We've all been there, that realization that we have be "adult" adults after college, and we don't even know the first thing about life! Sure, we have this new major, but what about all the practical things like money, work, relationships, and just general life skills. While college teaches us how to be resourceful with a dorm microwave and how best to pull all nighters, the "real" world is not always conducive to these "college" skills that we have learned over the past few years. Here are a few things that you don't learn at college:
1. How to do your taxes
Yes, some students know how to do this, but the majority do not, guess we will be purchasing taxes for dummies or asking our recently graduated account friends to help us out.
2. How to apply for a mortgage
This can be very confusing for anyone, let alone those who are consumed with terror at the thought of owning a house.
3. That you need a healthy work/life balance
For those of us who just graduated we might be completely committed to our jobs, but learning the balance between the two is crucial and not always the easiest skill.
4. How to compromise
While college does call for compromises sometimes, the ones in the real world are often much more difficult such as dealing with a crazy boss because you need the money for your family, even your life is a complete mess at work.
5. How to drink.... in a classy way
Yes, in college some students take the route of sharing a glass of wine with friends occasionally, but for those of you who go a little too hard on the weekends, might find reality a bit more difficult.
8 a.m classes are arguably the worst, but in reality many of us will need to be to work by that time, and no longer is it as easy as throwing on a sweatshirt and walking a block to Cudahy...
7. How to commute
We have stayed on campus our entire four years, in somewhat of a bubble, and often times we do not need to commute everyday to work through rush hour traffic. Ergo, learning a little patience can go a long way.
8. How to save money
No longer can we just buy whatever strikes our fancy, but now we have to think of 401Ks, insurance, taxes, and the difference between net and gross income.
9. How to settle down
While this lifestyle is not for everyone, for those who are planning to settle down with a family, there is no guidebook on how to adjust to family life or plan for marriage and saving for college funds, so you have to figure it out on your own and in the way that works best for you.
10. How to own property
Unless you plan to live month-to-month in apartments, you will most likely purchase a home, condo, or apartment long-term, and while apartment hunting exists in college, the real world might not have the same flexibility if you were to say throw beer bottles off the balcony into the alleyway...(yes, I'm talking about those of you living across from me, and scaring the crap out of me at one in the morning).
11. How to plan ahead
When I say that we don't know how to plan ahead, I don't mean what's going on next weekend, I mean what's going on in 40 years, when are you going to retire and how are you going to get there.
12. That you don't know everything
I don't know how many adults I have talked to in the workplace who complain that college students think that they know it all because of their degree and are not willing to learn anything new in their jobs. Guys, let's accept the fact the just because we majored in business, doesn't mean we can automatically become a CEO. Take it slow and absorb as much as you can.
While adulthood is scary and overwhelming and just a completely new experience for most of us, we adapt. If we can crank out that midterm paper three hours before its due, or work while taking classes and getting involved on campus and still having a life, we might be better prepared and adaptable than we give ourselves credit for. Adulthood is trial and error, but once you know what to do, the fear will slowly slip away.
