Sandstrom shares advice with CSC graduates

First, he urged the audience to practice gratitude.

“Love and appreciate the people and things in your life that make it rich and rewarding. We all have things big and small that we can show gratitude for,” he said.

In July 2011, after surviving a rollover accident with minor injuries, Sandstrom recalled a moment of intense gratitude during his summer job about a week later.

“I remember listening to a song on an 80-plus degree day and feeling intense gratitude that I still had some work to do on this Earth,” Sandstrom said. “Taking an active look at your life and the people in it will give you a profound sense of peace and calm. That will provide you with the ability to not only enjoy your life more but find more success in your future.”

Secondly, Sandstrom urged graduates to take an active role in planning and envisioning their success including keeping a daily journal with goals.

“You need to be actively moving your life in the direction you want. It is important to remain flexible because life will throw you curveballs and setbacks, but your life will be what you make of it. If you are searching for a specific opportunity, then it is important for you to know the skills, knowledge, and preparation you need to make that dream a reality,” Sandstorm said.

His third point was to find a way to be consistent.

“My high school P.E. teacher told me, ‘You should always go the extra mile because that road is never very busy,’” Sandstrom said. “People can be great in short bursts, but few people are willing to consistently perform for years and decades. There is greatness in being able to consistently perform on the little things. Discipline equals freedom.”

Sandstrom’s final point was for the graduates to have faith in themselves and persevere.

“Success is generally not immediate. Genuine belief in your own abilities and potential will allow you to persevere through hard times,” he said.

In closing, he shared a quote from the film The Count of Monte Cristo about the importance of overcoming inevitable adversity.

“Edmond Dantes gave the following toast. ‘Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment and be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes,’” Sandstrom said.