As a kid, graduation day seemed like it would never come. Parents can often say the same about their child reaching that big day. When it does come, it can be a bittersweet experience, yet for the graduate, there’s something hopeful about moving on to the next season of life. Parents want to save their graduates from making the same mistakes they made, but graduates wish for the freedom to make their own choices.
Just as it takes time for a graduate to learn to navigate the responsibilities of adulthood, it takes parents time to get used to the idea that their role is shifting from the role of protecting and directing a child’s path to being a coach and consultant as they enter adulthood. When your graduate slows down long enough to have a conversation with you, here are 5 reminders you might like to share with them.
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1. God Has a Plan
1. God Has a Plan
Yeah, this might be one that we all learn in youth church or youth camp. It can be easy for your graduate to forget Jeremiah 29:11 when they’re pounding the digital pavement (looking at job boards). They’re trying to find a first job that actually connects to the college major they’ve sacrificially studied to obtain, but they don’t have the practical experience just yet.
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2. Getting Turned Down for a Job Is Nothing Personal
2. Getting Turned Down for a Job Is Nothing Personal
When your grad has been at it for several weeks, or they don’t get that one job for which they interviewed and just thought it was their dream job, reminding them to keep in mind that it’s not personal can help them avoid plummeting into a pit of despair and depression. Hiring managers are going to do what they feel is best for their company. There actually is a hiring manager out there who will recognize your grad’s skills, talents, and hard work to polish them and offer them a position. So your grad might appreciate being reminded that their giftings will eventually open doors for them (Proverbs 18:16).
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3. Keep Up with Your Chosen Industry
3. Keep Up with Your Chosen Industry
When you’re good at what you do, and you stay on top of how your industry is developing, changing, or improving, a good manager will take notice. Consider encouraging your grad to take the time to read, watch relevant videos, attend seminars, and put new skills and/or knowledge to use. Proverbs 22:29 is a reminder that, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.”
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4. Pay Off Student Loans and Other Debts as Soon as Possible
4. Pay Off Student Loans and Other Debts as Soon as Possible
Perhaps the bondage of student debt and credit card debt isn’t super noticeable when living under the roof of mom and dad, but when your grad gets out on their own, it’s no longer a quiet mouse nibbling a bit here and a bit there. It’s more like a lion pouncing on its prey. Proverbs 22:7 states, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
The older you get, the tighter those shackles of being the servant get. Being married with kids and in debt, especially student loan debt is super stressful. One really great way to develop a plan for getting out of debt is to check out Dave Ramsey’s website and his Financial Peace University program. Doing this in a community setting (such as with a small group at church or a close-knit group of friends) can really help with staying on track and encourage getting free.
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5. It’s Never Too Soon (or too late) to Prepare for the Future
5. It’s Never Too Soon (or too late) to Prepare for the Future
Many employers offer a 401k with a match. Even if your grad is just stepping into their first “real” job, it’s not too soon to take advantage of such a benefit. If he or she ever decides to leave that company, they can take that money with them in the sense that it can be “rolled over” into another 401k in a new job or into a bank IRA for eventual retirement. An accountant or a Financial Planner can help with some of the details of this.
If your graduate is a really healthy person and rarely goes to the doctor, an HSA can also be a great benefit if he or she puts a small percentage of his or her paycheck into that HSA each pay period. It’s amazing how fast it builds up. If your grad leaves the company, he or she can take this with them, too, and can even continue to make contributions. While they may not get the pre-tax benefit in connection to that particular HSA, they can take a deduction for post-tax contributions when filing their taxes if they keep track of their contributions.
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Originally published June 10, 2025.
