Do not wait for the tide to take you, my boy. Instead, you take on the tide

Never shy away from telling those you love
how you feel about them.You will never know
if you will have another chance...

I only remember those eyes

It takes a very mature young man (to do what he did). He's made good decisions for his age, choices guys his age don't usually make. He's a very humble person and he's been taught well by his mother about how to receive praise.

Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
'I don't much care where -' said Alice.
'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.
'- so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation.
'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long enough.

We all make choices, but in the end our choices make us.