the person that's not gonna pay their bills. Now, my credit isn't the best credit, let's be real honest about that. It's not the best credit. I'm far from the worst, from far from far from good. Am I working on that? Yes, I'm trying to, but this is getting harder and harder by the day because even with two jobs that I work, I still I'm still coming up short. So am I trying to teach my kids to do what's right and do what's best for them? Yeah, yeah. As well as your parents trying to do for you, because that's all they want to see. And though my kids are not even thinking about having kids or talking about having kids, they're still having fun, and that's what I want. I want them to have fun, I want them to live life, but I want them to be responsible in life so that the things that they do in life are an achievement to them or reflection of them, maybe a little bit reflection of me, but hey. But that's just me, so I can openly talk about things that have affected me, and things that I have done, and things that I want to change for my kids as they're getting ready to graduate and getting ready to navigate this world. Because let's be honest, this world is a very cold, cold, cold world. And I'm not even sure if, as we see in America, you can be afforded any of the endless possibilities with or without college. Now, there are some jobs that you have to have a college degree, but for the most part, not really. I mean, it just depends on what field you're going into. Let's say if you're gonna be a doctor or an attorney or some politician, well, you might want to get that experience, but as for me, I didn't think I was gonna go to college. I started off um when I moved to Mobile, Alabama, I went to Remington College for computers. I dropped out because technology was changing so vastly, and I knew I didn't know, I think I only maybe knew about maybe maybe half what I know about computers now, you know, because I build computers and I'm much more of a hardware guy, not a software guy. I don't code, even though my kids code, but I don't code. So my kids can do code, but I can't. Um I wasn't a I wasn't a hacker per se, but let's just say I knew how to get things done. But I think that just changed um things changed for me as I was you know in college because they were showing me things on how to do, but like I said, I was much more of a software guy than I was uh I was much more of a hardware guy than a software guy. So excuse me. Give me a second, let me get some drink. But I often think about what would have happened if I would have stayed in college, and though they were showing me things about computers because I took what I already knew and what they already gave me, and I use it at some of my jobs. You know, a lot of people saying, Well, you should have gone to school for this, and I was like, uh maybe, maybe I shouldn't, maybe I shouldn't. But I found something I love to do, and I love driving. I know that's gonna be corny to a lot of people, but I love driving. I love the open road, I love you know taking people here to there. I love that the fact that I'm driving this big machine, and there's people in this machine, and that I'm taking a point A to point B. So I think that when you find what you want to do, you're gonna know, and it's going to make you happy. So you're going to come across a lot of different jobs. I don't know if you'll stay with Walmart, but let's be honest. I worked for Walmart. I worked for Walmart. I started out as a this is a store we were putting together, and as we were putting the store together, um, manager took an interest in me to say, Hey, you know, you're you're really killing it out there. I mean, I mean, you people follow you, you know, you got good direction, you give them good sense, and they know what to do, and you know what to do. So I started out as a um cashier, and I think within three months of that, I moved up to a CSM, yeah, customer service manager, and then two months of that I landed the head CSM position because it was me and another young lady that were we were kind of in the um in the same categories, so they decided to split the position into two head CSMs. I ran night shift, she ran day shift, and not only that, I had gotten um I was a four-star cashier, um, had the highest IPH item scan per hour. Um, so being at Walmart was just fantastic, it was great, it was good. Sad to say, I got fired because I had let my in-laws use my discount card, and apparently, I guess that was a no-no, even though Walmart said that they could use it or whatever, but whatever. The fact of the matter is when you're at a job, you take all the knowledge that you can with this job because once you take that knowledge, if you're gonna stay with this job or if you're gonna try to go on and do something different, well, you already have some inclination of what you need to do. So, and I did just then. I mean, it seems like every job that I've been in, I've always been in management. Now, I'm not in management now. Well, yes, technically I am kind of in management, and my main job I'm not in management because I drive a truck and it's a roll-off truck. But my second job, I am in management because I didn't choose to be, but you know, as again I say when people see something in you and they like what they're seeing on the way you progress at work and how you conduct yourself at work, you're gonna get noticed. So I don't know whether you plan on going to college or not, or if you plan on just you know trying to navigate to find different jobs because every job that I did was something different. I mean, I have done oh man, I I'd made sweatshirts or made hats. I've done a lot in my life to be proud of. Um, I've ran a lot of lot of businesses. Um, I ran bus companies, um, I did transportation. So I think having that up under my belt didn't really make me a threat, but it's like a job I applied to, they was like, Well, you're too old, you're you're a little bit overqualified for this job. I was like, what does that mean overqualified? I was like, we can't hire you because we wouldn't know what to pay you, because we know the money you want, but we know we can't give you that money, and that's something that's fine, that's okay. So I would say to you, Alice, shut up. But I would say to you that you're gonna find your way, you're gonna be okay, you're going to do what is best for you, and your parents are there to support you 100% of the time, 100% of the way. It sounds like you're gonna have a very good support system. So my what I talk to my daughter is that we still talk on a daily basis because we want to know, I want to know what she wants to do, and she said, Well, I'm still thinking about it, and that's fine. I'm not trying to rush her. I just want to make sure she gets set up to be successful. She started, she said she wanted to be an electrician, she wanted to go to college for electric be an electrician. I said, Sweetar, you can do anything you want to do, and that's not a bad thing, it's a good thing. So she's still kind of up in there, and she's been looking for jobs and trying to find jobs, and you know, I've just been trying to be there beer beer coach in a corner and or cheer in the corner and just say, Hey, you can do whatever you want to do. And Mr. Joseph, I hope that you know, when you listen to this, that you understand that you have parents that love you. I don't need to know you, but I feel like I do know you. And let's just say I'm pulling for you. I'm pulling for you and hundreds of other kids that maybe or maybe not listen to this podcast, you know. But I know you're gonna hear this, and I'm just saying that your parents want what's best for you. So continue to make them proud, continue to be happy in your life and your work and what you continue to do. Because at the end of the day, do what makes you happy. Happy. As one chapter closes, another one begins. So here, here's to the journey that shaped us and the future that awaits you. Nothing lasts forever, but we got these memories. Cherish all the time that you have in high school, my friend. Because after high school, things are going to change for you. And things are going to change for the good for you. If people only want to kind of feed off your not your mission, but they kind of want to make themselves feel better because they have they have what you think they want. And I gotta be honest with you, I was never jealous of anybody who had more than what I had. Did I envy them? No. Was I happy for him? Yes. And I'm and it's like it's still like that. Because just because I see you have things that I generally want doesn't make me a jealous person. Doesn't mean I'm gonna be like, oh well, they've got this, that, and that I can't hang on. No, that's not me as a person. Me as a person is just me being me. I don't need to mimic your life, I don't need to try to go out there and try to figure out why your life is better than mine. I don't do that. I'm just gonna continue to do what I continue to do every day. That's wake up, thank God, see my kids, off to school, go to work, come home, and talk to my kids. Because to me, that's the better feeling to me. Now, for those who have money and that can afford to do these things, I'm happy for you. But if you have money, money doesn't buy happiness, it damn sure doesn't buy love. So I know that we see these people on social media that these parents are just doing everything they possibly can for their kids because they don't want their kids to struggle. I got a news flash for you. How much is enough for your kids? Are you gonna continue to enable them for the rest of their life? Or are you gonna let them try to stand on their own two feet and say, Hey, I'm not cutting you off, but this is what I need from you? Because we see time and time again that you know, parents that enable this kind of behavior, well, your kids don't grow up, they don't ever grow up. They always expect their parents to come in and take care of this or take care of that. And why is that? Why shouldn't it be that way? It shouldn't be that way, but again, everybody parents differently, and when you parent like that, then it's just a recipe for disaster. So and it's no shade to none of you parents that want to parent like that because I know that a lot of parents that you know didn't have a good upbringing want to show their kids that they can provide everything you possibly can for them. But answer yourself this question or ask yourself this question what goods are you providing for them when they can't even provide for themselves? So as a parent, I just want to see my kids successful. I want to make sure that they instill what they what I've instilled in them, and when they have kids, they instill what they instill in their kids. Because let's face it, I can win the lottery tomorrow, and I would still probably be working. I would still probably be just helping people out and doing what I did. I I dare should probably still be doing this podcast because that's just me. Now, I know a lot of people say, well, if you did win the lottery, that would change you. It wouldn't change me, it wouldn't change me that one bit. I would still be the same person, and I think that we can all take a lesson from Mr. Joseph's letters here and say and think. If you have a kid that's getting ready to graduate, sit down, talk to your kid. If they have a plan, they have a plan. If they don't have a plan, work with them. Don't try to force them out to be like say, well, okay, well, you got to figure out something because you know it's coming in this that no, this is gonna be the last year they're gonna be in high school. This is gonna be the year that they don't have that they will or maybe they won't see their friends ever again, and that's not a bad thing. Um, to some I know it could be, but you want your kids to go out into this world, you want them to navigate this world the best possible way they can. Because when they get out into this world and they don't know anything, well, either they're gonna ask you or they're not gonna ask you. But my thing is prepare your kids for any and everything that's coming to them, and what I mean by coming to them, like this world, this cold world that's coming to them. Because let's be honest, this is gonna be the new breed, the new generation 2026. Every year, kids graduate, some lose their way, some continue to struggle and find their way, and others have found their way. So, I'm just saying pain travels through families until someone is ready to feel it. So, so you gotta understand that this life that you're about to take is a life that's going to be good. Again, keep all your memories, keep all the good times, because there's gonna be plenty more good times that's coming your way, Mr. Joseph. So sometimes you'll never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. So, as I get ready to close this letter out, I just want to say, Mr. Joseph, thank you for the letter. Um, it's a good letter, and I hope that my listeners can take something away from this letter. And if you have kids, maybe play this podcast for them. If they have questions, just answer them. If they're not they're not sure what they want to do. Okay, I'll give you one more example. My son that graduated said he wanted to take a year off from high school. There's no taking a year off from high school. I mean, you're gonna get kind of like you didn't get really like get thrown into it, but he had a job, but it's like I I don't know, it's kind of hard to explain. But he had a job, and he thought that life was gonna be just this this walk by. You know, they were he was going out partying, having fun and drinking, and he just and I and as he got older, or as he's still getting older, he doesn't drink as much anymore. I think he only took a drink for his birthday, and now he's just go f goal-oriented on finding a job and keeping a job and making sure that he's taking care of himself. So, and I get it. We all want to break, but bills don't stop coming. Um, your parents damn sure don't want to pay for that. So you gotta do the respectful thing. When you graduate, you graduate. You know, it's just a tough, it's just tough because it's just tough. Let's just say it's tough. So don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces. So as I get ready to close the show out, I want to say thank you to my listeners. Thank you for the letters, Mr. Joseph. I hope this letter finds you in a good way. I hope everything that is good that is going to happen to you. I hope that everything positive that is coming your way happens to you. Stay focused, stay blessed. Um keep your parents closer to you, my friend. Because as I said before, you know, some kids just want their parents just to pay them more attention. And I know that you have a good upbringing, and I know that there's parents like me and your parents, and I know there's plenty of other parents that are trying to do what's right for their children, and the way they do continue to do right by their children is that they continue to show them the right way that they need to navigate this world. Because it is a hard world out here, it's not like it was back in the 1980s or the 1990s, and oh boy, those are good years. God, those are good years. Man, those are good years. Don't be scared, don't be nervous. Just take life, grab it by the hand. You're gonna be okay, it's gonna be alright. So, and the same thing I'm telling you, I have told my daughter, and we have this talks every day, um, and then like I said, she kind of flip-flops back and forth, but hey, she's still trying to navigate this thing called life, and that's all I want for her, so that's all I want for you too. But as I said before, it sounds like you're doing everything right, you're doing everything right you possibly can. Just continue to make your parents proud, but most of all, make yourself proud, make yourself happy. So, I don't know what your craft is, but I'm pretty sure you're gonna find that out later on in life. So, you'll have to go do a few jobs in order to find the right one. That's no big deal, it's no big problem, it's not a big issue because in life we all go through jobs, we all gotta go through some kind of bullshit to get the job that we want. Remember, my friend, and remember to the people that's listening, you will start somewhere in life. You're gonna start from the bottom, but when you start from the bottom, it just depends on how fast you can climb and how well that you can do to get where you need to go. So it's been a good letter, it's been a great day, and I hope that this letter finds you in a good way. So, as I get ready to close this letter, I don't want to say thank you to all my listeners again. If you have any questions or concerns, d6mpire357 at gmail.com. I also have my uh phone number listed uh for a text message or if you want to leave a message or something that you want to share with me. Um, it is on my Facebook uh podcast page. I am icon. Um, I don't answer this line, I don't answer that this number. So if you call, I don't pick up. You can send a text through WhatsApp or whatever, and then we can kind of go from there. If you feel that you want to come onto the show and talk to me, please feel free to chime in. We can discuss anything that you want to talk about, except politics, which lately I have been discussing, but that's only because my listeners are writing me these letters in reference to the politics of this world. So, um, until next time, my friends, you guys take care of yourself, take care of each other. We're gonna let you roll out with this um with this track. Until next time, we'll see you on the next one. Y'all have a good one now.