“Don’t be afraid of fear. Because it sharpens you, it challenges you, it makes you stronger; and when you run away from fear, you also run away from the opportunity to be your best possible self.”

—Ed Helms

Powell High School and the Shoshone Learning Center held their graduation celebrations Sunday, bringing to a close the high school careers of 128 students.

We at the Tribune would like to wish each and every one of you the best of luck as you begin the next chapter of your adventure. It’s a scary, exciting, emotional time, as any recent or former graduate can attest. And while you’ll be bombarded with advice in the next few weeks and months, ultimately what you decide to do with your future is entirely up to you.

That said, we thought we’d offer a little of the wisdom we’ve gleaned over the years.

Whether you’re heading off to college or trade school, serving your country in the military or immediately joining the workforce, make it a priority to never stop learning. Discover something you have a passion for, and take new opportunities as they come.

Explore. Don’t be afraid to wander outside of your comfort zone; discover what awaits you in life by actively seeking it, rather than letting it come to you. But don’t be afraid to go home and do laundry if you still live in driving distance of your folks.

Save. Open a savings account if you haven’t already, and put a small part of each paycheck away for rainy-day emergencies. Few things are more frustrating than being unable to access funds when you really need them.

Cultivate new friendships. For those of you moving away from home, get involved in activities — clubs, intramural sports, volunteering — that encourage interaction with new people. The new friendships you make may last for a lifetime.

Believe in yourself. Learn to look at things positively and to have unshakable faith in whatever you’re trying to accomplish. Don’t be afraid to fail; learn from your mistakes and trust that every one of life’s problems has a solution.

Be open to new experiences. Even though you might be sure you already know what you want to do with the rest of your life, don’t be afraid to try new things.

Take care of yourself. You only get one body; the more you take care of it, the better off you’ll be.

And finally, take a moment to reflect. Recognize and enjoy your accomplishments; it’s a way of building a strong foundation for things to come. Remember where you’ve been, what it took to get to this very moment and what you’ve learned. Embrace all of it, and take it with you into the future.

To the Class of 2019, we offer our congratulations and our hope for your continued success. It’s been a fun ride covering your athletic, academic and extracurricular activities as you’ve gone through the Powell school system; thank you for allowing us in some small way to be a part of it.