For the past month, millions of parents and grandparents have been attending high school graduation ceremonies to watch a rite of passage toward adulthood for their child or grandchild.

Three times I have been at these ceremonies. Next year I will be attending the graduation of my youngest. For me, graduation time is not only a family time for loving support; it also is a time to underscore with the kids we love the timeless story of the pursuit of excellence.

This pursuit is not about status, money and power. Rather, the pursuit of excellence is about the commitment to continue the growth and development of one's interior.the character and values rudder that will guide a young person's travels in their adult years.

If you are a parent or grandparent who will someday be sitting down to write a little note on a graduation card, you might enjoy considering including one of these statements along with a few personal thoughts of encouragement from you:

"True greatness consists in being great in little things."

Charles Simmons

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."

Robert Collier

"What you have outside you counts less than what you have inside you."

B.C. Forbes

"Habit is stronger than reason."

George Santayana

"The key to your universe is that you can choose."

Carl Frederick

"There are no gains without pains."

Benjamin Franklin

"The longest journey is the journey inwards. Of him who has chose his destiny, who has started upon his quest for the source of his being."

Dag Hammarskjold

"Love is all we have."

Euripedes

Kids of Character become responsible, contributing adults of character through the encouragement and guidance of loving mentors: parents, teachers, coaches, and grandparents. Graduation time is a meaningful setting and opportunity to put on the mentor's hat and share with the graduate you love an important message that an ever-growing, maturing character does shape a life that is stamped with excellence.

Russell Williams is President of Passkeys Foundation~Jefferson Center for Character Education. For information contact (949) 770-7602 or www.jeffersoncenter.org.