Crime Watch lists meetings for next week

In Brief

High school seniors at Wilkes-Barre Area, Lake-Lehman and districts throughout the region are prepping for graduation today, reflecting on what they&#8217;ve learned and how far they&#8217;ve come.Here&#8217;s one lesson, grad, that might not have been covered in class but, if mastered, can serve you well. You might even call it a key to success.Don&#8217;t fear difference.Resist the urge to quickly reject an unfamiliar idea. Ditto for unfamiliar people.Others might seek only the comfort of routine, the company of same-minded individuals. High school hallways, certain neighborhoods and most Internet chat rooms are overrun with these cliques (despite the best intentions of six televised seasons of &#8220;Glee.&#8221;) Sidestep these monotonous zones and seek out difference; you&#8217;ll most likely be rewarded with intellectual growth, understanding and unexpected opportunities.Whether bound for a college campus, boot camp or an as-yet-unknown compass destination, you will encounter people from places you&#8217;ve never been, some speaking in accents tricky for your ear to absorb, telling of everyday life experiences you find bizarre. There will be people of different religions and no religion. People with all manner of political persuasions. People raised in opulence, poverty and the vast span in between. People of the opposite gender as well as transgender individuals like Bruce aka Caitlyn Jenner. (You go, girl!)You can shut out anything and everyone you consider &#8220;weird.&#8221;Or you can decide to appreciate &#8211; if not always accept &#8211; unfamiliar notions. In short, you can adopt an attitude of vive la difference. (If you opted out of French I, Google the phrase.)The latter option will put you in the company of people, including corporate executives, high-level elected leaders and other movers and shakers, who easily relate to almost anyone they meet. They can seal a deal, curry a favor or make a friend because they, early in life, acquired an ability to see beyond differences and bridge divides.In your future, you probably won&#8217;t be able to pick your boss, your coworkers, your neighbors and others with whom you cross paths every day. You will need to co-exist.Do it with grace. Do it with gusto.Let go of groundless fears.

Our Opinion: Hey, new high school graduates! Step outside your comfort zone