For most young people, a graduation is the first major turning point of their lives.

Students who have been slugging their way through elementary school will move on to new adventures in high school. These will include making new friends, tackling new subjects and  considering career choices.

High school students are now pondering how they will fare living on their own for the first time as they go away to college. What will it be like having all that independence?

And if they thought higher education was challenging, college students should prepare themselves for their first taste of the real world. Once they get all those job interviews out of the way, they’ll be thrust into the hectic life of the workplace. Class rankings and extracurricular activities won’t mean so much now as they did just a few months earlier.

So at each phase, graduation is an entryway into uncharted territory. It is a time for students to reflect on what they’ve learned about themselves and the world so far, as well as a chance to contemplate how they will meet upcoming challenges.

Starting a new chapter can be an unnerving experience for anyone. There are plenty of unknowns out there, and this will give most people the jitters.

But students and parents should take heart at this critical juncture. Previous challenges have been conquered, and the strength gained helps build character.

Take the opportunity to set priorities and summon the courage to meet these goals.

Each graduation is a tremendous accomplishment and a sign of future excellence.

Enjoy it for everything it’s worth.