When I graduated from college, I recall having three best friends standing by my side as I received my diploma.

What I fail to remember from either of these monumental days is a single word of wisdom passed from the commencement speakers. In both cases, I am sure the schools went to great lengths to provide an inspirational message that would send us out to the world to do great things. I just don't recall any of those words of wisdom.

So, to further the stereotype of myself, and my Generation X peers, here is the commencement address I wish I had received, broken into small concepts and pithy catch phrases for the graduates of 2001.

Graduates of the year 2001:

The first rule of life is that it is not fair. The sooner you learn that, the better off you will be.

Pick a career field that closely follows a personal passion, regardless of financial implications or job availability. The most successful people in life are passionate about their work.

Learn to ride a unicycle.

Keep life in perspective. Higher up the ladder of life, there will always be people you believe to be less qualified than you. But remember, there are probably people below you on the same ladder who think the same of you.

Make an effort to meet your personal heroes.

Read histories of underrepresented classes to get a broader perspective on history. Howard Zinn's book, "A People's History of the United States," is a great start.

Question religion. Don't allow it to be an inherited trait, but rather seek a spiritual path on your own terms.

Avoid drinking any alcohol that can double as paint thinner and/or diesel fuel.

Stop worrying about what others will think. Similarly, stop judging the actions of others.

Network. In today's society, who you know means just as much as what you know, and who knows you is more important then both of them combined.

Get a library card.

Try to avoid spending your entire life in one geographic area. Travel as far as your checkbook will allow, so as to meet people with vastly different perspectives and life experiences. Be sure to share a glimpse of your world view with them.

Spend more time developing a creative art. Be it writing, painting, dancing or even cooking, find something that relaxes you, and even if others don't appreciate your talents, build it to a personal art.

Don't be afraid of starting a bar fight if it helps you maintain your principles.

Study the great philosophers, but don't stop in ancient Greece. Bob Dylan, Henry David Thoreau, Hunter S. Thompson, Chief Luther Standing Bear, Sigurd Olson and even Lenny Bruce have some remarkably profound views on life. Find your own personal philosophers.

Don't save any project or trip for retirement, because you never know if you'll even get there. If you want to do it someday, figure out how you can do it now.

Tell your family and friends repeatedly that you love them.

If your job sucks, quit. Life is too short to waste 40 hours a week doing something you detest.

Once a week do something that would scare your mother.

Find a political candidate you really believe in -- be it a presidential, legislative or even local school board candidate -- and volunteer as much time as you can to get him or her elected. Politics needs more good people. If you can't find a good candidate, become one.

A strong work ethic will help you advance when business is good, and will keep you employed when it is not.

Always look at animal crackers before eating them. The day you stop seeing them as the tiny creatures they were created to be is the same day that you are officially ordained as an old fuddy duddy.

And finally, live every day as if it will be your last because, eventually, you'll be right.

Dybvig (e-mail: snow-shark@qwest.net), 27, St. Paul, is a writer, public affairs consultant and former journalist.