Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2010…

Sing along even if you’re out of tune.

Drink water even if you’re not thirsty.

Look people in the eye when you talk to them.

Respect yourself, but keep in mind the line that divides self-respect from conceit.

Let go of your ego, but keep in mind the line that divides humility from docility.

Don’t take your thoughts all too seriously, for they are only a self-woven version of your ever changing reality.

Even so, deal with your thoughts carefully. Learn to tell the manipulative ones from the genuine ones.

Make plans, but don’t fret if your plans refuse to get along with you.

Don’t stifle your sadness. Give it room to live its natural life and die its natural death.

Hug the ones you love more often. Kiss them more often.

Don’t hold yourself back when you make love.

Wear a seatbelt even if you don’t need it.

Don’t feel guilty about oversleeping. It’s as silly as fussing over your flab after gorging on half a pound of cake.

Don’t worry about your part Indian–part English–part American accent. You, after all, comprise a generation that’s descended out of a British ruled India and has been fed on a healthy diet of American movies and sit coms since time immemorial.

Use your words wisely. They are a fragile bridge between you and the world.

When someone’s talking to you and your mind wanders off to some place more intriguing, the best practice is to chase it as far as the other end of the rainbow, and drag its sorry ass back to NOW.

Click pictures. Many, many pictures.

There’s nothing wrong with extremes. Oscillating between two extremes usually gets you to settle comfortably in the middle by the end.

Hold technology by the hand as you move forward. You’ll need more and more of it as the years go by.

Find a new crush every week. A song, a pair of shoes, a new shirt, an exercise, a book, a movie, a movie star, a website – anything!

Value your freedom. Your freedom to say yes or no is the most precious asset you’ll ever have.

But most of all, sing along!