It’s that time of year.

There’s nothing like the sensation of walking across a stage and into a new life.

I wish you well. Congratulations to you graduates — and to you parents. Everybody’s prayers have been answered.

I remember the last stage I crossed. It was a long time ago, but I remember it like it was just a few years ago. That was my college graduation.

I remember the speaker (fellow A&T alum Jesse Jackson); I remember the tears in the eyes of one of my classmates. And it was very much the same for high school.

You are about to begin a new life. Maybe it will be more of the same.

Maybe it will be something completely different. The fun part is, you don’t know — and you probably won’t for years to come.

But you’ll always have memories of that moment walking across the stage and into your great unknown — what you felt and what it meant.

Now, some words of wisdom you’ll hear from adults as you go through life: “I don’t care if you are grown, you’ll do what I say … I didn’t send you to college to waste my money … Get a job, hippy!”

You’ll hear that, and so much more.

Hey, all I’m saying is enjoy it now. The great thing about being young is that everybody considers it being redundant when someone calls you young and dumb, or doing stupid stuff.

“Of course,” is always the response. “He’s young. He has to learn.”

Enjoy it as much as you can. But just wait a few years. Nobody has a good opinion of old and stupid.

“Should have known better,” is the best you’ll hear.

Trust me. I know from experience.

To you parents, continue to enjoy the ride. Yeah, these years have flown by from first step, to first word, to first curse word, to breaking curfew, to breaking that vase, some dishes, glasses — hey, kids are a little uncoordinated.

But if you think these years have flown by, time will only move faster from now on. Seriously, that’s a scientific fact. Trust me. I know that from experience, too.

Jamie Ruff is a staff reporter for The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch. His email is jamie.ruff@kvd.com.