It is a scene that plays out in a father’s imagination from the time his daughter is 1 or 2 years old.

Daddy’s little girl throws the last duffle bag in the car, gives mom and dad one last hug and heads off to college, to her future.

Several years ago as I watched a close friend’s daughter do the same, an undeniable truth began to sink in. One day that will be me.

I wrote a column wondering what I would say when my own daughter, Class of 2013, went off into the world.

As the car doors slam and the men and women of the Miss-Lou’s Class of 2005 begin to drive away, it seems appropriate to dust off and revise my list. Here goes:

4Be careful and pay attention. When we aren’t careful is when we get into trouble.

4Drive with both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. Right lane slow, left lane fast. And obey the speed limit.

4Clean your room.

4Be yourself.

4Tell the truth.

4Take responsibility for your actions. Don’t blame other people and don’t blame society. Some people waste a whole life placing blame, which is a complete waste of time.

4You are an adult. Realize every decision has a consequence, positive or negative. Ask people you respect for help and advice then make your decision and take responsibility for it.

4Try new things Š but not anything you’d be ashamed to share with your mother or your preacher.

4Don’t mess around with drugs or hang around with people who do.

4Smoking Š bad.

4Go to class. Study hard. Do good work. Do not seek perfection; just do your best.

4Eat right and exercise.

4Measure twice, cut once.

4In conversation: listen attentively, think twice and speak once.

4Be careful of boys, even those (especially those?) who remind you of your dad.

4Be tactful. Think about how your actions and words will affect other people. Learn the importance of agreeing to disagree.

4Take good care of your name and your reputation. It is the only one you have. Your own credibility is the starting point for everything you will accomplish.

4Make a good first impression. Smile, give a firm hand shake, look ’em in the eye and tell ’em who you are.

4When you accept a task, give it your best shot and get it done, on time. You can’t accept every task. If you don’t have the time or resources to do something right, politely say &8220;no.&8221;

4You can do great work when you are up against a deadline but you will produce even better results when you plan your work and work your plan.

4Nothing is ever as bad or as good as it at first seems.

4Be the most pleasant, positive and enthusiastic person you know. In life there are optimists and pessimists. Be an optimist.

4At night, stay in a group.

4Your great granddaddy, who was very wise, once told me &045; &8220;You have two ears and one mouth, boy. Listen twice as much as you talk.&8221; Don’t finish another’s sentence or attempt to complete their thought.

4Don’t drink and drive or ride with people who do. If you have a friend who is about to, you owe it to them to hide the keys.

4Go to church.

4Let those who you appreciate know you appreciate them, especially your mother.

4Don’t be intimidated by rich people, smart people, big people, older people. They are, after all, just people.

4Manage your time well.

4If someone other than your doctor or your mother asks you &8220;how’s it going?&8221; there is little value in an answer beyond, &8220;things are great, how about you?&8221;

4Finding a resolution is always better than judging right and wrong. With wisdom comes the realization that there is usually &8220;right&8221; on both sides of a complex issue. If not, the issue would not be complex in the first place.

4Praise in public; criticize in private.

4It’s better to have one good suit than a closet full of cheap ones.

4Resist the temptation to criticize people.

4Put doing the right thing in front of doing the popular thing. It’s more important to respect yourself for doing right than to be admired or accepted.

4Smile and tell people what they need to know, even when it is not what they want to hear.

4Call your mother once in awhile. Oh yeah Š and your daddy, too.

And yes, by golly, have some fun.

Todd Carpenter

is publisher of The Democrat. You can reach him by calling 601-445-3618 or by e-mail at

todd.carpenter@natchezdemocrat.com

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