A Letter to My Daughter

In a few hours, I will drop you off at the University of San Francisco. My job here is just about done. You are a few short years from becoming an independent adult. With that in mind, I just want to send out my last nuggets of wisdom before you start cruising the Haight/Ashbury district.

1. You will make mistakes. There are two basic types of mistakes. Big, life-altering mistakes and little nuisance mistakes. Those big ones are hard to roll back and often can change your life for decades at a time. Try and limit yourself to the ones that are just a nuisance and learn from them as fast as you can to avoid making them again. And one last thing. We love you and there is always a place where you can go to heal your wounds, no matter what the mistake is.

2. Be true to yourself. Others will have expectations of you, but only your expectations should have any weight. This is a thin line. Remember to differentiate between settling for second best under the guise of "being true to yourself." Do your best.

3. Explore. San Francisco is a great city and the academic world is a great place to get lost. Try new subjects. Don't be afraid to change majors. Your passion is more important than the economic potential.

Lastly, listen to Wide Open Spaces by the Dixie Chicks. It would be a great theme song for you for the next few months.