Last week, I had the pleasure of attending my daughter’s graduation ceremony, as she prepares to begin her new career as a teacher in September. It was great to see so many young people, strutting across the stage, back straight, chest out and with an element of swagger in their step. You could just tell how proud they were to have reached this stage, and they were going to enjoy their moment – and good on them!!

Later in the week, I attended the leavers concert of another daughter as she prepares to leave primary school and go to high school. Again, it was great to see so many children that we had got to know in various ways over the years singing and performing with confidence as they gave a presentation looking back over all the fun times they have had together in school. They went for it and they thoroughly enjoyed their last performance together as a group. They are all ready to move up to the next stage.

At the end of the week, we had a party in school for our foster daughter, as she prepares to move to a school nearer to us from September. She is excited and looking forward to her new school, especially having made a few visits over the last few weeks to assist with her transition. She, also, is looking forward to this next stage as she not only moves school, but moves from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 (infants to juniors in old currency!!).

All of these events show a young person on the cusp of something new, and looking forward to it with great excitement and anticipation. Do you remember a time in your life when you were excited about a new opportunity that was opening up for you? What about a new proposition or piece of business for your charity or organisation? Are you still excited? Or has that now dissipated into the the “same old”, or into something worse as things didn’t turn out as you expected?

I’ve been in all of those situations. I’ve been excited about new opportunities. I’ve been really disappointed and fed up as things have turned out very differently to my expectations. Around 15 months ago I was excited as I stepped out into a new world running my own business, and I am still really enjoying it – though I know that trying times are around the corner – it is inevitable. But I have learned in life that you must look for the opportunities in whatever situation you are in –  and very often it is in the more difficult times that you can see the greater opportunities, and are maybe more likely to go for them.

Can I encourage you to grab those opportunities with both hands and take them forward. Look at what you have achieved – but also at how much more is yet to come. Keep your back straight, chest out and strut with a bit of a swagger, giving everything to what you are doing – and making sure that you enjoy it. Look at the endless possibilities that lie before you. Dream – and dream big, but don’t just dream.

Do this, and look back in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years etc and be amazed at what you have achieved, and keep pressing on for more!!